God Of football

Chapter 359: Watching From Afar [Golden Gachapon: Pistacho031_3 ]

The morning sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow across the room. Izanʼs alarm buzzed lightly beside him, but he was already awake.

His body still carried the weight of the past few days—Artetaʼs training sessions had been intense, pushing every player to adjust quickly—but he wasnʼt exhausted.

If anything, he felt sharper than ever, his mind already focused on the season ahead.

Still, a full day without training didnʼt sit right with him. Rest days were necessary, but they also left him feeling restless.

After lying in bed for a few minutes, he threw off the covers and got up.

By the time he stepped outside, the city was still quiet, the early morning air crisp and fresh.

London wasnʼt home, not yet, but it had its own charm.

He set off at a steady pace, his breathing controlled as he ran through the empty streets, letting his mind drift to the past few training sessions.

The tactical shifts, the movement patterns, the new formations—Arteta had made it clear that Arsenal was evolving, and Izan was at the heart of it.

He wasnʼt just being positioned as an attacker; he was being given freedom.

And he had already started taking advantage of it, dropping deep, linking up with teammates in those deep positions, and spraying passes across the pitch. He was adapting.

By the time he returned home, sweat clung to his shirt, his breathing heavier but steady.

After a quick shower, he sat down for breakfast, checking his phone absentmindedly. A message from Miranda popped up.

Miranda: Morning. You need to fill up that house. Get ready, Iʼm taking you shopping.

Izan frowned, looking around his apartment. It was functional—comfortable even—but mostly empty. He hadnʼt planned on changing that.

Izan: Why? I wonʼt even be here for long.

Miranda: And? You can leave it for the next player who moves in. Or take the stuff with you when you get your own place.

Izan: Still feels unnecessary.

Miranda: Izan.

Just his name. Nothing more.

Izan sighed.

Izan: Fine.

Miranda: Be ready in 30.

By the time they reached the shopping district, London had fully woken up.

Miranda walked ahead with purpose, leading him from store to store like a personal interior designer.

”You canʼt just live with a couch and a bed,” she said, shaking her head as they entered another high-end home store.

”Your place looks like a hotel room that forgot to get decorated.”

Izan exhaled, adjusting the cap he was wearing to keep a low profile. ”Itʼs not that bad.”

Miranda gave him a look. ”It is. Youʼre rich. You play for Arsenal. Your place should at least look like someone lives in it.”

Izan picked up a random cushion, turning it over in his hands. ”Iʼll barely be here for a few months.”

”Then take everything with you when you move,” Miranda countered. ”Or leave it for the next guy. Either way, youʼre buying furniture.”

Izan had learned when to pick his battles. This wasnʼt one of those times.

He let Miranda take charge, nodding at whatever she suggested.

By the end of it, his place would be filled with new furniture, a few modern artworks, rugs, and even plants—things he never would have thought to buy on his own.

As they loaded the last few bags into the car, Miranda smirked. ”Youʼll thank me later.”

Izan leaned back in his seat, shaking his head. ”Weʼll see.”

By the time they returned, Izan noticed his phone buzzing more than usual.

The Arsenal squad list for the Leyton Orient match had just been released. Before he could check, Artetaʼs name popped up in his messages.

Arteta: Come see me before you check the squad list.

Izan furrowed his brow but didnʼt hesitate. He made his way back to the training ground, where Arteta was waiting in his office.

The manager stood by the whiteboard, arms crossed.

”Sit,” Arteta said, motioning to the chair.

Izan sat down, waiting.

”Iʼll keep this short,” Arteta said. ”Youʼre not playing against Leyton Orient.”

Izan blinked but didnʼt react beyond that. ”Okay.”

Arteta studied him. He had expected more of a response. ”Youʼre not in the squad because this match isnʼt for you.

Itʼs not about resting you or anything negative—itʼs about testing some of the younger players before the season starts.”

Izan nodded. ”Makes sense.”

Arteta leaned forward slightly. ”I didnʼt want you finding out through the list and overthinking it.

Youʼve trained well and adapted faster than expected, and I have plans for you—but not in this game.”

Izan took a moment before responding. He appreciated the honesty. ”I get it. No problem.”

Arteta studied him for another second, then nodded. ”Good. Focus on training, and youʼll be playing soon enough.”

As Izan left the office, he finally checked the official squad list.

His name wasnʼt there—just like Arteta had said.

A few hours later, the announcement finally got to the fans and started an immediate discussion among Arsenal fans online.

Some found it understandable.

@ArsenalTalk: No Izan in the squad? Makes sense. Itʼs just Leyton Orient. Arteta probably wants to see what the younger academy players can do.

Others were disappointed.

@GoonerVision: Man, I was looking forward to seeing Izan play in an Arsenal shirt for the first time. Even 20 minutes wouldʼve been nice.

@FootyFocus: No Izan. No Saka. No Ødegaard. Looks like Arteta is taking this game purely as a scouting opportunity.

Of course, there were also debates.

@PLDebates: If Izan was fit, why not just give him some minutes? He hasnʼt played since the Euros. Might take him a while to adjust to actual match intensity.

@ArsenalCentral: Relax. Itʼs a League One side in preseason. Heʼll get his minutes in bigger games.

Izan scrolled through the discussions briefly before locking his phone.

...….

The day passed quietly for Izan. With no training scheduled, he spent most of his time settling into his newly furnished apartment—something Miranda made sure to check on through constant messages.

By the evening, the squad selected for the match had already left for Leyton, and Arsenalʼs official social media accounts posted a few pictures of the traveling team boarding the bus.

Izan scrolled through the images absentmindedly.

The squad was a mix of academy prospects and a few senior players—mainly to provide leadership.

Jorginho, Kiwior, and Tomiyasu were among the experienced names included. The rest were younger players eager to make an impression.

His phone buzzed again.

The teamʼs group chat was alive with messages, and as soon as he opened it, he saw the source of the chaos—Saka.

Saka: Ahhh… so the elders have been sent to babysit the kids?

Martinelli: LMAO

Jorginho: Say that again when you need someone to cover for you defensively, Saka.

Saka: Donʼt worry, Iʼll be resting comfortably in my bed while you guys play against Leyton Orient.

Tomiyasu: Arigato, coach Saka.

Rice: Some of us are too important to be sent to League One battlefields.

Kiwior: The arrogance…

Izan chuckled, shaking his head as he read through the messages.

It was playful banter, but there was no mistaking the tone—none of the senior players particularly wanted to play this game.

Preseason was important, but this wasnʼt the type of match that got their adrenaline going.

Odegaard: Anyway, good luck to you guys. Letʼs see if the ʼbabysittersʼ can actually handle the kids.

Saka: If we lose this game, everyone on that bus is getting fined.

Jorginho: Thatʼs not how it works.

Saka: It is now.

Izan shook his head, putting his phone down.

He might not have been on that bus, but he had a feeling the next dayʼs match would be interesting to watch.

...….

Izan sat back on his couch, remote in hand, as the pre-match coverage played on his TV.

He had woken up early, gone for a light morning workout, and now, with nothing else to do, he waited for the game to start.

A bottle of water rested beside him on the table, untouched.

On-screen, the pundits were deep in discussion, the Arsenal badge displayed behind them as they analyzed the squad selection.

Host: ”As we approach kickoff, one of the biggest talking points is the number of senior players missing from Arsenalʼs squad today.

No Declan Rice, no Odegaard, no Gabriel, and notably, no Izan Hernandez. What do you make of Artetaʼs decision?”

Pundit 1: ”I actually think itʼs a reasonable move. Itʼs Leyton Orient, a League One side. If there was ever a time to test some of the young players, itʼs this game.

Plus, letʼs be real—Arsenalʼs focus is on bigger things than this preseason friendly. Their first Premier League match is coming up soon.”

Pundit 2: ”I agree to some extent, but I do think a player like Izan would have benefited from minutes.

Heʼs still new to the club, still adjusting to Artetaʼs system. We saw how sharp he looked in training clips, but itʼs different in a match setting. And letʼs not forget—Arsenal fans were excited to see him play.”

Host: ”Thatʼs true. Social media was buzzing when the squad list was announced.

Some fans understand the decision, but thereʼs definitely a section that was hoping to see Izan in action, even if just for a few minutes.”

The screen cut to a few tweets being displayed.

@GoonerJay21: Man, I was looking forward to seeing Izan cook today. Guess we wait till the next match.

@FootyTalk__: No Izan, no Rice, no Ødegaard… basically just vibes and babysitting duty for Jorginho.

@AFC_Fanatic: I get it. Itʼs Leyton Orient. But Iʼd have liked at least 30 minutes of Izan.

Izan exhaled through his nose, shaking his head with a smirk.

The attention was expected. He was a high-profile signing, and fans wanted to see what he could do in an Arsenal shirt.

But Arteta had already explained the reasoning—this match wasnʼt about him.

He leaned back into the couch as the conversation continued.

Pundit 1: ”I think weʼll see him in the next game. If anything, this match is more about finding out which of the academy lads can step up before the season starts.”

Pundit 2: ”Fair point. But Iʼll say this—when Izan does make his debut, all eyes will be on him. And based on his last season in Spain, I donʼt think heʼll disappoint.”

Izan smiled at that.

A/n: Thanks Pistacho for the gift. So I guess today will be a mass release. I said 5 chapters for a magic castle so 15 for the Golden Gachapon. Iʼll try to release all but Iʼll probably release just ten for the day and add the five tomorrow. Anyways. Have fun reading and Iʼll see you in a bit.