Who is the bigger club? Arsenal or Chelsea?

[barneygumble]

Historically, Arsenal are one of the biggest clubs in the country.
But since the turn of the Century (even a couple of years before), there's no doubting that Chelsea have vastly grown as a club.

What do you determine it on? As fans, Arsenal have shown in more recent time, that they're not too interested unless they're doing well, with visible seats littered over the Emirates. Chelsea only have 42,000 as a stadium, but sell out every game.

History? Arsenal have been mainstays in the top flight throughout their history, they've regularly contested for trophies and have been trendsetters. Chelsea have flirted between divisions for a long period of their history, with moderate success, but Abramovic changed everything for them.

Success wise, clearly Chelsea are walking away with it, aren't they? with 5 titles since Arsenal last won one. They've also won a Champions League and 2 Europa Leagues, 3 League cups and 6 FA Cups. Arsenal haven't won a League for nearly 20 years, and whilst the FA is a huge success and they've done that on 5 occasions, their progress in Europe (not making back last 16 in CL for over 10 years) is a big indicator.

So Historically, Arsenal. Currently Chelsea.

 

[witchdoc187]

Both have proper cringe elements of their support. I'm not sure this clarifies the original debate, but its true. Bigger fanbase and profile, higher cringe levels. Arguably. ArsenalfanTV probably helps tip it.

dread to think what happens to us when we start winning everything

 

[PaddyJames]

Couldn't give a flying about either but it's Arsenal.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

dread to think what happens to us when we start winning everything

Fret not. Our fanbase is, to a person, utterly sane and cool as cucumbers.

 

[ClausThomsen]

Who has the most impressive collection of faded glory is a meaningless barometer as is the who's biggest argument.

Past success can be looked on with fondness by fans but it's completely irrelevant in the here and now to anyone outside that club. There's nothing more cringey than fans who think themselves somehow superior to fans of other teams because of the achievements of somebody else 50 years ago.

 

[witchdoc187]

Fret not. Our fanbase is, to a person, utterly sane and cool as cucumbers.

We will find out when we lift the premier league trophy in our last season at goodison

 

[Papa Shango]

Chelsea currently.

The stuff about them being a nothing club pre the late 90's is not strictly true, they won the UEFA cup in the 70s.

It's all very subjective anyway, I mean teams like Zamalek or Persopolis are technically massive clubs.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

We will find out when we lift the premier league trophy in our last season at goodison

Haha, think the place would be torn apart lol

 

[paultheblue]

Arsenal are a far bigger club, Ken Bates paid a quid for Chelsea in 1982.
I personally think he overpaid

 

[tommye]

Chelsea were never a "nothing club" as some like to say (They won cups in 50's, 70's and 90's prior to the money coming in) but Arsenal are bigger based on the fact they have more trophies overall

That's the only real metric that means anything

Dont argue with me Michael


I will bum you into submission

 

[PaulPowersTash]

Who has the most impressive collection of faded glory is a meaningless barometer as is the who's biggest argument.

Past success can be looked on with fondness by fans but it's completely irrelevant in the here and now to anyone outside that club. There's nothing more cringey than fans who think themselves somehow superior to fans of other teams because of the achievements of somebody else 50 years ago.

Spot on.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Who has the most impressive collection of faded glory is a meaningless barometer as is the who's biggest argument.

Past success can be looked on with fondness by fans but it's completely irrelevant in the here and now to anyone outside that club. There's nothing more cringey than fans who think themselves somehow superior to fans of other teams because of the achievements of somebody else 50 years ago.

Sorry but no. What you say applies to who is bigger currently, but historical achievements should definitely be applied to who is bigger overall.

Let's take an example and scale it up to the extreme just to show, say utd get relegated and haven’t won anything in 10/20 years and Fulham win the PL, Fa cup, champions league. Who is the bigger club? Still United my friend.

Support base, stadium size, historical achievements, amount of time they ply their trade at the top level all goes into the melting pot. Sunderland are still a bigger club than way more than half the teams above them in the pyramid including Leicester, despite winning the square root of Jack for donkeys.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Who has the most impressive collection of faded glory is a meaningless barometer as is the who's biggest argument.

Past success can be looked on with fondness by fans but it's completely irrelevant in the here and now to anyone outside that club. There's nothing more cringey than fans who think themselves somehow superior to fans of other teams because of the achievements of somebody else 50 years ago.

Sorry but no. What you say applies to who is bigger currently, but historical achievements should definitely be applied to who is bigger overall.

Let's take an example and scale it up to the extreme just to show, say utd get relegated and haven’t won anything in 10/20 years and Fulham win the PL, Fa cup, champions league. Who is the bigger club? Still United my friend.

Support base, stadium size, historical achievements, amount of time they ply their trade at the top level all goes into the melting pot. Sunderland are still a bigger club than way more than half the teams above them in the pyramid including Leicester despite winning the square root of Jack for donkeys.

 

[KaiserEFC]

Villa have won loads of stuff so they’re bigger than Chelsea who win stuff nowadays right?

No.

 

[number4.]

Chelsea currently.

The stuff about them being a nothing club pre the late 90's is not strictly true, they won the UEFA cup in the 70s.

It's all very subjective anyway, I mean teams like Zamalek or Persopolis are technically massive clubs.

I dont think there is any such thing as "currently" Arsenal are the bigger club, they just are