From Arsenal to the Ball God

But so what!

To witness it is a fortune!

...

Inside the stadium, it’s the 41st minute of the match.

”Thump thump thump!!”

Ma’el saw Gilbert controlling the ball in the midfield, breaking free from the opponent, swiftly accelerating into space ahead.

Clint Hill reacted a bit sluggishly, fearing Ma’el would surpass him, instinctively stretched out his right hand to push him down.

Ma’el tumbled sideways, hearing a discontented murmur from the South Stand: ”Hey!!”

The referee turned just in time to see Clint Hill retract his hand, shrugging innocently as if he did nothing.

”Beep!”

Yet he trusted his instinct, rushed forward, and pulled out a yellow card.

Home fans remained silent, while away fans burst into cheers: ”Oh.....! Well done! Well done!!”

Ma’el stood up, moved towards the ball, as Sheffield United’s aerial talents had all gathered in the center of the penalty box, mingling tightly with opposing defenders.

”Boom!”

He skillfully curled a beautiful outside arc with his right foot, sending the ball spinning toward the far post.

”Boom!!” Maguire, who had stormed in, contested fiercely for the ball, as the ball headed toward the goal, it was blocked by the defender, Hall, who used the junction point of his waist and arm to stop the ball.

Everything happened so quickly, no one could see if it hit the waist or the hand.

”Hey!” Sheffield United players swiftly raised their hands, looking over at the referee’s position, hoping for a penalty.

”Hiss hiss.....!” This provoked the dissatisfaction and anxiety of the home fans, who began jeering to pressure the referee, cursing Sheffield United players.

”Diving!!”

”Have some shame!”

”Ignore them, just play!”

After Hall blocked the ball, he cleared it towards the front, where Helguson had once again won the aerial duel, triggering Queens Park Rangers’ counterattack!

The referee didn’t blow the whistle, instead, he followed the ball’s direction.

Sheffield United players had no choice, they desperately raced back, hoping not to have their defense easily breached.

Everyone’s emotions were on edge; any small change on the field could ignite their feelings!

...

”Beep! Beep——!”

Not long after, the referee blew the whistle for the end of the first half, and players from both teams headed back to the locker rooms to rest.

Neither team scored, the score temporarily remains at zero to zero!

On the surface, everything seems calm, but there’s an undercurrent; any minor mistake by a player could cost them the championship trophy.

In the VIP area, Wenger adjusted his seating posture, brushing his hair on the temple.

”Truly nerve-wracking.”

Mendes, on his right, turned and smiled as he asked, ”Mr. Wenger, what do you think of the first half? Who performed better?”

”The home team did better.”

Wenger coughed twice, frankly saying: ”Whether in attacking or defending, they almost reached the highest level at this stage, creating many opportunities, seemingly flawless.

”As for Sheffield United, Ma’el and that Janu Hans... seems like that’s the name, they’re the only bright spots; other players basically can only wait for them to initiate attacks.

”However, in matches, nothing is definitive; often less chances are capitalized for more goals.”

Mendes nodded slightly, it was his first time sitting with Wenger to watch a game, carrying a certain novel feeling.

He noticed Hans beside Wenger, whose legs were intermittently twitching and tightly clenched, then slowly released, appearing extremely agitated.

”Why not speak?”

He greeted Hans before the match, aware he’s Ma’el’s youth coach who assisted Ma’el, asking with a smile: ”It’s been so long since the start, not a word spoken, soul seems sucked away.”

Hans’ lips trembled, his voice shaky: ”Worried.... tense.”

Mendes leaned back laughing, counted the people seated there, requested ten beers, gave everyone a glass except Eva, raised his glass, saying: ”Don’t be tense, let’s cheer for them!”

”Cheers!”

”Go Ma’el!”

Everyone raised their beer, some taking a big gulp, others just a sip, all indicating their gesture.

But trying to relieve their worry with this method was evidently ineffective.

”I’m sweating.”

Clément grasped his wife Betty’s hand, an uncommon romantic moment for this middle-aged couple, though due to anxiety.

”Me too.”

Betty used her other hand to steady her chest, attempting to calm herself, but to no avail.

...

Norwich at home, Carrow Road Stadium.

A tense game was underway, with Norwich ranked third in the league against fifth-ranked Cardiff City!

The match had entered stoppage time of the first half, yet neither side had scored.

Team coach Neil stood at the sideline, continuously checking his watch, pacing back and forth.

He knew they must win this match, otherwise, they would face the complicated playoffs.

However..... even after a win, they would still depend on Sheffield United, hoping they could defeat Queens Park.

This feeling wasn’t pleasant, akin to insistently pursuing an elusive, hopeless cause, while you cannot opt out.

”Bang!!”

In the first minute of stoppage time, midfielder Hulahan found himself in a less than ideal position, charging into the box, poking the ball before falling down.

The ball slipped through the goalkeeper’s legs, sneaking into the net!