From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Are you a football player?” Anna looked at Ma’el, who was unresponsive, and sat next to him with an awkward smile, trying to start a conversation. ”I’ve heard you’re impressive, could you take me to play football sometime?”

”Do you think I have an athletic build, right?”

She lifted her tanned long legs, dangling her black high heels with red soles, and only then did a confident expression appear on her face.

Ma’el instinctively, or perhaps out of politeness, glanced at her, nodded with a perfunctory smile, and said, ”Haha... maybe.”

”Can I get your contact information? Or follow each other on Twitter? I have a lot of free time, I stay up late at night, oh, I can join you to learn football anytime.”

”No, thank you.” Ma’el shook his head, ”I’m too busy, so sorry.”

Anna’s disappointment was obvious. She awkwardly smiled, turned her head to pick up her phone, her face blushing red.

She tried to compose herself, took a deep breath to speak again, but the shoot began.

After finishing this set of photos, Ma’el said goodbye to the photographer and Pepe’s official, then went to the roadside to start his Ferrari to leave.

Unexpectedly, a few supermodels jostled each other and approached, surrounding his car with their phones out.

”Ma’el, my name is Dale.”

”Can I have your contact information?”

”I have 22,300 followers, haha... that’s exactly 1/1000th of yours, isn’t that coincidental.”

Ma’el raised his eyebrows, shook his head, and used the same refusal tactic, then got in the car and drove off in a hurry.

The group of supermodels ate his exhaust fumes, standing gloomily in place.

Seeing this scene, Anna felt much better, a smile returning to her face.

”Hey, next shoot, please invite me, okay? I can charge half the fee.” Someone approached the Pepe official with a flattering face.

This quickly gave a lot of people an idea, and soon the Pepe official was besieged by a group of supermodels, falling into an awkward predicament.

”Me too.”

”I’ll just take 1/3.”

”It’s with Ma’el, not with everyone else.”

This official backed away until they were next to a camera, then, unable to bear it any longer, stood firm and waved his hands, ”Give it up, ladies. He already has a girlfriend, the daughter of a real estate magnate.”

...

On March 11, before Arsenal’s 29th round Premier League match started, both Manchester City and Manchester United played their 28th round games.

Ma’el and all of Arsenal’s members watched Manchester City host Chelsea in the meeting room, studying the opponent’s tactics and observing the characteristics of their players.

Their games with Manchester United, both home and away, were already over, and they had yet to play their return match with Manchester City, so it’s important to keep this opponent in mind.

After all, their upcoming clash would be a ”six-pointer,” a game that could very well determine the league championship!

They must be prepared!

In the game, Chelsea’s star forward Drogba scored early, helping the team take the lead.

Manchester City hadn’t equalized by the 65th minute of the second half, and it seemed the trend was against them.

”Is it over?”

Van Persie showed expectation on his face, ”Does this mean our point difference with them is really going to be seven points?”

”Not necessarily.” Ma’el watched the broadcast, carefully observing Manchester City’s repeated attacks, and asked, ”What about Manchester United?”

”Nothing to worry about over there.”

Van Persie shook his head to show there was no suspense, ”Rooney scored two goals early on, West Brom couldn’t find a way to break through Manchester United’s defense, with a pre-match expected goals of only 0.7.”

Ma’el stayed focused on the match in front of him, though deep down, he really hoped Manchester City would drop points.

It wasn’t a lack of faith in himself, rather a wish to secure his first top-flight league title in his career as soon as possible.

But alas, things don’t always go as desired. Former Arsenal player Nasri, in the 76th minute, cut diagonally into the penalty area along the right flank and shot, penetrating Chelsea’s goal.

One to one!

The Arsenal players fell silent, everyone gathered to watch as Nasri scored what could be an equalizing goal, it didn’t feel good.

”It’s okay.”

Alexander Song showed his cheerful side at this moment, with an unexpected angle, ”Nasri probably also watches us score at Manchester City all the time, more importantly, we’re at the top of the standings.

”His discomfort is certainly much greater than ours, if we just ate a fly, he basically ate shit.”

”Yep...!” A chorus of agreement sounded, the expressions of the Arsenal players improved somewhat, as many reflected and found that it was indeed true.

Not to overthink, but putting themselves in his shoes, having Manchester City with Nasri’s presence constantly pushing them down, experiencing the taste of being the league leader was known to all.

Moreover, they didn’t hold any grudge against Manchester City, just a bit towards Nasri.

Nasri, on the other hand, left by refusing to train and having his agent pressure the media, a level slightly lesser than Fabregas’, effectively severing ties with the club.

Under such circumstances, watching them maintain the top spot and surge forward, the discomfort level was certainly much higher.

Moreover, given Nasri sided with Fabregas when Ma’el just joined the team, there was mutual resentment between him and Ma’el.

Step by step watching Ma’el become a superstar at Arsenal, leading Arsenal on the path to revival... it’s uncertain, but every night he might sleep with complicated emotions and regret.

”There’s one more facet to this.”