Merci Arsène: Social Data on the Tears, the Joy, and the Hypocrisy

The announcement from Arsenal’s official website that long-serving manager Arsène Wenger had decided to depart from Arsenal at the end of the season became one of the hottest topics on the internet overnight.

There was a huge amount of content being posted with regards to Arsène leaving, the rumours about the candidate that was poised to replace him, the gratitudes being shown for all he has done for the club, and even sentiments from former #WengerOut proponents getting all teary-eyed.

A huge, and very mixed, reaction

Given Arsenal’s huge global fanbase, the announcement sparked conversation globally. The internet imminently blew up following the news.

So how did our global fans feel about Arsène leaving? Using Brandwatch’s emoji cloud, we can get an accurate sense of the general sentiment from the fans.

We see here a mix of reactions from the fans – from the terribly upset and heartbroken, to applauses and thumbs-ups representing appreciations for his past achievements.

We see a huge number of laugh-cry emoji mentions, with the gist of such mentions often teasing the hypocrisy of some Arsenal fans, who have consistently called for Wenger’s resignation over the years but have done a U-turn in sentiment after the actual announcement.

People will never say good things about you until you die for instance Wenger reign is ending and a week back most arsenal fans were against him but now they loyalty is back to 100℅ ??

— Najib binaj (@Binaj254) April 20, 2018

Arsenal fans be funny af acting all emotional as if they aren't the ones wishing for #Wenger out ..y'all make me sick ??

— Khaleesi (@ChocoKhaleesi) April 20, 2018

Well this is awkward

Here are a few of our favorite examples of fans who seemed to have differing opinions before and after the announcement:

Sack him ffs, sack him now! It’s not good enough we’re being outclassed by fucking Brighton!! #WengerOut

— AnonymousAFC (@TheArsenalFan02) March 4, 2018

I really do hope we fill the stadium for the remainder of the season and show Arsène the unwavering love and support that he’s shown the club since day 1.

“There’s only one Arsène Wenger!” Ringing around the Emirates. Still don’t know how to feel…

— AnonymousAFC (@TheArsenalFan02) April 20, 2018

Has the fucking clown resigned yet?
Has anyone in the fucking board grown a pair and fucking sacked him yet?
What’s going on?
Fuck his legacy, he’s no legend anymore. He’s a legend in stubbornness, arrogance, selfishness and FAILURE.
SACK THE FUCKING CLOWN!#WengerOUT #Arsenal

— Hatem (@Hatem1886Gooner) March 2, 2018

Players must go hammer and tongs at the Europa League to give Wenger the proper send-off he deserves.#MerciArsène#Arsenal #COYG

— Hatem (@Hatem1886Gooner) April 20, 2018

Wenger’s greatest hits

Using Brandwatch’s sentiment analysis, we are able to view the general sentiment around Arsène Wenger from the start of the EPL season right up til after the announcement.

What we see is a massive shift in sentiment – positivity is up, and negativity is down.

There is much to celebrate about Arsène Wenger. The man has been in management for over two decades in Arsenal, winning plenty of silverware throughout his time.