From Arsenal to the Ball God

Even if you break his stats into two people, both of them would still be called efficient.

”Sheffield United easily defeats Crystal Palace 2-0! Bolodanovich scores upon return, Quinn’s world-class goal seals the victory!” — Sky Sports Championship Column

......

February 21, Brisbane Road Stadium.

The FA Cup fifth-round match between Arsenal and the English First Division team Leighton East kicked off here, with Arsenal fielding their main lineup.

Wenger still places significant importance on the FA Cup. Rumor has it that he has faced several potential sackings at Arsenal, but each time he manages to secure an FA Cup title to retain his position.

The FA Cup is thus jokingly referred to by fans as the warming cup.

However, the reality is somewhat different; the Arsenal higher-ups probably aren’t eager to let Wenger go, as everyone knows what he means to the team.

”Bang!!”

In the 89th minute of the match, during a counterattack, Leighton East unleashed their second shot of the entire game.

This shot managed to slip through goalkeeper Amunia’s hands and slam into the net!

One to one!

”Yeah.....!!” Home fans erupted into a frenzy; nobody expected them to score against Arsenal, and it seemed likely they’d hold on for a draw.

Wenger stood on the sidelines with a furrowed brow, tilting his head back and closing his eyes, utterly helpless.

He looked towards the substitutes’ bench, where Fabregas, Nasri, and a more in-form Szczeny waited.

But scoring at this juncture, what use is there in bringing them on?

”Beep...Beep...Beep.....!!”

The referee soon blew the whistle to signal the end of the match, and the Arsenal players walked off the field with darkened expressions, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

After shaking hands with the opposing coach, Wenger didn’t return to the locker room; instead, he sat alone on the coach’s seat, head lowered, for a very long time.

In the FA Cup, a draw leads to a replay rather than penalty kicks or extra time.

At this crucial moment, any replay could disrupt their plans; they might as well have straightforwardly lost to Leighton East.

Playing like this, there was truly no need to persist in this cup run this season.

Wenger resigned himself somewhat, sighing deeply when he noticed a few from the opposing team’s coaching staff approaching for pictures.

He managed to muster a few smiles, feeling that his exhaustion had reached its peak.

...

February 23, Championship Round 33.

Sheffield United faced an away game in this round of the league. Their schedule this season mostly alternated between two home and two away games, maintaining a relatively balanced arrangement.

”Harry Maguire! Making his first appearance in the starting lineup today, this is his professional debut. Garrispeed trusts him immensely, just as he once trusted Ma’el.

”Speaking of which, Maguire’s name sounds somewhat similar to Ma’el’s; I wonder what their relationship is like in private!”

”.....”

”Ma’el dribbles and cuts inside, something that has become a commonplace skill for him in the Championship; he occasionally drives towards the center with the ball!

”Generally speaking, he has three options: one, create space to launch a dipping shot towards the far corner; two, if no space is created, he’ll pass horizontally to a midfield player.

”The third option is when he spots a teammate making a run, he’ll swiftly play a through pass to them.

”This time, it seems he’s going for the shot! A dipping shot to the far corner? He fakes, repositions his leg, and this time it’s a full volley aimed at the near corner!

”It’s a goal!! Ma’el scores the first goal of the match, a brilliant and misdirecting goal!

”Attracting the opponent’s goalkeeper to lean towards the far corner, he then suddenly shoots towards the near corner, demonstrating good football intelligence! Great observation too!”

”.....”

”A scramble in front of the Sheffield goal! Maguire tries to clear it over the baseline, a slide tackle! Missed it... tripped Miller! Is Miller going down? No, he regains balance!

”A low push shot!! The ball slams into the far corner, one to one!!”

”.....”

”Maguire misjudges a header! Behind him is Joe Garner! He easily heads it in! Sheffield United made a mistake, Maguire pays for his inexperience!

”Two to one! Scunthorpe leads!”

”Maguire looks remorseful, he’s nearly in tears. That header should not have been misjudged, but he’s still young and has plenty of time to correct his mistakes!”

”.....”

”Ched Evans, a ground pass from Ma’el! He controls the ball in the center of the box, what will he decide?!

”Oh oh...! A toe-poke finish! It’s lethal! Two to two, they’ve equalized!”

”.....”

”A chance from the left spot-kick, created by Ma’el, he’ll take it. Several defenders positioned centrally in the box, they are indispensable targets for the set-piece!

”Ma’el’s pass! Perfectly placed, Maguire! Tall stature, decent jumping ability! He’s got to it... it’s in!! Three to two, it’s actually Maguire who scored this goal!

”Redeeming himself! He must thank Ma’el, who provided him with his first career goal, especially at such a critical moment!”

”.....”

In the footage, Maguire rushes towards Ma’el like a mighty warship, ready to crash into him.

Ma’el initially wanted to catch him, but realized afterwards that Maguire might weigh close to 200 pounds, and quickly sidestepped out of the way.

”Haha....!” He laughed heartily and proudly, in moments of emotional highs like this, every feeling tends to intensify.

The media captured Maguire’s momentary confusion and slight embarrassment, as well as Ma’el’s wide-open mouth—this snapshot of celebration upon overturning the score became the backdrop image post-match.

”Smile broader! You deserve it! Sheffield United edges out Scunthorpe 3-2! The team’s youth prospect Maguire scores the winning goal, Garrispeed falls in love with using young talent!” — Sun Main Column

”Last season, the average starting lineup age for Sheffield United was 29.7 years, the fourth oldest team in the entire Championship, yet this season, their average starting lineup age is only 24.2 years, the second youngest team!” — BBC Statistics Column

......

”Uhoh.....Uhoh.....!!”

February 28, Wembley Stadium, thunderous cheers never ceased, shattering the peace of the surrounding squares.

This is a stadium steeped in history; it hosted football finals in the 1948 and 2012 Olympics, and also witnessed England’s glorious victory in the 1966 World Cup!

It is also the current venue for the FA Cup and the English League Cup finals, and the home stadium for the England National Team.

It is recognized as the greatest football stadium in the world, with ninety thousand seats, and historically, the ”white horse final” once drew in two hundred and forty thousand spectators!

It can be said, in the United Kingdom, and across Europe, throughout the world. All children who play football dream of one day being able to play a game here!

Today, the final of this season’s English League Cup kicks off here.

The two teams facing off are Arsenal, whose star player Fabregas is recently absent due to injury, and Birmingham arriving here in a Cinderella fairytale fashion!

In the 83rd minute of the match, with the score tied at one apiece, both sides fiercely contended, Birmingham opted for a substitution, sending on Martins to replace Fahk.

Six minutes passed, and by the 89th minute comes a familiar time, a time that has just recently borne Arsenal’s anguish.

”Bang!”

Freshly subbed-on Martins seized the opportunity when goalkeeper Amunia fumbled a save, quickly rushing forward to deliver a powerful push with his locked ankle, sending the ball with utmost simplicity into Arsenal’s net.

”Yeah.....!!!” The cheering from the spectators transcends mere celebration; it’s as if everyone became deaf and only at this moment regained their hearing, immediately hearing the piercing noise.

Martins celebrated on Wembley Stadium’s field turf with triumphant knee slides, executing four consecutive celebratory moves to fully unleash his emotions.

”Ah....!”

On the Arsenal coach’s bench, Wenger leaned back and spread his arms, shaking his head repeatedly, ultimately crouching down slowly.

He braced his elbow on his knee, shielding his face partially with his hand, unable to believe that the championship closest this season, probably the only one they had a shot at, slipped away like this.

He is truly tired, too tired for words.

”Beep! Beep! Beep—!”

The referee blew the final whistle shortly thereafter, Arsenal’s players sat on the ground, thumping their chests and stamping their feet in vexation.

Wenger forced himself to endure the pain, using the last of his will to sustain himself, exchanging perfunctory handshakes and forced smiles with the opposing coach, standing by the sidelines waiting for his players to return.

”Upset! Arsenal defeated 2-1 by Birmingham! Painfully loses the English League Cup! Some fans claim, ’Without Fabregas, this team is nothing.’” — Manchester Evening Paper