From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 65: Chapter 4: Chelsea’s Astronomical Offer! Wenger’s Sense of Crisis Arrives!

”Unbelievable.....!Genius! A brilliant dipping shot and goal! I am numb to Ma’el’s goals on this stage!!

If someone had told me before that a 17-year-old player could achieve the double 10 milestones in the Championship before mid-season, I would have asked them, are you kidding me?

But look now, he really did it!”

The Sky Sports commentator stood under the commentary canopy, wearing a headset and wanting to share his passion at this moment, but finding no one around him, he could only shout, ”Did Arsenal see this? Did Mr. Wenger see this?

He should be on the Premier League stage! Only top-tier leagues and the UEFA Champions League are his rightful arenas!”

Amidst the fiery atmosphere, Zaha, who had just run back to his side’s defensive flank, stood dazed at the spot, utterly confused.

He looked at the team’s defender Klein, then glanced at the goalkeeper, his expression seeming to ask, just like that, they scored? Just like that?

”Don’t push too far ahead.”

Klein, with a bitter expression, discussed with Zaha, ”I can’t defend against him; you need to stay closer.”

”Oh.” Zaha nodding cluelessly, hands on his waist, glanced back at the team’s head coach, wanting to hear if he had any instructions.

But their head coach was angrily shouting towards the Sheffield United bench, without the time to care for him, ”Still arguing! That assistant was just running over to celebrate, are you provoking us?!”

”Who ran over?”

Garrispeed looked innocently left and right, shrugged, ”Don’t make things up, our people are well-behaved, watch your mouth.”

”Nonsense!”

The Crystal Palace head coach, being held back by several people, was still fiercely determined, constantly charging forward, ”Don’t let me find him, don’t let me see him, it’s best for him to get lost now!”

Zaha, quite close to them, held his head with one hand, feeling even more disoriented.

He walked back to his position, dazedly waiting for the kick-off again... already 2 goals behind, this match, in all likelihood, is lost.

”Beep!”

After the referee blew the whistle for kick-off again, the first half entered one minute of stoppage time.

The time quickly ran out, and both sides returned to the dressing room for halftime rest and adjustments.

Before the second half began, Garrispeed took off midfielders Luton and defender Carl Wei, replacing them with two substitute reinforcements to continue the fight.

...

”Boom.”

In the 52nd minute of the match, Gilbert’s long pass found Ma’el on the flank, who stopped the ball with his chest and launched an assault on the opponent’s defense.

This was not the first time in this match, every time he charged, Crystal Palace’s defense was instantly alarmed, resulting in varying degrees of chaos.

”A player of another level, the Championship monster is up again!!”

This was the commentary from Sky Sports, the commentator has been deeply impressed by Ma’el, ”Klein couldn’t defend against him, Zaha is close, catching up!

Cutting in and charging into the box! Just a fake move! Heading for the baseline, racing in speed!!”

On the field, Ma’el directed the ball towards the baseline position, in a decisive sprint, clearly intending to overpower both Klein and Zaha.

Klein’s speed was mediocre, and he was directly outpaced by a body length in the first two steps.

Zaha thought he had the strength to fight, but in reality, he was already at the end of his strength, throwing his weight directly forward, stumbled forward just like Anthony’s fading-shot style.

Except one is a fading shot, and the other is a fading chase, the commonality being the same level of awkwardness!

”Slap.” Ma’el suddenly paused, pulling the ball back, Zaha couldn’t brake in time, directly ’faded out’ off the field, nearly smashing into the advertising board face-first.

Subsequently, Ma’el aimed at Janu at the inverted triangle position, made a short pass back, and Janu followed up and shot the ball into the far corner!

Three to zero!

Janu scored the goal!

”Oh.....!” Sheffield United celebrated once again, a victory was firmly in their hands.

Ma’el threw his arm around Janu’s shoulder, the two sang together as they rushed to the sidelines, roaring and punching towards the fans’ stands.

Zaha, recovering from his faded state, stood up, scratched his head, and cautiously looked towards the sideline, observing the head coach’s expression.

This time he wasn’t lucky, the head coach glared at him, eyes full of disappointment.

Two minutes later, Zaha was substituted by a more experienced forward player; coming to the bench, he covered his face with his jersey, seeming too embarrassed to face anyone.

Ma’el was also taken off by Garrispeed in the 70th minute, finishing early to rest, as Garrispeed likely wanted to preserve his stamina for the next match.

He didn’t get many shots in this game, but he still created 1 goal and 1 assist with personal ability.

And he properly experimented with the Level 3 speed and dipping shot in an official match, using the new skills to score a goal.

Overall, he was rather satisfied, leaving no regrets.

”I remembered something.”

Garrispeed smiled as he high-fived Ma’el, shaking his head, ”When you initially mentioned the 10 goals and 10 assists milestone, I was even considering betting with you, thinking to motivate you.

”In hindsight, thank God I didn’t, otherwise my wallet would have shrunk again.”

”Haha.” Ma’el chuckled brightly, raising an eyebrow, ”How about betting now, on whether I can top both Championship tables?”

”Sure.”

Garrispeed didn’t flinch, holding out five fingers, ”500 pounds, want in?”

”I’m in.”

Ma’el reached out for another high-five with him, sealing the bet, then returned to sit on the bench.

He glanced at Zaha on the opposite bench, who was shivering under his covered face, quite pitifully—wondering if he was crying?

......

Korny Training Base, the first team head coach’s office.

Wenger and a group of assistant coaches were sitting here, the big screen displaying the Championship match broadcast, it was Sheffield United against Crystal Palace.

As Ma’el was substituted, everyone slowly became listless, their attention no longer focused.

”I’m planning to recall him as soon as the winter transfer window opens so he can experience the Premier League early.”

Wenger glanced around as if seeking others’ opinions, but when he made a decision, others typically wouldn’t oppose.

”What about his tactical position?” a curious assistant coach asked.

”Haven’t decided yet.”

Wenger shook his head, furrowing his brow as he pondered, ”What I can assure is that he’ll get regular opportunities to play and adapt to the top-level league. The rest will be up to him to fight for.”

Arsenal is a top-four contender. In today’s increasingly competitive Premier League, they are under considerable performance pressure.

Training young talents without reservation is not quite feasible.

”He certainly has competitiveness.”

Philip had returned from Sheffield United some time ago, and the scene of watching live games still felt vivid, ”In the team, those in his position are Arshavin, Nasri.

”Arshavin hasn’t been stable this season, and his attitude towards football has been gradually declining. This is well known.

”His true competitor might only be the prime-aged Nasri.”

He didn’t continue, as ultimately, who is used will depend on Mr. Wenger’s decision.

”That’s settled then.”

Wenger intended to change the topic, so he brought up Ma’el’s contract, ”The player proposed a weekly pay of 38k over a four-year contract term. After discussing it with the sporting director, we intend to cut it down to around 34k.

”For the rest, we agree, and we’ll design the bonus clauses to be quite generous as an incentive.”

The assistant coaches exchanged looks, shook their heads, and expressed no objections, supporting the decision.

A weekly pay of thirty-four thousand pounds is not low for Arsenal’s first team.

They are a team whose strength and financial capabilities do not match. When other teams casually spend tens of millions of pounds to buy players, they could only afford those under 20 million pounds.

Being able to offer a 17-year-old player a 34k weekly pay in the current situation means Wenger has high hopes for his future.

But think about it, less than half a season in the Championship with double-digits in both goals and assists.

If not hopeful for him, then for whom?

At this moment, footsteps were heard from outside the door, and someone quickly entered, holding some pages of faxed documents.

”Everyone’s here.”

He glanced at the group with a sigh and handed the documents to Wenger, ”These are inquiry faxes from many clubs during this time. I noticed many inquiring about Ma’el, so I brought them over.”

Wenger took them, page by page, and after reading, passed them to Philip beside him.

His expression gradually turned heavy, as a worry deep in his heart seemed to rise, not wishing to see such matters occur.

”Ajax, Dortmund.”

Philip read out these club names like counting, listing them: ”Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Reading.....”

Someone interrupted, frowning, ”What’s the meaning, they all want to buy Ma’el? Even Tottenham is joining the fun?”

”Yes.”

Philip gave a wry smile, handing the fax from Chelsea to the crowd, ”Chelsea even made a direct offer, immediately offering 12 million pounds.”

million pounds.....Everyone on site was aware of the market situation.

Typically, quoting this price means the actual intended deal price is likely between 14 to 18 million pounds.

Truly deep-pocketed!

”For a 17-year-old player, have these people gone mad?”

An Arsenal assistant coach expressed his lack of understanding, sneering, ”Previously, they focused on prying Arsenal’s established stars. Now they’re starting directly from kids.”

After calming down for a moment and carefully considering the matter, the atmosphere on site fell into a silence.

Originally, they were still behind closed doors, thinking it’s their own kid, discussing slowly, and all decisions seemed possible.

But now it seems the situation has changed.

Many European teams know about him; some even threw out sky-high exploratory offers!

”I think.”

Philip broke the silence, speaking first, ”Is it because the player belongs to Arsenal that we might not be objective in viewing and positioning him?

”In reality, we should imagine how much we’d be willing to pay if we wanted to acquire him?”

The group started imagining, actually opening up a new perspective.

A 17-year-old with 10 goals and 11 assists in 18 Championship rounds, if in another team, and if they could spend over a ten million pounds to buy and start in the Premier League...there’s a good chance of getting a top star.

Sounds quite appealing?

People’s judgments are indeed easily limited, constrained by numerous excuses.

Things like he’s still young, hasn’t played top-level leagues, may not adapt, or his characteristics are too singular.

All nonsense, purely too complacent before, lacking a sense of crisis!

”40k weekly pay.”

After pondering for a long time, Wenger finally spoke, ”But the release clause should increase to 55 million pounds, with additional bonus clauses which I will redraft, ensuring our sincerity.”

He ’clicked’ lighting a cigarette, took a heavy drag, ”We can’t delay anymore, must sign a new contract with him immediately and clearly inform the player that we’ll recall him in the winter window.

”Moreover, I promise to give him a certain amount of playing time.”

He made this decision earnestly, people like him can’t speak carelessly; once said, it cannot be changed lightly.

Everyone present was shocked, Wenger’s personal promise is quite rare.

It seems, the interest of these clubs in Ma’el has indeed triggered Wenger’s sense of urgency.

...

ps: After writing all night, there’s a slight writer’s block, but the updates won’t be fewer; I’ll write more after waking up.