From Arsenal to the Ball God

”The match is over! Arsenal defeated Cardiff City four to one! They’ve won the 2011-12 English League Cup!”

In the commentary box, Zhan Jun and Zhang Lu stood up and applauded, their emotions rising with the Arsenal fans on site, briefly becoming fans of the team themselves.

”General Fan opened the scoring, and Demon King Ma’el achieved a hat-trick! Their spectacular performance helped the team taste the sweetness of victory again after seven years!

”Wenger has completed the Grand Slam of English football. In his 16 years coaching Arsenal, he has won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and four Community Shield Cups!

”Today, he secured his first English League Cup championship, bringing all four trophies of the English professional system into his collection!

”Meanwhile, this is also Ma’el’s first top-level championship since coming up from the lower leagues!

”This is an important day for him, a day of reaching a milestone.

At the end, Zhan Jun revealed a delighted smile, ”I believe winning this championship at this point in time can give Arsenal’s players stronger confidence in the last two and a half months!

”They are still unbeaten in the Premier League, and perhaps, with no burden left, they really have a chance to replicate the miracle of the 03-04 season and win undefeated!

”Congratulations to them! Celebrate to your heart’s content! This moment at Wembley is yours!”

”Ma’el has often said he hopes to achieve a full Grand Slam in his career! Including personal, club, and national team honors!

”This must be the start of his club honors, an important step!”

”Players are lying on the ground at this moment, as if traveling in their own little world, reminiscing and enjoying the honor of coronation!

”But a dozen photographers surrounded him, breaking his peace... How could someone who scored a hat-trick with three goals in this match be let off easily?!

”He is the key player on the field at this moment, the main character in Arsenal’s lineup!”

After Zhan Jun finished speaking, Zhang Lu chuckled twice, preparing to respond just as he saw Wenger run onto the field to embrace his disciples.

”It can be seen, Wenger’s pressure has eased a lot,” Zhang Lu said with a tone of laughter, seeming to understand the old coach, ”The struggles of the past few years seemed to be powering up for this season.

”Initially it seemed he would have a good start at Arsenal but couldn’t have a good end. Unexpectedly, a turnaround has come.

”What is this called, things reach an extreme and reverse, adversity leads to prosperity! Ma’el’s arrival is the prosperity for Wenger and this team!”

”Hahaha...” Zhan Jun’s hearty laughter echoed, after working together for a while, they were very in tune with each other, able to catch each other’s humor.

At this time, seeing the screen in front of him switch to Cardiff City’s players, he cleared his throat and spoke again in a different tone.

”One family rejoices while another worries, football seems to always be such a sport, it’s rare to see two teams both achieving their goals after a match ends.

”For Cardiff City’s players, this was a match filled with regret... having come this far, they certainly held championship dreams.

”Unfortunately, the dream shattered, the stronger team won the championship, but I think their fans won’t be harsh on them, the players have done everything they could.

”Everyone saw, how Cardiff City showed their competitive state today, if they maintain it, maybe they can make it to the Premier League this year!

”Alright, let’s take a short break, later we’ll bring you the broadcast of the award ceremony!”

The two removed their headphones, sipping water while enjoying the celebration of Arsenal inside the stadium, timing the start of the award ceremony with their watches.

...

Below the pitch, against the backdrop of Arsenal’s unrestrained celebrations, Cardiff City’s players stood dejected in place, many with tears in their eyes.

”Clap, clap, clap...!” A faint applause began, gradually leading more people to clap, until this sound almost matched Arsenal’s celebration, exceptionally clear.

Players looked around to see about 80% of fans still in the stands, applauding to encourage them, also waiting with them for the final award ceremony.

Many fans even leaned out, shouting words of comfort to the field.

”Second place isn’t bad!”

”Keep your heads up, guys!”

”We love that silver medal!”

”When we first supported you, the team lost almost every week... we walked this path together... it’s no big deal.”

”We’ve already won a lot this season, everyone is very satisfied, keep going strong!”

”.....”

As fans who traveled all the way from Cardiff to London to support the team, it’s hard to say they aren’t feeling a sense of loss at this moment.

Everyone came with hope and expectations, and when it all falls apart, no one can calmly accept defeat.

But they still refuse to blame the players, in their eyes, they are one family with the players, sharing glory when they win, and shouldering loss together.

The journey is still long, there’s more to go, and they want to bring a positive side to the team as much as possible.

These fans are truly die-hard fans; they regard the team as their faith, their spiritual support.