An Arsenal supporter fulfilled his pledge to let his facial hair grow until his team won the league by finally shaving off his 57cm beard after a decade. Rafal Goral, a 45-year-old refinery worker, expressed feeling like he had lost a part of his identity by removing the beard he had been growing since 2016.

The commitment was made back in March of that year during Arsène Wenger’s tenure as Arsenal’s manager when the club had gone 12 years without clinching the Premier League title. Despite witnessing other teams, including Leicester City, achieve success, Rafal stuck to his promise until Arsenal’s recent triumph under Mikel Arteta.

Reflecting on the experience, Rafal from Chelmsford, Essex, shared his mixed emotions, stating that while it was tough to part with his beard, he remained true to his word. He admitted feeling like a stranger to himself and anticipated an adjustment period as he reacquainted himself with his appearance.

Although his girlfriend was disappointed with the change, Rafal’s colleagues, especially the Spurs fans among them, were impressed by his dedication to the vow made a decade ago. Rafal, a devoted Arsenal fan for close to two decades, recalled the banter with his co-workers about his beard-growing journey and the disbelief that surrounded his commitment.

Despite the challenges and initial irritation, Rafal persevered, with the last three years being particularly challenging as he always kept the clippers ready, hoping for Arsenal’s league victory. Looking back, Rafal shared that while he had anticipated a quicker end to his beard-growing journey, he remained steadfast in his loyalty to his team.

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