Arsenal FC, one of Europe's biggest soccer clubs, sent out a routine Pride Month greeting on Monday—and accidentally sparked a conversation the club almost certainly didn't intend. The North London team posted to social media: "Happy Pride month to all Gooners celebrating," using the nickname for its fans. What the club's communications team may not have realized is that in recent years, "gooning" has become internet slang for prolonged masturbation or edging while watching pornography, with practitioners called "gooners."
A loaded term with double meaning
For decades, "Gooners" has been the proud name for Arsenal fans, derived from the club's nickname "the Gunners." The team regularly uses it in social-media posts—sending similar greetings for Eid, religious holidays, and other occasions. The Pride post itself was unremarkable by design: Arsenal posted an identical message last June. But this year, following the club's high-profile Premier League title win and appearance in the UEFA Champions League final, the post reached a far wider audience. That expanded visibility turned an innocent phrase into unintentional innuendo, and the internet ran with the joke.
Reactions ranged from laughter to offense
The viral moment spawned predictable responses across social media. Some fans laughed at the accidental double entendre. Others suggested it was time to retire the "Gooners" nickname entirely. A handful of supporters even joked that this moment explained why Arsenal lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain the day before. Some fans, though, defended the post and the club's genuine commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion, noting that for Arsenal's massive global following—including fans in countries where being gay remains dangerous—a Pride Month message may be the only celebration of LGBTQ+ identity they encounter.
Part of a broader Pride presence in sports
Arsenal was far from alone in marking Pride Month. Bayern Munich, Chelsea FC, FC Cincinnati, and Seattle Sounders all posted Pride greetings the same day, part of a growing trend of major sports brands acknowledging LGBTQ+ communities during June. The Arsenal moment, awkward as it became, ultimately underscores how mainstream LGBTQ+ visibility has become in professional sports—even when the message lands sideways.
Source: Queerty
Cover photo: Tony Wu / Pexels
