North London Forever song lyrics and why Arsenal sing anthem being played at Carabao Cup final

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Arsenal will face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final with the song 'The Angel (North London Forever) expected to be played before kick-off

Arsenal fans will be able to enjoy at least one pre-match tradition when they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. The Gunners will make the trip to Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they look to win their first piece of silverware of the season.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4.30pm on Sunday as Arsenal look to get their hands on their first trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, and their first League Cup since 1993.

Ahead of the game, it’s been reported by ArsenalMatchday on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the song ‘The Angel’ will be played over the stadium’s speakers at around 4pm, approximately half an hour before kick-off.

‘The Angel’, sung by Louis Dunford, has become a pre-match anthem for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium ever since the final months of the 2021/22 season, particularly for the lyric, ‘North London forever’.

Dunford released the song in 2022 as a single on his The Popham EP, and the 34-year-old’s song, which was written about his childhood, has become a regular staple in Arsenal’s pre-match routine.

A live performance of Dunford singing the song gained attention from Arsenal supporters on social media, which led to thousands of fans calling on the club to acknowledge the song in some way.

Eventually, Arsenal played the song pre-match on May 8, 2022, ahead of a 2-1 win over Leeds United in the Premier League, and has since become a regular tradition in North London.

What are the lyrics to The Angel (North London Forever)?

Here are the lyrics to ‘The Angel’, by Louis Dunford:

North London foreverWhatever the weatherThese streets are our ownAnd my heart will leave you neverMy blood will foreverRun through the stone

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Soon after the song began attracting attention from Arsenal supporters, Dunford gave fans the chance to change the lyrics to become more associated with the Gunners.

“Majority of ya seem to like the chorus as it is,” Dunford wrote on X in April 2022. “If you did wanna change it though I reckon this works quite well.

“North London forever. Whatever the weather. These streets are our own.”

“And our hearts will leave you never. The Arsenal forever. Will be our home.”

Arsenal supporters appreciated the offer but have chosen to stick with the original lyrics that are still sung before matches at the Emirates Stadium to this day, and will be heard before kick-off at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.