From Arsenal to the Ball God

”This halfway point finish is quite perfect, but sadly my performance wasn’t perfect.”

Van Persie suddenly stared at his face, staring for a long, long time, with a very complicated expression, ”The last sentence, are you serious? This performance isn’t perfect?”

Ma’el patted his shoulder and laughed, ”Alright, I’m different from you, I...”

”Oh...!” Van Persie sensed danger, suddenly waved towards the fans in the stands, shouting as a timely stop-loss.

Ma’el chuckled, turned, and walked into the Sheffield United fan zone, also to thank the Sheffield United fans.

Today, having twice shattered his former team’s goal, he still needed to express his apologies to them.

”Clap clap clap...!” When the Sheffield United fans saw him, they stood up and applauded him, just like at the start.

Looking at those adorable faces, Ma’el seemed to hear them talking to him... We forgive you, kid, go chase more.

Before long, back in the locker room, the players fully went into celebratory mode.

With Sagna and Alexander Song leading the way, everyone formed a circle, dancing bizarre dances, twisting their bodies in a mesmerizing way.

”Halfway champions!”

”Undefeated! Undefeated!”

”Is this the highest halfway point score in Arsenal’s history? Or even in English football?!”

”We’ll see the report after the match!”

Alexander Song somehow brought out a bottle of champagne, wanting to spray it at everyone, but it was quickly intercepted by Mertesacker, who threw it into the trash can... The top defender’s defensive awareness is impressive.

Song thought of AC Milan, slapped himself on the face, then pointed at Ma’el and laughed, ”The halfway Golden Boot is here too!”

”Long live Ma’el!”

”Long live Van Persie!”

”Long live Mr. Wenger!”

”Oh...!”

The locker room was ablaze as if they were awarding honors, even though there weren’t any real rewards, being recognized as ’You’re a big deal’ by the men was also nice.

”Haha...!”

”Mr. Wenger will surely be selected as the halfway best coach by the media? Ma’el as the best scorer, Van Persie as the best player?”

”Makes sense!”

Everyone laughed, and Ma’el joined in the jumping and laughter, dancing along with everyone.

Just then, the locker room door opened, and Gilbert sneaked in from the opposite locker room, walking over to Ma’el, ”That last goal was amazing! It’s the most powerful solo run I’ve ever seen!”

Before Ma’el could say anything to him, Gilbert was dragged into the center of the dance floor by everyone, celebrating together.

”Hey! Hey!” Gilbert felt slightly uneasy, initially resisting.

”Oh...!”

But when he felt Ma’el push him a bit, pushing him into the crowd’s center, he still smiled and danced with everyone.

Watching this scene, Ma’el felt a burst of happiness, unsure if at the end of the season, Gilbert could come back.

He always hoped they could fight side by side and that this friend could be by his side.

...

After the match, they didn’t hurry back to London but planned to find a restaurant or pub locally to celebrate the halfway championship.

”Ma’el, you stayed in this city for a year, where do you think is good?”

On the bus, Wenger and others turned to Ma’el for his opinion.

Ma’el first thought of the restaurant where he met Mendes for the first time, but after thinking about it, he pointed forward, ”There’s a nice pub on Bar Street, I’m good friends with the owner inside.”

”Bar Street?” Wenger thought for a moment, nodding, ”Alright, there should be plenty of food nearby, let’s take you to see old friends.”

Ma’el went to the front of the bus to guide the driver, quickly arriving at Kedao’Er’s place.

Many Sheffield United fans loitered nearby, looking dejected, and the place was quite full inside too.

When Ma’el smiled and pushed the door open, Kedao’Er, who was bragging with friends, immediately lit up, squeezed out from the counter, ”Ma’el? You really came?!

”I knew you wouldn’t forget me, that you’d come here! Come sit in the private room inside!”

Ma’el looked at him, smiling, ”We need the two largest private rooms, are they free?”

”Yes!” Kedao’Er nodded instinctively, then looked puzzled, wondering why Ma’el needed two large private rooms... But then, he saw Wenger walking in too.

”Ah...!” the old man exclaimed because he had already seen a large group of the Arsenal team.

”They, you...” his speech immediately became incoherent, ”How did you bring all of them? Please come in!

”We must take a group photo together later, I’ll hang it in the most prominent place in the bar! Thank you, Ma’el!”

Ma’el chuckled and led the Arsenal players in, drawing astonished sounds from the Sheffield United fans as they entered the private rooms.

Kedao’Er called up two young staff, excitedly running up and down, quickly arranging private rooms and glasses for everyone.

Upon learning about everyone’s dining needs, he volunteered, saying he knew what was tasty nearby and would get some for everyone.

”Oh-ho!”

”Drinking beer!”

”The celebration is here!”

Soon, excited voices from Arsenal players and coaches came from the two private rooms; everyone made an exception today, drinking a few beers and indulging in junk food they usually wouldn’t touch.

Kedao’Er stood outside the door, seemingly extremely happy just hearing their voices.

Getting red in the face from drinking, he waved to the old man beside him, bragging, ”See, old Kedao’Er still has quite the influence, I always said, everyone who knows Ma’el knows me.”

A fashionable elderly lady next to them watched him, eyes gleaming, seemingly developing some interest in him.

Kedao’Er noticed this, pretended to be nonchalant, and waved, ”Back then, two days before the championship match, I drank a case of beer with Ma’el, saying this was the ’killer brew.’

”He indeed delivered a kill shot that sent Queens Park flying, and to thank me, he downed two bottles of 275ml beer when he returned.”

...

At 11 p.m., Arsenal players stumbled out, each with a glowing face.

The bar was packed with people, seemingly wanting a close look at them, and quite a few police were present to maintain order.

Ma’el felt a doubled vision whenever he looked at things, shaking as he raised his hand, ”We will strive for an undefeated championship!”

”Go, Arsenal!”

”Dang dang dang...”

A joyful chorus rang out here, as the players took a final group photo with Kedao’Er in the bar before boarding the bus home.

Without a break in play, the second half of the season would arrive one after the other, signaling a new journey!

Ma’el went to the back of the bus, watching Kedao’Er excitedly shouting below with his phone, opened the window to hear what he was saying, ”I will raise the price of the three most expensive beers by 1 pound!”

”Haha...” Seeing the cute old man, he smiled, then joined Arsenal players in singing.

That day, they continued their joy into the hotel, infecting everywhere they passed with cheer.

Football, this sport that brings people joy, fills the spiritual realm... Once you fall in love, it truly becomes addictive.

Especially when you keep winning, edging closer to honor, closer to legendary achievements!

So, the halfway point concludes!

...

ps: The second half will be faster, only writing a few key matches.

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