From Arsenal to the Ball God

Wenger, like everyone else, applauded with a smile, but his emotions were certainly more intense than others’.

Just like that, Ma’el stepped onto the podium, stood before dozens of cameras, and greeted the fans watching on TV with a smile.

”Before the award, I have a question.” The female host, holding the script, cozied up to him and joked, ”Back in August last year, did you ever think you would win this trophy?”

”I did think about it.”

Ma’el nodded without hesitation and said truthfully, ”I indeed dreamed of winning the Premier League Golden Boot after winning the Championship Golden Boot the previous year.

”I just didn’t expect that I would win it, and set a record by scoring 43 goals in the process.”

The mischievous smile on the host’s face grew wider. She wasted no time and pointed with the script-holding hand to the back, ”Let’s welcome a special guest presenter to give Ma’el this trophy!

”Welcome Thierry Henry!! He came all the way from the United States just for this moment!”

After another round of cheers, Henry walked out from the player tunnel holding the Golden Boot Award trophy. His face held a smile, mixed with pride and reflection, as if remembering when he first won the Golden Boot on this field.

After stepping onto the podium, he took two steps at a time to give the Golden Boot to Ma’el, ”I know you’ve been waiting impatiently, so enjoy and savor this trophy; it’s the highest honor for a striker.”

After receiving the trophy, Ma’el’s hand slightly sank down; he didn’t expect the Premier League Golden Boot to be so heavy.

He didn’t rush to ask whether it was pure gold but first exchanged pleasantries with Henry, ”Why did you suddenly come over? Such travel back and forth must be tiring, right?”

”Haha.....” Henry chuckled, shook his head, and raised an eyebrow, ”I’m here to collect my Premier League champion medal, how could I feel tired?

”Bergkamp, Yongbei Li, they’re all so envious of me, to join a miracle team right before retirement, sharing the success of 100 points with you all.

”It’s my luck, and I must tell you here, brother, everything you accomplished this season is extraordinary.”

He spread his arms wide, full of emotion, going forward to embrace Ma’el again, then didn’t stay much longer and walked down the stage toward Wenger, as they seemed to have many things to share.

”Ok.....!”

The female host returned to the stage, and upon reaching Ma’el, she put down the microphone and leaned in to say, ”I just noticed a hint of doubt in your eyes, are you wondering if the trophy is pure gold?

”I can answer that for you, yes..... But to you right now, does it really matter?”

Ma’el’s eyes brightened, and he looked again at the Golden Boot trophy in his hand, ”It does matter; a trophy made of pure gold is more exquisite, weighty, and suitable for collection.”

He knew the host meant that the gold wasn’t enough to attract him, and indeed, from the moment he held this trophy, he had already received a 1.5 million pound bonus from Puma.

But the value of the ’Golden’ Boot is not just the gold. For him, it’s the best summary of his 43 goals!

Because gold is the most scarce and expensive circulating precious metal.

When it appears in this form, in some ways, it represents the best!

The female host nodded with a sparkle in her eyes, understanding Ma’el’s meaning.

Turning to look at the thousands of expectant eyes on site, she said nothing more, took up the microphone and returned to the main point, ”Now, let’s all congratulate the Premier League top scorer of the 11-12 season!”

”Yeahhhh.....!” Deafening cheers erupted, with fans either raising their arms, recording with their phones, or holding up replica Golden Boots they’d prepared long ago.

In the away team’s coaching area, Neil and a few others from Norwich hadn’t left yet.

They too applauded, expressing their respect to Ma’el together.

At the moment the final whistle blew, Neil had pulled away from his position as the team’s head coach, and now, he was mostly congratulating Ma’el as an old acquaintance.

”How many goals did he score against Norwich last season?” he asked Hulahan, who was beside him.

”Can’t remember clearly.” Hulahan shook his head, offering a rough guess, ”Probably no more than 3 goals. The first time I saw him, I didn’t see his strength, and it was only the second time that I realized what kind of player he was.”

Neil nodded, then suddenly smiled, ”So, from this perspective, facing Norwich 4 times and scoring only 5 to 6 goals is about the same as his average scoring rate, right?”

”So.....” Hulahan looked at him, puzzled by what he meant.

”So our Norwich defense has always been of average Premier League level.” Neil said with a playful expression; he didn’t truly believe this, just spoke on a whim at that moment.

”Haha.....” Hulahan laughed out loud. He knew it was a joke and also knew Neil not only felt grateful but also admired Ma’el.

And so, in front of tens of thousands on-site, and tens of millions more watching on TV... Ma’el exuberantly lifted the Golden Boot high above his head, radiating joy.

In being crowned the Premier League Golden Boot winner, he also became the Premier League’s single-season all-time leading scorer!

...

”Oh.....!” In the pub street outside the Emirates Stadium, dozens of fans stormed out of the bars, cheering alongside the Arsenal fans on the streets.

”Ma’el! Ma’el! Ma’el!!” they chanted the player’s name and then collectively sang the player’s song, ”Ding ding dinga ding! I’ve got a friend...!”

At that moment, they experienced the glory of the top scorer along with the player!