From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Wow...!!”

The shouts echoed as Ma’el turned back for one last glance at Robinson, then sprinted toward the edge of the field, his heart gradually filling with joy, emotions surging as if they were about to overflow.

26th league goal!

40+ now!

A new moment!

Ma’el had been contemplating a celebration move to commemorate this milestone, but in the heat of the moment, he ran too fast and couldn’t decide until he leaped at the sideline.

As he jumped, he didn’t want to do that awkward move of Wu Qiuwang spinning his hands... His brain sped through ideas mid-air, and he remembered the iconic celebration of the French runner Mbappe.

”Boom....!!”

Upon landing, he tucked both hands under his armpits and shouted, managing to land smoothly after a stylish goal without any embarrassment.

”Oh.....!” His new celebration immediately sparked cheers from the Arsenal fans. They all noticed he seemed quite adept at inventing creative celebrations.

Not only mimicking past ones but also creating entirely new ones.

Steal!

Just steal!

He intended to steal all the classic celebrations that followed, making them his own.

After lowering his hands, a burning excitement still lingered in his heart, but he couldn’t smoothly transition to any other celebration, so he settled for Director Mu’s clenched fist and growling scream, ”Yeah.....!”

However, the way he performed this move was undoubtedly different from Mbappe’s; even in this state, his looks were impressive.

To fully honor the classic, he looked back at the teammates following behind, turned around, and raised his fists again, opening his mouth wide toward the camera, ”Aahh.....!!”

Another three-part celebration!

”Leon Ma’el! I must reintroduce this player to you; he’s already notched 1 goal and 2 assists in this match!”

In the live broadcast booth, Sky Sports’ legendary commentator Martin Taylor, wearing headphones, stood next to his partner, exclaiming, ”Up to now, the player has scored 26 goals and completed 14 Premier League assists!”

”The number of goals created has surpassed 40+, equaling Henry’s record of goal creation in the 02-03 season, where he accomplished the miracle of 20 goals and 20 assists!

”But now, an even more astounding player has undoubtedly emerged on this stage, appearing at Arsenal with an average goal creation efficiency of over 1.5 per game.

”At this moment, Henry is sitting on the Arsenal bench; we can only wonder what emotions this Arsenal legend might feel seeing his own record being matched by the team’s young talent!

”A beautiful goal! Ma’el danced in the small penalty area, flicked the ball past the goalkeeper, and volleyed it into the net!

”It’s as if he dissects the football into atoms, then reassembles it behind the goalkeeper, ultimately volleying it in with a shot! I don’t know what adjectives to use; any more praise for Ma’el would be redundant!”

”.....”

On the sideline, in front of the Arsenal dugout, Wenger, along with Philip and others, finished celebrating and specifically approached Henry, whose expression was quite interesting.

”You used to say his stats don’t say everything about him, what about now?”

Wenger looked at this once outstanding disciple, and then at the excellent pupil on the field now, unable to suppress a sense of happiness, ”Do you regret it? Want to take back those words?”

He wasn’t implying that Henry was wrong; everyone agreed that the current stats have yet to showcase all of Ma’el’s talents.

What he wished to convey was more about reuniting with an old friend after a long time, boasting about his own current superior conditions and prosperous living.

This allowed him to make even loftier expectations for the future by leaning on the glory he created with old friends in the past.

Even though he had done it countless times, he still couldn’t restrain his emotions and always wanted to express to Henry.

”Yes.” Henry gazed at Ma’el, hearing Wenger’s words echoing in his ears, thinking back to the 02-03 season, unable to hold back a mixture of emotions, ”If he keeps playing like this, people will forget how brilliant I was back then.

”Haha..... I’m serious, people will forget my dominance on this battlefield in those days.”

Wenger also grinned, watching the wildly celebrating Ma’el, feeling a surge of impulse to rush over and celebrate with him.

Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time; maybe when it came to the championship battle, at the very last moment, he could sprint to his protégé.

...

The match continued, and with this conceded goal, Blackburn lost their last bit of spirit, unable even to summon their anger, mechanically going through the motions of attack and defense.

”Bang!”

”Clap!”

In the 59th minute, Walcott cut in from the right flank and unleashed a shot, which the goalkeeper Robinson punched to the side with both fists.

Sagna, who had moved up for the attack, picked up the ball again and swung a cross into the box.

Van Persie watched the ball’s drop point and started moving, as Ma’el charged into the box too.

But what no one expected was Brother Ta leaping in first, heading the ball he wasn’t even skilled at before Van Persie.

”Bang... swish!”

The ball bounced off the ground and went into the top corner of the net.

Five-nil!

Arsenal didn’t even go for a big celebration this time; a few handshakes and hugs in place, and they returned to the midfield line arc.

Fourteen minutes later, Van Persie delivered a heel pass to Walcott on the right, ”Little Tiger” charged into the box, nutmegged the goalkeeper, and scored again.

Six-nil!

A massacre is happening!

Blackburn’s coach crouched at the touchline, unable to face the sight of his own team.

In the 89th minute, Ma’el dribbled once more toward the opponent’s backfield; he hadn’t completed an assist hat-trick yet, so it was time to try.

”Bang bang bang....!”

Dribbling toward Blackburn’s defense, he hadn’t even launched his attack before their defense showed signs of extreme disarray.

How unfortunate for them.

”Bang!”

Using the inside of his right foot, he struck the bottom-center of the ball, sending a curving through-ball behind the opponent’s defense.

Van Persie shot forward, bypassing the lifeless center-back Givvi, and dribbled past the goalkeeper with one touch.

”Yeah.....!”

Ma’el raised his hands early from behind; he knew Van Persie wouldn’t let down such a pass in that kind of situation, the Dutch forward was always reliable.

”Bang!”

As Van Persie slotted his 23rd goal of the season into the net, everyone at the Emirates Stadium began the shoulder-to-shoulder celebratory jump with backs to the field, ”Oh...Oh...Oh.....!!”

Seven-nil!

Another ”Lucky Seven”!

Arsenal has bounced back!

”Nice pass!”

Van Persie turned with a smile, reaching out both hands toward Ma’el, ”Just slightly less impressive than mine.”

”Pfft.” Ma’el naturally wouldn’t concede, but still laughed, ”In light of my assist hat-trick, I won’t argue with you.”

An assist hat-trick is definitely a greater achievement than a goal-scoring hat-trick.

Fortunately, his form was excellent in this match, and his teammates’ finishing touch was strong, allowing him to accomplish this significant feat in his first season at the top league!

”Beep! Beep! Beep——!”

The referee, without waiting for the fourth official to raise the stoppage time board, blew the whistle to end the match, liberating Blackburn’s players.

Arsenal’s players gathered in a circle in the middle of the pitch, dancing in celebration of their three consecutive victories since beating Manchester United!

”Match ball!”

Ma’el latched onto the referee, asking for the hat-trick ball post-match, ”Hold on, the ball hasn’t been given to me.”

”Does an assist hat-trick require a match ball?” The referee turned with his head scratched, searching his memory, but recalling a player completing such a feat seemed quite difficult.

”Who cares.”

Ma’el simply grabbed the football from the referee’s arms, knowing he could pick up any ball, but getting it from the ref would undoubtedly have more ceremonial value, ”Sign it, please, you three.”

Cradling the ball in his arms, he gestured for them to leave their names on it—a long-standing tradition.

The three referees exchanged a glance, then chuckled and pulled out their pens, leaving their signatures.

With the ball held to his chest, Ma’el felt a rush of exhilaration. This season, both goal hat-tricks and assist hat-tricks were now achieved.

Only the championship remains!

At month’s end, the title race awaits!