North London Forever: The Story Behind Arsenal's Anthem
North London Forever is The Angel by Louis Dunford, an Islington songwriter and lifelong Arsenal fan. It came out in February 2022 and was first played at the Emirates on 8 May 2022. Here is who wrote it, what it is about and how it became the club's anthem.
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2026 · Arsenal · GratitudeGoodbye Martinelli (Arsenal Football Song)North London Forever is not a terrace chant. It is a pop song by an Arsenal fan from Islington, and the club adopted it within three months of its release.
What the Song Is Called
Its real title is The Angel (North London Forever).
The Angel is the part of Islington around Angel Tube station, where the songwriter grew up. Fans shortened it to North London Forever, after the line in the chorus, and that is the name most people search for.
Who Wrote North London Forever
Louis Dunford wrote and sings it. He also releases music as Louis Mark Dunford.
He was born in Camden in 1992 and grew up in Islington. He has supported Arsenal all his life, and he is the son of the actress Linda Robson.
The song came out on 25 February 2022 on The Popham, his second EP, through RCA Records. It runs just under four minutes.
What the Song Is About
It is a love letter to Islington. Dunford wrote it for his family, his friends in the borough and Arsenal, in that order.
That is the key to why it works in a stadium. It is a song about home first and a football club second, so it lands with fans who grew up nowhere near North London.
How Arsenal Adopted It
It happened fast.
About two months after release, the song was spreading among Arsenal supporters on social media. Mikel Arteta noticed, and Dunford was invited to the training ground to meet the players.
The club then played it at the Emirates before the home game against Leeds United on 8 May 2022. Thousands of fans sang the chorus back while the players warmed up.
Arteta called it "really emotional" and said the players had been talking about the song in the dressing room.
Dunford also appears in the final episode of the Amazon series All or Nothing: Arsenal, which followed the 2021-22 season.
When Arsenal Fans Sing It
Before kickoff at every home game at the Emirates Stadium. It has been part of the pre-match routine since May 2022.
Why It Got Bigger in 2026
North London Forever was the soundtrack to Arsenal's 2025-26 season.
Arsenal won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, lifting the trophy after a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on the final day, 24 May 2026. Six days later they lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in Budapest.
Searches for the song jumped in May 2026 as both stories broke.
The Anne Hathaway Video
Anne Hathaway posted a video of herself singing North London Forever in an Arsenal shirt in April 2025.
It followed Arsenal's 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Real Madrid, the night Declan Rice scored two free kicks. She called Rice the man of the game, and the clip went viral.
Why Some Fans Call It Cringe
Not every fan loves it, and rival supporters mock it.
The criticism is that a song played over the stadium speakers is manufactured atmosphere rather than a chant that grew from the stands. Supporters of it point out that the fans took it up online before the club ever played it.
The Full Words
This post does not reproduce them, because The Angel (North London Forever) is a commercial song and Louis Dunford holds the copyright. Licensed lyric sites and the streaming services carry the full text.
For chants Arsenal fans made up themselves, which are printed in full, see Arsenal chants.
The FootyTracks Arsenal Songs
FootyTracks does not cover North London Forever. It writes original songs about Arsenal players instead.
Declan Rice's song, Saka's Starboy to Man, Ødegaard to Ødegod, Gyökeres' Mask Back On and the Martinelli farewell are all in the Listen block above.
Who wrote North London Forever?
Louis Dunford, an Islington songwriter and lifelong Arsenal fan. It was released on 25 February 2022 on his EP The Popham.
What is the real name of North London Forever?
The Angel (North London Forever). The Angel is the area of Islington where Dunford grew up.
When did Arsenal start playing North London Forever?
The club first played it at the Emirates before the home game against Leeds United on 8 May 2022. It has been played before every home game since.
Why do Arsenal fans sing North London Forever?
It is a song about Islington and Arsenal written by a local fan. Supporters spread it online, Mikel Arteta and the players picked up on it, and the club made it part of the pre-match routine.
Did Anne Hathaway sing North London Forever?
Yes. She posted a video of herself singing it in an Arsenal shirt after the 3-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid in April 2025. ## Sources Release date, EP, label and the 8 May 2022 premiere via [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Angel_(North_London_Forever)). Dunford's background via [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Dunford). Training ground visit and the criticism via [Football Ground Guide](https://footballgroundguide.com/news/north-london-forever-chant-lyrics-story). Anne Hathaway video via [Goal](https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/anne-hathaway-cringeworthy-rendition-arsenal-anthem-north-london-forever-champions-league-real-madrid/blt8d3671a3d953c08d). 2025-26 title via [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13545591/arsenal-win-premier-league-mikel-artetas-side-end-22-year-wait-for-title) and the Champions League final via [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_UEFA_Champions_League_final). Search trend via Ubersuggest.