From Arsenal to the Ball God

”In each round of the knock-out stage, there are bound to be two tug-of-war battles, and the latter might likely end in a draw, requiring a replay that would add unexpected burdens.

”Moreover, the club surely felt the hardship in January, and joining any new championship race at this time would exponentially increase the difficulty of progress across all lines.

”By then, not only would the new front be tough, but the Premier League and the English League Cup would also become difficult, making it easy to end up with nothing.”

Ma’el listened and nodded slowly, feeling there was some truth to it.

If they weren’t in full form to pursue the Champions League and FA Cup titles, the team could progress to a certain point in these events.

The FA Cup prize is barely worth mentioning, while the bulk of the Champions League prize comes from entering the Champions League and advancing past the group stage; the later stage bonuses aren’t much.

Looking at it this way, he’s more inclined to focus all efforts in his first top-level season on competing for the league and English League Cup titles first!

In pursuit of the Double Crown!

As for the Champions League and FA Cup, wait until they adapt to this first season and embark on the second-year journey, then give it their all.

As long as they succeed on these two fronts this season, and if he performs phenomenally, Arsenal will undoubtedly gain the confidence to prepare for their first Champions League title next year.

By then, the team is bound to be strong and fully prepared!

”That’s right.”

Ma’el agreed with Davis but still added: ”However, if the club wants to continue exploring these two fronts, I will still give my all to push ahead.

”After all, my goal is the Grand Slam. The more I adapt to and understand these events, the greater the probability of winning them in the future.”

Davis smiled, shifting his gaze from the schedule to the surrounding photo wall.

Seeing those celebratory moves, the smiling faces from different times, and the photos of roaring and fist-pumping moments on various fields.

Who would doubt that Ma’el, who always follows through, cannot achieve this grand declaration?

If he, in his first season, can lead Arsenal to accomplish the Double Crown as the absolute core, he will instantly become a superstar, the most spectacular debut player.

In the European Cup in June, he would also stand among famous players, becoming one of the most anticipated stars.

...

That afternoon, at the peak of Ma’el’s popularity, the first episode of his column program with Arsenal officially aired.

In his column, Mr. Wenger, in a suit, became the opening guest.

The screen was dim, with only a few natural light streaks on the left lighting up Wenger’s back silhouette, drawing attention to his movements.

He walked towards a high stool with no backrest, sat there facing the camera, and smiled.

”Are we starting?”

His voice sounded, followed by a screen rotation, and high-energy music played as the agent powerhouse Mendes briskly entered the studio, interspersed with various angles of Wenger’s interview clips.

When the opening music ended, the screen settled on Ma’el training on the field.

This was a very smooth start, followed by a section of Ma’el’s self-narration about his training and life, serving as a simple introduction to the column.

Then, the training scenes alternated with Wenger and Mendes speaking, using a parallel montage technique for cross-promotion.

”He is the best.”

Mendes said with a confident smile, spreading his hands: ”You can’t find a better 18-year-old player than him. Perhaps Pele won the World Cup at 17, but when the Brazilian king first emerged, he didn’t have this intensity.”

”What about Cristiano?” a female voice-over chimed in, it was Amelia’s voice.

Mendes’s smile froze a bit, looking at Amelia, delaying his response.

”Just kidding.” Amelia knew the boundaries and quickly smoothed over the question with a smile.

”Haha....”

Mendes laughed heartily, and the camera shifted once again to Ma’el practicing dribbling on the field.

This allowed many people for the first time to feel the intensity of his extra training and have a clearer understanding of his diligence.

They loved watching these because it brought them closer to Ma’el, almost like they were accompanying Ma’el in his training.

”As I just said, he will bring championships to Arsenal.”

Wenger soon appeared on the screen again, sitting on the stool with a calm expression, ”I’m not someone who likes to make promises, but I think, very likely, it’s this season.”

The footage then mixed in the highlights of several of Ma’el’s matches in January, occasionally inserting scenes of Wenger watching projections with focused attention.

”Fulham, Swansea, Manchester United, without him, it would be hard for us to score points in these three Premier League matches.”

”Especially the last game, the victory was too crucial, the team regained its soul, and now we must go all out to compete for the Premier League and English League Cup titles, the season has reached its final moments.”

”What about the FA Cup and Champions League?”

”I should have answered a similar question before. The hope Ma’el brings for the championship is hard-earned, after several seasons without a title, I won’t have too much ambition for the moment.

”If the two still distant fronts affect the already championship-competitive fronts, I will focus on the championship fronts.”