From Arsenal to the Ball God

At 9 PM, media outlets worldwide disseminated the news, and Ma’el once again became a hot topic.

Among these reports, one from the Data Statistics Society was particularly noteworthy, sparking extensive discussion among fans upon its release.

”141 million Euros! Since Ma’el returned to Arsenal, the team has maintained a hot streak and shown championship competitiveness, leading to a massive increase in player values within the team, with a total increase of 141 million!” —— Data Statistics Society

It initially draws attention with a staggering number, further enticing viewers by magnifying Ma’el’s contributions.

In the report’s main text, it elaborates on its viewpoint with roughly 250 characters.

”Last July, when Ma’el returned to the team, Arsenal had just completed its seventh trophyless season, with player performances fluctuating. Including Ma’el’s 20 million, the total value was only 234 million Euros.

”But this season, with Ma’el’s arrival, Arsenal achieved an impressive 20 wins and 5 draws in the league and reached the final in the English League Cup!

”Several players performed consistently, often delivering brief surges of excellent play! Especially Ma’el, Van Persie, Alexander Song, Arteta, Walcott, and others, who saw significant increases in value.

”As of the latest update, Arsenal’s total team value has reached 375 million Euros, making it the ninth most valuable club globally!

”It’s hard to say Ma’el’s influence isn’t significant for this team; without him, the club wouldn’t have seen nearly 150 million Euros in value increase!”

This kind of praise is quite interesting, enough to cause Ma’el’s fans to twitch with excitement as they hold their phones.

They light a cigarette and play the theme song of Fast & Furious 5 at home, nodding and closing their eyes to savor the moment.

Meanwhile, fans from around the world also shared their views.

”I think it’s true; without him, the team would be the same this season.”

”Van Persie’s value last season was only 35 million; this season it’s 60 million, another increase of over 25 million, purely from his hard work dragging the team along, this season at most 40 million.”

”That’s reasonable, but to attribute it all to Ma’el wouldn’t be fair.”

”As Arsenal fans, there’s no debate; he’s brought a whole new look to the team!”

”Yeah, why do we care about the values? That’s for management to consider; we just enjoy watching the games. At least he’s brought hope for a championship.”

”Listening to everyone, it seems that indirectly, it’s acknowledged that Ma’el has increased the team’s value.”

”What else? Just not mentioning others, just talking about him: a player with zero transfer fee, going from nothing to 70 million Euros over two seasons – isn’t that already a 70 million increase?”

”Exactly, when you think of it like that, I quite agree with that comment.”

”Kroenke must be crying, Usmanov drinking himself drunk, just one Ma’el has thwarted their phased acquisition plans, to buy all club shares, preparing to spend an extra 200 million Euros!”

”No matter what, Arsenal and Wenger are the biggest winners!”

”It’s Ma’el.”

”....”

Fans left their opinions one after another, seemingly finding it quite intriguing from this perspective.

...

At 10 PM, outside the first team manager’s office at the Korni Training Base.

”Hahaha.....”

Before Wenger stepped in, he heard bursts of laughter from inside.

He was somewhat puzzled, having just finished an hour of night running at the base and planning to head home when he saw numerous missed calls, prompting him to come and check.

”Haha...!”

Pushing the door open, the laughter inside grew louder and more distinct; everyone was clapping, looking radiant.

”Mr. Wenger.”

Philip was the first to see him and smiled, ”Do you know, the latest updated value, Ma’el reached how much?”

”Updated?” Wenger went to the water dispenser beside the desk, poured himself a drink and asked after a sip, ”How much? 60 million?”

”70 million.”

Wenger’s action of drinking froze, his arm suspended in mid-air, eyes darting around to observe others’ expressions.

Realizing it was no joke, he put down his cup, face full of astonishment.

”World’s fifth.” Philip seemed to enjoy seeing Wenger like this and continued, ”Premier League, only below Rooney, much higher than Aguero and others.”

”This season is expected to break 100 million.” Wenger lifted his water cup again and drank, the surprise in his eyes unabated, as he recalled Ma’el’s various accomplishments during this time.

The youngest Golden Boy in history, youngest top ten in the Golden Ball Award, youngest Puskas Award recipient, along with a myriad of miscellaneous records.

Genius!

An epoch-making talent!

Thinking like this, 70 million Euros doesn’t seem strange at all.

On the contrary, if it wasn’t this amount, it would seem odd.

”What’s the total value in this update?” Wenger asked, something he cared about a lot.

”375 million Euros.” Philip was about to mention this to him, smiled as he already asked, ”We’ve entered the world top ten, and the gap with the first is only 179 million Euros.”

”Really?”

Wenger was even more startled and pulled out his phone to find the relevant information.

Philip smiled even brighter, ”Really, some media even specifically wrote a post saying Ma’el brought it about.

”Fans are secretly thrilled; Kroenke and Usmanov have indeed wasted several years.”

”Hahaha.....” At this point, laughter filled the room again, with Arsenal’s coaching staff clearly sharing the secret thrill.

Wenger opened Transfermarkt and saw the precise figures, a smile forming on his lips, ”Wonderful, who says only spending money can create an elite club value?

”We’ve already proven, the better a team plays over time, they too will become a top-valued club.”

Having said this, he pointed at Philip, ”That media was right, at least half of this is Ma’el’s contribution; he’s helped us play better.”

Wenger joined everyone in hearty laughter; if someone were walking by the door at that moment, they would surely be astonished.

Philip watched, feeling genuine joy from the heart.

From seeing a glimmer of hope, to trying to seize it, to now seeing the burgeoning promise of even greater hope... Mr. Wenger has clearly turned a corner this season, ushering in a turning point in life.

It’s good like this; as long as Wenger thrives, so shall this group of people, and thus the team shall flourish.

”Buzz!”

His phone suddenly vibrated, simultaneously displaying a ’missed call -1 second,’ with two people unexpectedly calling simultaneously.

Seeing the notes on these two calls, he was startled and walked out of the office to answer.

”I can’t directly contact Wenger, or rather, I lack the face to talk to Wenger about this matter.”

A strong voice came from the other side of the call, laced with a few layers of resolve, ”Please inform him indirectly, I hope he acts as an intermediary to initiate final acquisition negotiations with that person.

”This time, one of us must succeed, whether me or him.....perhaps we can reach an agreement?

”Who knows, let’s start the negotiations, by the end of the season, there must be a resolution.”

Philip hurriedly agreed, his breath growing rapid, hanging up this call before redialing the previous missed one.

”Maybe he meant the same as me, the same thoughts? Were you talking to Usmanov earlier?

”Don’t worry about anything else, let Wenger be the intermediary, and let’s start another round of negotiations.

”But I am more resolute than Usmanov in the belief of wholly acquiring this great club.

”But no worries, this time there will be an outcome, trust us.”

”Beep....”

Philip set down the phone, turned and walked into the office, looking at Wenger in silence.

Wenger noticed him as soon as he entered, also saw the phone in his hand.

Having dealt with one another for so long, a casual guess would reveal why he stepped out, who was on the call, and what their intentions were.

Wenger took a deep breath, recalling years of perseverance and sacrifice, the grievances and discontent of serving as the ’underdog’ for the club, finally saying, ”I want to refuse them, truly, but I will strive to make it happen for Arsenal.”

....