How Arsenal’s Bible Boys turned faith into fuel for their title charge

The Premier League’s ‘Bible Boys’, led by Pastor Timber.

That’s how Arsenal have been christened by fans on social media, a nod to a squad notable for the sheer number of players openly voicing their faith as they ride divine inspiration to the top of the Premier League and Champions League.

At Arsenal, religion isn’t hidden away. It’s quiet, but rather visible – and seen as key to their form.

Full back Jurrien Timber is among the most open, as seen by his posts of a Bible verse on X on the morning of Arsenal matches. ‘They (fans) do wait for them,’ he joked. ‘The other day I almost forgot and I got a lot of messages like, “Where’s the Bible verse?”, so it’s quite fun.’

Ahead of kick-off, Arsenal’s stars follow their own rhythms. Some stick to small superstitions such as putting their right boot on first or a certain playlist to get pumped up, while others gather together for rituals that have become routine.

It’s understood that a group of their Christian players meet to pray either in an onsite dedicated prayer room – opened last December by Arsenal’s former midfielder Mohamed Elneny, a devout Muslim – or in a quiet room near the changing room.

Of the Gunners’ 25-man squad, many observe a religion. Christianity is the most common, with at least 10 players identifying with the faith. Sources say that it’s been embraced by Mikel Arteta and his staff, who have seen the impact it has had on togetherness among a team that looks to be the strongest Arsenal side in decades.

As Timber explained: ‘For me it’s a way of life, my faith, and I try to live by it. We pray before games, with the team, because we have some Christians in our team, which is amazing.

‘It brings unity and understanding, because you can live the same life and it’s not always easy. Those conversations are good, and I think it’s an amazing thing to have in our team.’

It also ties into Arteta’s emphasis on family values – it is noticeable how many of his players have got married in recent years. Religious players are ostensibly less prone to off-pitch distractions such as partying, and inclined to be family-oriented, and he values this.

When asked by Daily Mail Sport about the role of faith at Arsenal, Arteta said: ‘I love it because I think it connects them more. Some of them share the same beliefs, or strong beliefs, and that helps their wellbeing, the mental side, and what it brings to them as human beings. I think it’s phenomenal.’

Arsenal have long been shaped by a diversity of cultures and backgrounds. In the Arsene Wenger era, for example, a shift began towards bringing in more foreign stars. What feels new is how religion sits within that mix. Arteta’s team includes a cluster of players who treat faith not as a private compartment, but as a connection to each other.

Faith across the league is a growing phenomenon, influenced by the number of stars drawn from more regions with deeply-rooted religious traditions.

At Arsenal, a strong cohort of their Christian players hail from South America — Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera. They are joined by Timber, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard.

At clubs such as Manchester City, there is a cohort of Muslims led by Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Abdukodir Khusanov.

This plays into the public normalisation that has occurred in recent years. Fans think little of Liverpool’s Mo Salah bowing in prostration after scoring, or Eze attributing his recent hat-trick against Tottenham to God.

Eze had said in a post-match interview following the 4-1 victory: ‘Man, I’m grateful again. I prayed for it today… a hat-trick, and God gave it to me. That’s faith, man.’

These gestures are now routine, and prayer has become an unremarkable part of matchday life.

The impact of religion on a player’s psyche can be profound. In an interview last month on the Beast Mode On podcast with ex-player Adebayo Akinfenwa, Eze spoke about how missing out on England’s Euro 2020 squad caused a big shift in his faith.

The midfielder received a text message that he was part of Gareth Southgate’s plans immediately after injuring his achilles in a training session for his then club Crystal Palace. His dream was over.

He said: ‘When I think about God, I try to take what I want or what I’m thinking out of it. If I wasn’t supposed to have that injury that day, I wouldn’t have had it, but I did.

‘It happened that way because I believe God wanted it to happen that way. I’ve found so much more peace from that moment.

‘That was a big shift in my faith. I’ve learned and seen in my career so far that this ain’t my thing, (it’s God’s).’

The increased awareness in general has caused structural changes across the country’s leagues. Clubs now routinely provide quiet rooms for prayer, and many offer chaplaincy support as part of their player-care operations.

Nutrition and training schedules are adjusted during Ramadan, too, and players break their fast during matches when the sun goes down. What was once informal or player-led is now part of the professional landscape.

For Arteta and his team, faith is part of the glue that holds them together. It’s a reminder that the togetherness forged between players can be just as influential as tactics or talent.