Arsenal 'force YouTube channel Arsenal Fan TV to change their name'

Infamous YouTube channel Arsenal Fan TV has been forced into a re-brand, reportedly after discussions with the club.

Arsenal Fan TV gained fame for posting videos online of supporters discussing results, club news and talking points, but was also criticised for its negative coverage of the team, particularly regarding former manager Arsene Wenger.

It is understood the club have now asked Arsenal Fan TV to remove all branding and copyrighted material - including the name 'Arsenal' - from future videos.

According to The Sun, Arsenal did not send a cease and desist letter but that discussions were held between the club and the channel.

While neither party has made an official statement, the Twitter and Youtube accounts of Arsenal Fan TV have changed their names to AFTV.

The channel was set up by former radio host Robbie Lyle, and has gained a number of regular voices and contributors over the years, including Claudio 'Claude' Callegari, Ty, Mr DT and Troopz.

It became increasingly influential as the club's form began to decline under Wenger, with many of those featured in videos being heavily critical of the manager, and members of what became known as the #WengerOut campaign.

This has also seen the channel receive criticism from influential figures in the game -  Gary Neville called it 'embarrassing', although in February 2017 he agreed to appear on an episode to discuss his comments.

The club's own players have begun to turn on the channel - full back Hector Bellerin questioned the loyalty of the fans who appeared on the channel in a February 2018 talk at the Oxford Union.

Bellerin said:  'It's so wrong for someone who claims to be a fan and their success is fed off a failure. How can that be a fan? There's just people hustling, trying to make money their way, which everyone is entitled to do.'

Other fans have been openly critical of the channel - which has resulted in physical confrontations outside stadiums - while Lyle said he was racially abused by Spurs fans during a north London derby in May 2017.

The most recent match reaction video - for which AFTV is most famous, where supporters are asked for their immediate response to a result - titled 'The Unai Emery Revolution Gets Off To A Faltering Start!', after the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, gained 134,000 views within 24 hours of being uploaded.