From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Don’t tell my husband, but I really want to meet him too...”

Kardashian was about to respond when something caught her attention, ”Ah... the Queen has emerged! She’s one of the women I admire the most!”

”Clap, clap, clap...!” As soon as she shouted, applause erupted in the Emirates Stadium, and both Mancini and Wenger turned to smile and clap.

Alongside Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II, wearing a lavender tweed coat and an off-white hat, gracefully walked towards her seat.

She removed her black gloves and greeted the fans in the stadium, with Prince Charles by her side for support.

”Arsenal’s most distinguished fan,” Kardashian’s friend joined the applause with the fans and couldn’t help but laugh, ”I wonder if she’ll become Ma’el’s biggest fan.”

...

”Clap, clap...!”

”Bang!”

On the pitch, amidst the applause, Arteta sent a diagonal pass towards Ma’el’s direction.

Over ten minutes into the match, the rhythm showed no sign of slowing down. Possession frequently changed hands, with everyone attempting to deliver threatening passes, aiming to strike the opponent hard.

”Pop!”

The ball wasn’t fast enough and was intercepted midway by Sabaleta, who dribbled towards Arsenal’s backfield.

Ma’el, just about to advance, quickly turned and gritted his teeth as he chased vigorously.

His legs felt extraordinarily strong today, likely fueled by adrenaline. He forgot about fatigue and the distribution of physical ability, focusing only on contributing during every attack and defense.

”Thump, thump... thump!”

Sabaleta’s speed on this drive was commendable. He deftly sidestepped the advancing Rosicky and accelerated towards Arsenal’s backfield.

After being bypassed, Rosicky inadvertently obstructed Ma’el, forcing him to sidestep and regain speed, making Manchester City’s attack appear notably threatening.

”Thud!”

Sabaleta then sent a pass to the wing, where Nasri faced off one-on-one against Kyle Walker.

Realizing he couldn’t get past, Nasri adjusted his angle and sent a crossing pass towards the center.

At the far post, the ball was cleared by Mertesacker, but it fell near David Silva, who lifted his left leg, ready for an aerial strike.

”Whoosh!”

At the critical moment, Ma’el dashed in from the side and poked the ball away towards the other full-back, Sagna.

”Wow...!!” A wave of cheers erupted within the stadium as fans resumed their tireless applause.

”It’s Ma’el who disrupted the play! Sagna advances with the ball! Since this is Manchester City’s weak side in attack, they have few players here, and no one can immediately restrict Sagna!”

”Ma’el, after turning around, starts sprinting again to join the counterattack! He has truly become the soul of this team now!”

”Sagna! Passes to Walcott! Manchester City only has three defenders at the back, Milner is chasing back, but Yaya Toure is still some distance away!”

”Sabaleta is about to be overtaken by Ma’el, his defensive zone is wide open... He’s reaching out, trying to pull down Ma’el who is off the ball!”

”.....”

”Stomp, stomp, stomp!”

On the left flank, Ma’el sprinted back, joining this fast-paced counterattack.

The continuous anaerobic sprints had his excitement levels peaking, and a surge of new power was coursing through his limbs as if a blazing fire was igniting within him.

”Huff...!” His breathing was unusually rapid, with his eyes fixed solely on the distant ball and the opponent’s goal.

”Fack! Stop!” Sabaleta, seeing the dangerous zone in his team’s backfield, reached out laboriously to grab Ma’el’s jersey.

Ma’el was already anticipating this and, with all his strength, swung Sabaleta to his left during his next stride.

”Thud...!”

Sabaleta clumsily tumbled to the ground, rolling twice due to the immense force.

”Oh...!” The Arsenal fans on the same side stood up again, waving fists and clapping, chanting encouraging words for Ma’el.

”That’s the way!”

”Come on...!”

”Let them feel your intensity, let Manchester City understand what kind of team we are now!”

”Score a goal!”

Ma’el could roughly hear it but wasn’t distracted. He kept his attention on the dribbling breakthrough of Walcott.

Upon realizing that Walcott might attempt a cross, Ma’el locked his gaze on the opponent’s ankle, trying to predict the direction and target area of the pass.

”Thud!”

Walcott twisted his hips and waist, using that motion to power his ankles, crafting a high arcing cross towards the center.

”Van Persie! Van Persie!” Kompany at the near post immediately gestured to Lescott to watch Van Persie’s movements.

He glanced back and, unexpectedly, saw Ma’el bypassing the middle, charging towards his defensive area.

What is this guy trying to do?!

Kompany quickly lowered his center of gravity, instinctively reaching out to Ma’el, intending to push him out of the danger zone.

He swiftly turned to assess the height of the ball and felt relieved, the chance of it being finished at the near post was almost nonexistent, it would require a monumental leap.

”Stomp, stomp, stomp... stomp!”

Ma’el surged to the near post, taking a deep breath and forcefully planted his feet, initially using his legs and core strength to leap, then explosively engaging his core mid-air, ultimately aligning his body to hang in preparation for the oncoming ball.

An aerial header!

He’s determined to unleash it directly at the near post!

Kompany, looking up towards the sky, froze witnessing the height Ma’el’s head reached, seemingly anticipating what was about to unfold.

”Boom!!”