Ian Wright Hits Out at Rival Fans Over Arsenal Chant

Ian Wright calls the “Champions of Europe” chant against Arsenal horrible, urging fans to respect the club’s historic achievements.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has condemned a popular chant mocking the club’s lack of European glory, calling it “horrible” and “disrespectful.” The chant, “Champions of Europe, you will never sing that,” has long been used by rival fans to mock Arsenal for never winning the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking on The Stick to Football podcast, Ian Wright expressed his frustration with the chant, describing how it strikes a nerve with Arsenal supporters.

“It’s f****** horrible when people say, ‘Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that,’” Wright admitted.

Despite Arsenal’s abundant domestic success (13 league titles, a record 14 FA Cups, and 17 Community Shields), the club’s elusive quest for European glory continues to haunt fans and players alike.

Arsenal’s European Journey

Arsenal have lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, but the Champions League remains out of reach. Their closest attempt came in 2006, losing 2–1 to Barcelona in the final.

Other English clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City have all tasted Champions League success, which makes the chant even more painful for Arsenal fans.

Despite the sting of the chant, Wright remains hopeful about the club’s European future. Arsenal reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, beating Real Madrid before falling to PSG.

According to Opta’s Supercomputer, Arsenal currently have an 18.64% chance of winning this year’s competition — the highest among English sides.

“I think Arteta would take the Premier League first,” Wright said. “Then he can go all-in for the Champions League.”

A Message of Belief

Wright believes Arsenal’s mentality and depth make them genuine contenders on all fronts.

“We’ve got the best squad in the league right now. I don’t care what anyone says,” he declared.

Wright’s remarks perfectly express both the anger of the past and the hope of a new era as Arsenal strives for both domestic and European success. The chant may sting, but the dream of hearing “Champions of Europe” sung at the Emirates is still alive.

Want more Arsenal updates? Visit our homepage.

All links on ArsenalTalks Shop are affiliate links. We may earn commissions that support our content—at no extra cost to you. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure for more information.