the sun was hot the stadium was packed the air in hong kong was heavy but the energy between arsenal and tottenham was even heavier it was a pre season game yes but it felt like war the players were running the fans were shouting the cameras were everywhere but for bukayo saka that day was not just another match it was a nightmare that refused to end
the pain started before the whistle even blew because everyone knew what this game meant arteta knew the arsenal fans knew and even tottenham knew saka was the star boy the one they feared the one they always planned to stop and on that pitch in kai tak sports park a young man named djed spence made sure the job was done and he didn’t do it quietly
pape sarr scored a wonder goal just before half time lobbed the ball from halfway line david raya tried he really tried but the ball floated over him like a dream that turned into a nightmare for arsenal it was 1-0 to tottenham and the celebration shook the stadium but that goal was not the only moment that defined the night the real moment came from djed spence the forgotten man the right back the warrior who turned into a villain for arsenal fans and a hero for spurs
the second half began and the tension went up mikel arteta was shouting from the touchline emotions boiling over he even clashed with pedro porro it was one of those nights when even a friendly feels like a final but in the middle of all that chaos something brutal happened spence tackled saka hard clean tackle yes but the force was thunderous saka flew and landed on the grass and in that moment the entire tottenham bench stood up the arsenal bench went silent saka picked himself up dusted his shirt but the look on his face said it all he was rattled
the camera caught it the world saw it spence posted it later on instagram with fire in his heart he dropped a bomb he posted the picture of saka falling and wrote onto the next one thank you hong kong the internet exploded fans from both sides jumped into the comments some called it disrespect some called it banter but one thing was clear spence had made a statement and saka was the victim
djed spence played the full 90 minutes and he didn’t just play he dominated saka is one of the best wingers in the league maybe even the world but on that humid night in hong kong he was a shadow of himself every time he tried to dribble spence was there every time he tried to run spence blocked him every time he called for the ball he received pressure not peace by the end of the match spence had not just stopped saka he had embarrassed him and the picture proved it
arsenal fans were frustrated they expected more arteta was angry he expected control but what they saw was confusion tottenham came without some of their best players no kulusevski no dragusin no solanke no udogie even but it didn’t matter spence stepped up he showed he was ready to fight for his place he showed he was not afraid of names or reputations he showed he was hungry and he left a scar on saka’s memory
the story didn’t stop there the whispers began is saka okay is he tired is he injured why couldn’t he shine against spence is it just pre season or is something wrong one tackle created a thousand questions and the arsenal fanbase started arguing online was it just bad luck or was it something deeper but the spurs fans they were loud they laughed they mocked they celebrated and they kept reposting the image over and over again like a trophy
this was not just football this was pride spence has been fighting for minutes at tottenham he was loaned out forgotten left on the bench but now he saw his chance and he didn’t waste it with udogie still recovering spence used the stage and lit it on fire he didn’t score a goal but he created a moment that people will remember and when fans remember a moment you become a legend even if for just one night
on that same night while everyone was talking about spence vs saka drama there were other stories too richarlison missed a big chance the kind of miss that makes you cover your face with both hands social media roasted him but nobody cared too much because spurs won the match and that’s what counts in football victory hides the wounds
mohammed kudus just signed for spurs from west ham for £55million and fans are excited mathys tel is now permanent and spurs are rebuilding with power and pace but the big talking point was defence spurs had injuries last season romero van de ven danso even dragusin now still recovering so people started thinking maybe just maybe spence could be the solution maybe this right back who humbled saka could be more than just a backup
thomas frank the new manager at tottenham has decisions to make hard ones and udogie may be sweating now because spence didn’t just fill in he took over and that means competition real competition and sometimes one tackle one moment one instagram post can change the future of a player forever
saka on the other hand will be fine everyone knows he’s world class but this was a reminder football doesn’t care about names on the pitch there are no favourites there are only fighters and on that night spence was the fighter the lion the soldier who conquered the golden boy
arsenal fans still believe in saka of course they do he’s their hero he’s given them goals assists memories but this moment hurt and social media makes everything worse that one picture of saka falling became a meme a message a reminder that nobody is safe in football not even the best
when spence said onto the next one he didn’t just mean the next game he meant the next challenge the next name to silence the next big star to humble he showed hunger and when a defender plays with hunger and confidence and pride he becomes dangerous
some people say spence was disrespectful some say it’s just football some say saka will respond with fire but whatever happens this night will be remembered not for sarr’s wonder goal not for richarlison’s miss not even for arteta’s sideline rage it will be remembered for a picture a caption and a fall
hong kong gave us drama gave us rivalry gave us fire and as the sun set and players walked off the pitch one man walked taller than the rest djed spence the quiet warrior who roared like a lion in front of the world and bukayo saka the golden boy who was reminded that even stars can fall when the fight is real
