From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Oh my goodness!!”

In the broadcast studio, Shen Fangjian from CCTV5 shouted his catchphrase excitedly: ”The ball is in! Ma’el’s long shot has expanded the lead! It’s a world-class strike! A heavy cannon!”

”I was just saying that although this is a friendly match, Bayern Munich would surely have done some research on Arsenal’s new players before the game. Only with thorough preparation can they better test their technical and tactical strategies!”

”Before I could finish, Ma’el effortlessly stopped the ball in an open space and fired a shot that struck Bayern Munich’s goal!”

”Heynckes wasn’t thorough with his work. Even I know that Ma’el has a long shot that makes all teams in the Championship tremble... Was he trying to test the new signing Neuer’s save ability?”

”If that’s the case, then this experiment can be declared a failure. Neuer stood too awkwardly on the goal line!”

He jokingly teased Bayern Munich’s coach Heynckes, as he was a highly subjective commentator.

On Bayern’s bench, Heynckes spread his hands in complaint with the team’s three midfielders, looking displeased, seemingly thinking the team shouldn’t make such basic errors.

Especially Toni Kroos, who was just standing not far from Ma’el, yet failed to guard the second point, allowing Ma’el to shoot from outside the line.

”Toni! Toni!”

Heynckes’ face was red, squeezing out a bitter smile: ”In that position, you have to keep an eye on the player and prevent him from shooting.”

Feeling like it was too late to talk since the goal was already conceded, he turned to the warm-up area, shouting: ”Alaba, warm up your body well, run more, don’t get injured later!”

”Okay, boss.” Alaba enthusiastically saluted and waved, already excited and ready to face Ma’el.

Heynckes didn’t focus on him but instead looked beyond Alaba towards Arsenal’s bench.

Over there, Wenger’s celebration was a bit more uninhibited this time, extending his long arms to embrace the surrounding people, smiling.

”How long can you hold onto this...”

He muttered without any irony or sarcasm, only curiosity and amazement at Ma’el’s performance in the match.

”Gabi.” Heynckes shifted his gaze back to the bench and asked: ”What’s Ma’el’s current value?”

”Transfermarkt has it at 20 million at the moment.”

An assistant coach responsible for gathering information responded, saying: ”I heard Chelsea offered nearly 30 million Euro, but Arsenal isn’t interested in selling.”

”Not selling even for 30 million?”

Heynckes looked in Wenger’s direction in surprise, shook his head, and sighed: ”Too expensive. Instead of going over 30 million, why not try bidding for Dortmund’s Götze? He’s going to be the next Messi.”

”And Ma’el?” An assistant asked, curious about his opinion.

”More like a young Henry.”

Heynckes honestly shared his view, continuing: ”He’s the kind of player who immediately impresses because he has speed, power, and passing and shooting skills.

”But in terms of creativity, he’s not comparable to players like Messi or Götze.

”Those traits are innate—either you have them or you don’t; he won’t often surprise you.””

”However...” The assistant hesitated but eventually said: ”A young Henry is also great and is what Arsenal needs now.”

”Indeed.”

Heynckes didn’t deny it, smiling as he looked at the field: ”But don’t forget, we have peak Robben.”

......

”Beep! Beep——!”

The referee quickly blew the whistle to end the first half of the match, and both teams retreated to their dressing rooms to rest.

Arsenal’s players managed to stay calm before entering the dressing room, but once inside, they jubilantly jumped around celebrating, chanting Ma’el’s name.

”Ma’el.....! Ma’el.....!”

They spared no praise, even exaggeratingly hoisting Ma’el into the air, the best way to express their fervent admiration.

”Happy Birthday!”

”You’re absolutely awesome!”

”He’s overshadowed us.”

”Let him treat us to a meal after the match.”

Players chatted away, genuinely happy to see a young player in the team delivering such a debut performance.

No matter the reason for playing or how much they love football.

Having reached this position, they most desire three things: wealth, fame, and most importantly, ’honor’.

Arguably, as long as one achieves honor, wealth and fame will naturally skyrocket like bamboo shoots after a rain.

Honor represents everything for a player!

In this context, they all fervently hope their club will produce powerful players... as long as they’re not in the same position, not competing for their core status.

Of course, if a player leads them to a championship.

Sacrificing their core position, even their starting role, might be acceptable, depending on what the player brings to them.

Arsenal players won’t directly view Ma’el as the one to lead them to a championship, but as a promising young talent, he’s quite favorable.

Many have been in the team for so long that their hope for honor has waned, gradually feeling like they’re stagnating.

Upon seeing Ma’el, they might rekindle hope for the future, hoping this growing young general becomes the team’s backbone, performing as splendidly as Highbury’s King Henry back then.