Do people actually hate Arsenal? Yes, they do. The real question is why? | Barney Ronay

Gene-edited hamsters bred with a chemical associated with anger produced hyper-angry behavior rather than increased docility. Longer studies showed a range of anger-related traits, including sarcastic behavior, grudge-holding, silence during long car journeys, and passive-aggressive tendencies. The scientists concluded anger is highly complex and requires broader study, suggesting they should stop experimenting with rage-hamsters. The text then connects rage to English football, claiming Arsenal is a major source of rage. It asks whether people truly hate Arsenal and cites a social-media study stating Arsenal fans are the most disliked in the Premier League, including reactions to Mikel Arteta’s tactics and public statements.

"There was a minor stir a few years back when some American scientists bred a strain of gene-edited hamsters with the chemical that causes anger removed, presumably so they could achieve one of humanity's historic goals: the dream of a more docile hamster. Unfortunately the opposite happened. What the scientists created was a race of hyper-angry hamsters. These were described a little glibly in the media as Mutant Rage Monsters. But science is always more nuanced than this."

"Longer studies have shown more varied results. Sarcastic hamsters. Hamsters that hold grudges. Hamsters that retreat into silence on long car journeys. Even a subset of passive-aggressive hamsters who are, seriously, just fine with this. It's pretty much what they expected from you, anyway. Ultimately, the scientists concluded that anger is a highly complex response, that understanding it requires a broader study, and that maybe they should stop messing around with rage-hamsters and take that job putting lipstick on moles."

"It is a strange, hydra-headed thing, its sources hard to discern. And at this point Arsenal have already entered the room, there at the edge of your vision, the most reliable source of rage in English football right now. Why do people hate Arsenal so much? It is a question worth asking. The league title could be decided on Tuesday. Why will the journey to this point be defined by dismay and resentment?"

"The obvious starting point is: do people actually hate Arsenal? The answer to which is yes, they do. A recent social-media study concluded Arsenal's fans are the most disliked in the Premier League. Even Mikel Arteta drives people into a state of rage, from his unremarkable control-based tactics, to his invariably bland public statements, to his frenetic tou"

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