From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 320: Chapter 99: Big 6 Tour—Chelsea! Chasing a Perfect Month! Success Isn’t Enough; Immortality Is the Goal!

On October 29th, Arsenal’s last match in the third month of the season is about to arrive, as they head to Stanford Bridge Stadium to challenge Chelsea.

After this match, on October 30th, Italy’s Torino Sports Paper will announce the 30-man shortlist for the 2011 Golden Boy Award and officially confirm the winner in December, holding an award ceremony.

”I think there’s no suspense anymore.”

On the bus heading to Stanford Bridge, Alexander Song sat next to Ma’el and said, ”The only one who can compete with you is Dortmund’s Götze, but he clearly doesn’t compare to you.

”Götze had 8 goals and 11 assists last season, and so far this season has 4 goals and 2 assists, with a total of 12 goals and 13 assists in top leagues.

”But you? This season, with 9 matches and 12 goals, you sit at the top of the Premier League scoring chart, plus 5 assists, which also puts you in the top ten of the assist table.

”If we include the 4 goals and 4 assists in the Champions League, you already have 16 goals and 8 assists.”

”Shit!” Upon calculating this, Alexander Song couldn’t help but gasp in awe, the data was just too striking. ”I’ve been at Arsenal for so long, yet my stats are not much higher than yours now.”

”Different positions, you know.” Ma’el patted his shoulder to console him while comparing his stats with Götze’s, realizing he indeed held an absolute advantage.

And this is just the end of October. There’s a full month of November ahead... with his current fiery form, he could surely widen the gap further!

The only reason he could think of for the organizers not giving it to him is that Götze is a year older, and if he doesn’t win this year, he might never get another chance.

But that reason is undoubtedly a bit absurd... Ma’el believes that with overwhelming data, any reason will be shattered, and he will surely secure his first significant personal accolade.

Once he secures the Golden Boy Award!

He will officially step onto the mainstream stage of the world football scene, officially embarking on the pursuit of the Grand Slam!

This will be a signal, the first shot he fires in his entry into the core of the football world.

”Blue is the colour...football is the game!!

”We’re all together...and winning is our aim!!”

As the bus slowly drove around Stanford Bridge Stadium, the singing of Chelsea fans became clearer, and they had already blocked the surroundings of the stadium.

This was a team originally in the middle of the league, having won only one league title in history... but the introduction of Russian oligarch Abramovich changed it all.

With nearly 2 billion Pounds invested, he transformed this team into a top-tier European powerhouse!

In just a few years, they won over a dozen championship trophies, including a Champions League title!

Although Abramovich’s financial surge was heavily criticized early on, with people claiming he destroyed pure British football.

However, for Chelsea fans, he was a great owner, a respected owner!

Even, without his lavish spending kickstarting the Premier League’s financial boom, the league might never have reached future heights.

He led an era, initiating the Premier League’s golden age... yet he became a victim of the lie ”football has nothing to do with politics,” eventually unable even to protect his own assets.

When all was said and done, he gave his beloved team one last gift... forgiving debts worth 2.5 billion Pounds, essentially leaving the club with nothing.

”A man should be like Ah Bu.”

This was the highest praise from fans for this legendary owner and the best recognition.

Ma’el also liked him, admiring anyone willing to give so much for their passion and appreciating his loyalty.

If he ends his athletic career in the future, he might also try to become someone like Ah Bu... though that seems far off still.

”Chelsea...! Chelsea...!”

Refocusing, he looked outside the bus window at the fervent Chelsea fans, setting his mind on the match.

The respect for Chelsea’s owner and their team’s legend wouldn’t affect the adversarial relationship at this moment. He was eager to defeat them, to help Arsenal accomplish an important achievement—

An undefeated October!

The first five matches this month, covering the Premier League, Champions League, and English League Cup, were all victories!

A page of undefeated records!

Now, Chelsea has become the last hurdle on this month’s journey to overcome.

Defeating them would mark an important milestone for the team... proving they have what it takes to compete for the highest domestic honors!

”Be careful.”

Sitting in the front seat, Van Persie turned around and said to Ma’el, ”The hostility from Chelsea fans is almost on par with that from Tottenham fans.”

”Because of the London Derby?” Ma’el guessed the reason, though a bit puzzled, he asked, ”But there’s no real grudge between the two teams, even if it’s a derby match, it shouldn’t reach the intensity of the North London Derby, right?”

”Football is a sport that needs passion, and every team has an imagined enemy.”

At this point, Assistant Coach Philip spoke up, explaining, ”And Chelsea’s imagined enemies are Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

”It’s easy to understand, with all three teams in London and being top-tier clubs, peaceful coexistence is naturally impossible.”

”Wait, Tottenham is not.” Another assistant coach turned around to interrupt, speaking with seriousness.

”Haha... okay.”

Philip nodded with a smile and continued, ”Arsenal has had better records for the past ten-plus years, so naturally, Chelsea sees us as the biggest competitor.

”They hype up every match to create a ’clash of the titans’ atmosphere, wanting to defeat us and become the kings of London football.”