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Arsenal and Tottenham: Premier League duel now in Asia
Experience the historic clash between Arsenal and Tottenham for the first time outside the UK! The North London derby takes place in Hong Kong and promises to be an unforgettable celebration of football.
Arsenal and Tottenham: Premier League duel now in Asia
Hong Kong - The latest clash of one of football's most passionate rivalries will be the first ever to take place abroad - some 6,000 miles from its origins in the United Kingdom.
The North London derby in Hong Kong
The North London derby between the Premier League teams Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, a rivalry that extends over 116 years, will complete the Hong Kong Football Festival on Thursday.
The friendly match takes place in the newly built Kai Tak Stadium with 50,000 seats. The number of spectators is expected to break all previous records in local football.
The meaning of the game
"Of course it's a friendly game, but it means more," new Spurs coach Thomas Frank said in an exclusive interview with CNN before the game. "It's a great evolution for a historic clash. Traditions are of great importance but the world is moving on and we want to be here and embrace our fans. There is no greater opponent than Arsenal."
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, who hopes that the new star reinforcement Viktor Gyökeres will lead his team to success this season, told CNN that it was "a brilliant idea to bring all this tradition, history and rivalry to Hong Kong."
Reactions of fans
Despite the enthusiastic support of both teams during their Asia tour, some passionate fans fight with the idea that such a holy derby should take place abroad. So far, the duel has only been held outside of London and never outside the national borders.
On the one hand, it seems inevitable given the unprecedented levels of spending and global commercialization in sport. On the other hand, preserving football heritage is fundamental.
“If I take my London perspective, it's a bit strange,” said Myles Pyne, a Hong Kong-born Arsenal season ticket holder who now lives in London. "The derby has had so many red cards and exciting moments over the years and the players are excited before the game. You won't get the same feeling here. Of all the teams you could pick for a pre-season game, this game seems like it ruins the sanctity (of the derby) a little bit."
“But if I take my Hong Kong perspective, it's great,” he added, noting that many fans in the city wouldn't normally have the opportunity to see what a north London derby is like.
The excitement in Hong Kong
Billy Ip, who runs the Tottenham fan club in Hong Kong, is similarly torn. “It's a mix of both - you want to see the derby in London and of course some want it to stay there,” he said. "But some of us can't afford to travel to London to even watch a football match, let alone the North London derby. It's a good opportunity to experience the atmosphere of such a high-class game outside of Europe. Hosting big games in big cities is a trend towards further commercialization. It's part of the game now."
Adam Ng, from Arsenal's fan club, added: "It's so significant for us that they are visiting. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us foreign fans."
Future of football in Asia
The attendance record, which is expected to fall on Thursday, was set by Liverpool and AC Milan at the same event the previous week. Should the event be a success, Australia-based organizer TEG Sport is confident it will be just the beginning for major sports teams visiting Hong Kong and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
“The clubs were very motivated to come here – we just needed a world-class stadium suitable for such a historic game,” said Rachael Carroll, the chief executive. “I can say with certainty that there are many other top football clubs around the world who are watching with interest.”