Arsenal welcomed Jahmal Howlett-Mundle to the Emirates Stadium as a special guest for Sunday's clash with Nottingham Forest to mark the Premier League's support of the Rainbow Laces campaign.
Howlett-Mundle, who plays for Ramsgate in the Isthmian League, came out as bisexual last season while on the books of Sheppey United. The 25-year-old defender was supported at the time by his team-mates, but sadly received homophobic abuse from a Tower Hamlets player less than two weeks after coming out.
The player who subjected Howlett-Mundle to abuse was later charged. However, the non-league star has spoken of the importance of Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign, which shows support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and is now marking its ninth year.
“Being part of the Rainbow Laces campaign here shows how much progress I have made during my journey” Howlett-Mundle told the Arsenal programme. “A year and a half ago, I wouldn’t have imagined I would have the opportunity to support such an amazing campaign at a beautiful stadium like the Emirates.
“Campaigns such as Rainbow Laces are extremely important throughout the footballing pyramid. This year’s theme is ‘Inclusion has no off-season’, and rightly so. Support for the LGBT+ community should be a year-round thing and Stonewall are doing an excellent job in making that the case.”
He shared a message of support for anyone in a similar situation to the one he faced when younger, saying: “Take your time in understanding what being your authentic self means to you. I’ve found that speaking openly with those that are closest to me has given me the freedom to branch out and be more expressive in other areas of my life, but it has not been an overnight increase in confidence, so be patient."
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Arsenal delivered one of their best attacking performances of the season against Forest, despite losing Bukayo Saka to injury in the first half. The England international made way for Reiss Nelson, and the substitute scored his first and second goal of the season in a four-minute burst early in the second half.
Gabriel Martinelli had earlier put Mikel Arteta's side ahead, while Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard were also on target after Nelson's brace. There were more chances to score, too, with Gabriel Jesus likely to be frustrated by his failure to find the net.
The victory ensured the Gunners returned to the top of the table, having fallen to second when challengers Manchester City beat Leicester 1-0 on Saturday. Both of their remaining league games before breaking for the World Cup will come away from home, against Chelsea and Wolves, while there are also cup games against FC Zurich and Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
