Arsenal have been ranked 66th among English football clubs for fan engagement, despite winning the Premier League last season. The Gunners scored 85 points out of 240 in the 2026 edition of the Fan Engagement Index, which assesses clubs across three areas: dialogue with supporters, governance and transparency. The index awards a maximum of 80 points in each of its three categories: dialogue, governance and transparency. Arsenal's 85 points consisted of 40 for dialogue, 35 for governance and only 10 for transparency. This placed them below 12 Premier League clubs and only 19 points ahead of Manchester City.
What happened?
The Fan Engagement Index is based entirely on publicly available information rather than surveys of supporters. Think Fan Engagement says it deliberately does not initially contact clubs, instead attempting to assess the information available to fans through club, league and other public sources. Clubs are subsequently given the opportunity to comment on the information collected.
Why it matters for Arsenal
The results come as football moves towards the full implementation of the Independent Football Regulator, with Think Fan Engagement warning that clubs must ensure supporter consultation has a genuine influence on decision-making rather than simply becoming a procedural exercise. Kevin Rye, from Think Fan Engagement, said the increasing number of clubs receiving awards was encouraging but warned that the quality of engagement was still inconsistent.
What comes next?
The Independent Football Regulator is beginning to bite," Rye said. "However, it is clear that 'box ticking' is still too real at many clubs." Rye believes the issue is not simply whether clubs consult supporters but whether the information they receive actually changes decisions. "Clubs must now change not just how they make those decisions, but in many cases, the actual decisions themselves," he said.
Arsenal's current form
Arsenal are currently 7 points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. They have been on a 5-game winning run, with their last result being a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on May 24, 2026. They have scored 71 goals and conceded 27 this season, with a goal difference of +44. Currently sidelined are Jurriën Timber and Louie Copley.
Lead at the top
Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League is 7 points clear of Manchester City, with a recent form of 5W-0D-0L (WWWWW, most recent first). They have been on a 5-game winning run, with their last result being a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on May 24, 2026.
