On-pitch drama at a London derby sparks a global Twitter frenzy. Technology is changing the way we watch football
Initially, it’s not the emotions of the thousands of spectators present that appear the most powerfully felt but those of the millions of people watching TV broadcasts around the world, streaming the games online and commenting on social networking sites such as Twitter. They include US-based Arsenal fan and television host Piers Morgan, his Twitter sparring partner and Tottenham fan Sir Alan Sugar, golfer Ian Poulter, and what seems like a large number of Arsenal’s 1.9m Twitter followers – the most of any team in England (Chelsea are second, with 1.6m). From Spain, Cesc Fàbregas (@cesc4official), a former Arsenal midfielder now playing for Barcelona, posts his own good luck message before Arsenal go 1-0 down: “Come on @Arsenal!!!!” It is re-tweeted more than 10,000 times during the game.
