From Arsenal to the Ball God

This wasn’t even a good chance, how did it end up as a penalty?

”What are you doing?”

Wenger bypassed his hand and came to his front, trying to contain his emotions, he said angrily: ”It’s so obvious, are you trying to pressure the referee not to call it?!”

Ferguson didn’t intend to pressure the referee, nor did he respond. He just firmly blocked Wenger, not wanting him to influence the decision.

”What’s going on?”

”What are you doing?”

Pandemonium broke out on the sidelines, with substitute players and assistant coaches from both sides running over, standing behind the two, some trying to pull them away, others preparing for things to escalate.

Amid the frightened and guilty expressions of all the Manchester United players, the referee finally put the whistle to his lips and pointed his right hand towards the penalty spot: ”Beep!!”

He then retrieved a yellow card from his chest and walked over to Smolin.

”Yeah.....!” Arsenal fans erupted in cheers, this was almost as good as multiple goals.

They were very likely to level the score!

Ma’el stood up in the penalty area and embraced his teammates, happily high-fiving to celebrate.

If Van Persie could score this penalty, and bring both sides back to the same starting line early, the chances of Arsenal players suffering a mental collapse would be minimal, and likely the final gap wouldn’t be too large.

”Well done!”

On the sidelines, Wenger and Ferguson stepped back a few meters. There was no longer a need to argue; applauding Ma’el and the referee was enough.

”Ma’el created a penalty for Arsenal! A sharp breakthrough! Manchester United’s defense showed a flaw, they fear speed!”

”Hehe....”

”This defensive duo of Phil Jones and Smolin, they seemed a bit careless.....how could they let Ma’el slip through?”

”I thought Ma’el was going to return possession to Manchester United, but instead, the situation changed suddenly, and a penalty was created!”

”Ah! But, to be fair, it was all about speed....what’s that called? Using individual ability to disrupt the balance and create a miraculous opportunity.”

Zhan Jun and Zhang Lu chatted, both watching the field, waiting for Van Persie’s penalty.

...

”Beep!”

The referee quickly blew the whistle, signaling that the penalty could be taken, Van Persie swallowed, glanced at De Gea, and began his run-up.

”Boooo....!” More than sixty thousand Manchester United fans let out deep and resonant boos, hoping this would affect his mindset and put some pressure on him.

Now, they could only hope that the young De Gea would save the kick.

Phil Jones and Smolin, the two main culprits, lowered their stance on the edge of the box, ready to defend immediately. They were the ones hoping the most for De Gea to perform heroically.

Ma’el was right beside them, also prepared, ready to charge in as soon as Van Persie took the kick to seize any potential rebound opportunity.

”Boom!!”

Under immense pressure, Van Persie began his run-up, taking a few small quick steps and finishing with two long strides to push the ball towards the bottom left corner of the goal.

To the Manchester United fans’ delight, De Gea had predicted the direction to be the bottom left corner, and he rapidly dived sideways, stretching out to cover the entire left side of the goal.

”Slap!” The soccer hit his stomach and didn’t enter the net.

”Oh.....!” Cheers first erupted from the stands behind De Gea, then filled the entire stadium as they saw De Gea block the ball.

Arsenal fans went silent, many feeling a pit in their stomachs.

”Beautiful!” Ferguson on the sidelines waved his right fist, his face flushing red with excitement.

Wenger stood still, then lifted his head to see Ma’el rushing into the box.

”Thump thump thump.....!”

As Van Persie was the first to react and sprint towards the ball, the sound of cleats hitting the ground followed, with several Manchester United and Arsenal players simultaneously rushing into the box.

Most ran faster than Van Persie since they had begun sprinting as soon as the penalty started, skipping a reaction time.

A second later, Manchester United fans’ cheers abruptly stopped because the first person to reach the ball was Ma’el, wearing Arsenal’s away kit.

”Ah!” Chaos erupted in Manchester United’s penalty area, with someone shouting out a warning to those closest to Ma’el.

Phil Jones and Smolin, realizing Ma’el surpassed them, made desperate sliding tackles towards the ball, making one last-ditch effort.

Ma’el ignored them, reckoning that if he were fouled then, it’d be a red card and penalty.

”Bang!”

He just took a step, reached the ball, and before De Gea could get up, he calmly pushed it into the empty net.

It’s in!

A rebound goal!!

Seeing the ball hit the net, a surge of emotion roiled inside him, flames igniting in his chest, propelling him to skip gracefully over Phil Jones and Smolin’s sliding tackles and sprint towards the sidelines.

The first goal against a Big6!

Happening against Manchester United!

The fourth Premier League goal!

There will be new photos for the wall!

As Manchester United fans and players held their heads in their hands, rolling their eyes upwards, the previously quiet Arsenal fans took charge of Old Trafford, erupting in cheers: ”Oh.....!”

In just ten seconds, it was a roller coaster of emotions, both sides experiencing cycles of heaven and hell!

But in the end, it was heaven for Arsenal and hell for Manchester United!

”The goal’s in!!”

In the studio, Zhan Jun shouted his catchphrase, excitedly saying: ”Ma’el’s rebound shot! In an instant, the situation turned again! The celebrating side has become Arsenal!