From Arsenal to the Ball God

”The moment for the summary has arrived! Now we see the staff inside the stadium starting to set up the award ceremony area, the famous engraver Richard appears on the field, ready to write the champions’ names!”

Accompanied by the commentator’s voice, an old man appears in the field, holding a sharp engraving pen as he approaches the trophy.

He is about to record the champion’s name on the trophy, to seal the mark of the champion together with this trophy!

This is a job that allows no mistakes.

Several photographers come to his side, pointing the cameras on their shoulders at this spot.

Richard holds the engraving pen, bends down beside the trophy, meticulously observing the exact position to start, then takes a deep breath and begins engraving.

The Champions League.....

His engraving speed is very slow, with each letter requiring several careful strokes, until the characters resembling printed text slowly appear on the champion trophy.

”Richard is shouldering a daunting task, yet it’s also one filled with honor.

”This year, the legendary epic of The Championship will be condensed into a line of simple but weighty characters through his pen!”

The fans on-site can see his progress on the screens on both sides of the field, they are not impatient, holding their breath, waiting for the moment the engraving is complete.

Finally, after a few minutes, Richard puts away the engraving pen, stands up smiling, and waves goodbye to the fans inside.

A camera immediately focuses on the champion trophy, a clear character emerges on it—The EFL championship 10-11 season winners—the Sheffield United F.C.!!

10-11 season English Championship League winners, Sheffield United!!

”Yeah.....!” The fans on-site cheer, seeing the name of the team they support eternally engraved on this trophy, as well as eternally engraved in the history of The Championship.

The camera shifts towards the fan zone, capturing each fan in ecstatic joy, then the director’s traditional old program—’Finding acquaintances’ begins.

The first to be focused on, no exception, is Wenger standing up applauding in the VIP area.

In the lens, he has a head full of white hair, smiling lightly, and upon being noticed, does not evade, instead extending his arms to greet the fans.

”Oh....!” His appearance sparks another wave of cheers, though not overshadowing the primary event.

A fan standing in front of him turns their head, waves, and shouts with a smile, ”Mr. Wenger, keep Ma’el for us one more season!”

”No!” Wenger laughs and refuses, very decisively, without a hint of hesitation.

Sheffield United fans aren’t disheartened, some lean back and laugh, some wave their hands, others shout towards him smiling, ”See you in the Premier League next season! Don’t field Ma’el against us!”

”I cannot promise that either.” Wenger shakes his head in response to the fans, also immersed in this joyful atmosphere.

Immediately, the director shifts the lens towards Mr. Mendes beside him, this broker giant is also a well-known figure in European Football.

”Oh....!” The cheer for him is slightly less, fans have no bad impression of brokers but certainly no natural fondness.

Fans who like Cristiano wave and greet him, asking about Ronaldo’s recent situation, Mendes responds with a thumbs-up gesture.

Then, the director suddenly focuses the camera on Isabella, these people must have investigated some of the identities of VIP area fans before the match, knowing more than ordinary fans.

Inside the stadium, few know Isabella, no cheers, just some people greet in her direction, mostly ladies sitting in the VIP area.

”Haha.”

Isabella smiles brightly, holding Eva in one hand, waving and greeting back, ”Thank you!”

Meanwhile, inside a box room of Loftus Road Stadium.

A middle-aged man, laughing and hugging those around him in celebration, suddenly changes his expression, feeling as if his home has been robbed.

......

On the field, the podium is finally set up, the award ceremony is about to take place here.

The scattering Sheffield United players are summoned back near the center circle, awaiting the moment of lifting the trophy, almost all of them winning a championship for the first time in their careers.

They rub their hands in anticipation, drooling as they gaze at the distant trophy, unable to suppress the eagerness in their hearts at the thought of lifting it soon.

On the other side, when the last Queens Park Rangers fan leaves with bitterness, their players also start rising from the field, dejectedly bowing their heads as they leave the field.

The bitterness and regret of today’s loss will accompany them for a long time, maybe even a lifetime.

For some of them, this might be the only time in their lives they get close to such a major honor!

This does not mean they are weak, they have traveled across many teams since childhood, starting from amateur football, progressing to professional squads, then to professional venues, and finally reaching this stage today.

They have eliminated countless people in competition, stepping over numerous youths with football dreams to stand here!

Yet still, fate does not favor them... in the face of the more dazzling talent Ma’el, they are left defeated, watching powerlessly as the opponent lifts the trophy in the stadium they once prided themselves on.

”Mr. Worlock.”

As the last assistant coach leaves, seeing Worlock still standing in bewilderment staring at the podium, advises, ”Let’s go, it’s over, we should prepare for the playoffs.”

As these words are spoken, there’s a piercing pain in his heart too, clearly one step away from the champion, yet surprisingly not only missed the championship but also fell out of the promotion zone.