Our member Joel Ho shares his visit to The Arsenal to watch the team take on Chelsea in March 2025.

A London Derby Like No Other
With the Premier League title all but decided in favour of a different shade of red, this London derby didn’t carry the same weight as past encounters. The energy around the Emirates felt calm, almost subdued—a contrast to the usual electric tension of these fixtures. But regardless of the stakes, thanks to Arsenal Singapore, I had the chance to tick off a London derby at the Emirates from my bucket list!

My afternoon took an unforgettable turn when I was invited to take part in Arsenal’s Global Gooner Initiative—a special program celebrating international supporters. As part of the experience, I was taken pitchside for a live quiz, competing for prizes while standing just meters away from the action. Seeing myself on the big screen, soaking in the atmosphere—it was a surreal experience! Huge thanks to Dhanesh, and the people at Arsenal for making this once-in-a-lifetime moment happen! To top it off, I even managed to spot Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka near the tunnel area before kickoff.

From the opening whistle, I could sense that the players were fully up for it. The intensity was there, and Arsenal controlled the game with confidence. The breakthrough came from a well-worked set-piece, giving us the only goal of the match—a proper old-school Arsenal victory. Despite the narrow scoreline, it was a comfortable watch—no last-minute nerves, no unnecessary drama. The clean sheet made it even sweeter.

A derby win at the Emirates, a memorable pitchside moment, and another incredible experience thanks to Arsenal Singapore!