Arsenal 1 - Chelsea 4

Yesterday, I was at the Arsenal vs Chelsea game. What a game!!!

My dad phoned me on Friday saying that his mate had tickets going to the match. So off we went to the emirates stadium. I predicted it would be 3-1 to Chelsea and it was actually 4-1!!! I was sitting behind the goal and couldn’t cheer because I was in the Arsenal stands. I think the supporters around me got the hint that I’m a Chelsea fan as I was talking about them a lot and actually cheered once.

So as the game had finished I had Sobha in my mind. How long will it be before I see him in a match of this calibre? How long will it be before I see an Asian footballer in a match of this calibre? And that’s when it hit me; I had to do something about it.

I wanted it to happen while I was still young and had a say in things. I want to see Asian’s get into all aspects of football, including coaching. I could imagine it now, me wearing the blue Chelsea jacket with the initials HSS on it, shouting instructions from the sideline. What was stopping me from achieving this dream? Nothing. Nothing at all, I honestly believe I can reach that level one day. Anyone can. Asians need to have the mentality that they can do anything, because they can.

From watching the match, I wondered “who will Sobha play for in the future?” And to me, the answer was as clear as day. Arsenal looked the more likely club compared to Chelsea. Watching young Gibbs play right-back against Chelsea was brilliant. Even as a Chelsea fan you could tell that there is a big future ahead for the young man.

Arsenal have boasted about their young players over the years, compared to Chelsea, who have boasted about bringing their players in. However, Arsenal may bring their young players through their ranks but they are still foreign; maybe Asians might have a better chance if they go abroad and excel!

Many premiership clubs have now ventured into Asia to find talent, although, one can only sit back and ask: is this for real or just a means to tap into the opportunities for merchandising from the massive Asian markets? After all – football is a business.

We do need more teams like Arsenal. Teams who are not afraid to bring up their players from a young age and give young players, even young Asian players, hope of playing for them in the future.