From Arsenal to the Ball God

Wenger looked at the team full of momentum, exhaled, and finally made a firm decision, ”It’s time to streamline the battle lines. I don’t want any major issues to affect this momentum.

”We need to steadily keep moving forward and seize the hope of winning two trophies!”

”That’s how it should be.”

Philip nodded, remembering the matter between Kroenke and Usmanov, showing eagerness, ”If this negotiation really goes through, by the end of the season we’ll have money.

”Then we can strengthen a few positions and buy some useful substitutes...

He pursed his lips and smiled, as if just thinking about what he wanted to say made him unable to keep his mouth shut, ”Next season perhaps we can give it a shot in the Champions League, even fight on multiple fronts.”

Wenger didn’t speak; his eyes just sparkled with a peculiar light, and his breathing gradually became heavy.

...

On February 17th, Ma’el was informed that he would not be playing in the FA Cup’s fifth-round match. He consulted Van Persie and others, and found that they had received the same notice.

”Going to rest.”

Knowing that Wenger had made a decision, he stopped thinking about it and increased his training load, using this time well to enhance his own strength.

”Pop...pop!”

That afternoon, after practicing Fancy Techniques for two hours, at one moment he felt his legs and ankles become much more nimble, his body seemed lighter, and his affinity with the football improved.

He checked the Skill Level panel and found his Fancy Dribbling had indeed leveled up.

[Skills: Fancy Breakthrough Level 3]

[Skill Level: (1/2000)]

[Utility: After practicing for a period of time, you have mastered certain fancy dribbling skills, with the probability to execute them for a breakthrough on the field, although it seems there’s still a distance from true fluidity.]

”Huh...!”

Ma’el suppressed his excitement inside, dribbled the ball forward, pulling the ball with alternating feet, sometimes connecting inside steps and outside steps, sometimes flicking up the ball and changing direction mid-air with his ankle.

”Pop-pop-pop...!” His frequency was already fast, and with his legs becoming more flexible, doing these movements felt dizzying.

It’s not just the defensive players who feel this, he himself can too.

Sometimes before he has decided what move to make, his legs are already moving quickly, his body’s center of gravity constantly changing, turning his entire being, even flicking his hair.

It’s a feeling of doing whatever you want, even though it’s just primary, it already gives him a sense... that when holding the ball, it seems like the football has become a part of his body.

The fusion between person and ball has improved!

Dribbling has increased in flexibility!

This is the Level 3 Fancy!

Stopping the dribble, he couldn’t help but anticipate the effects once this skill reaches Level 4.

Many football players’ favorite star is Ronaldinho, with no specific reason, just because the agility and grace he shows on the field is a capability they want but cannot achieve.

After mastering the basics, improving physical strength, and accumulating ample experience to reach the top-level field, they work diligently every day, giving their all.

At this time, seeing someone pass others as if playing, casually like a pixie, and still achieving tactical objectives, of course, they envy him.

However, this kind of ability is mostly related to talent, they can’t learn it even if they want to.

Ma’el can do it, not saying Level 4 Fancy can match Ronaldinho, but it should resemble about sixty to seventy percent?

If the additional skill ’Fancy Techniques’ also advances to Level 4, then it wouldn’t be much different.

Going further, Level 5 is a step beyond, it’s a step to achieve a new level.

”Let’s look at other skills.”

His gaze swept downward, looking at the progress of other abilities’ upgrades.

[Skills: Rapid Charge Level 4]

[Skill Level: (382/5000)]

[Skills: Violent Bombing Level 4]

[Skill Level: (631/2000)]

[Skills: Header Power Level 3]

[Skill Level: (401/800)]

[Additional Skills: Fancy Techniques Level 1]

[Skill Level: (602/1500)]

The following period may be a more challenging period for upgrades, with the closest skill upgrade having 400 points of skill level.

But it’s okay, when the next upgrade comes, a truly versatile striker will emerge!

Level 4 header will let him approach those top header masters, and possibly surpass them with his burst jumps and coordination in the air.

Afterwards, his Fancy Techniques will reach Level 2, and he might master some small skills, occasionally showing surprising effects.

”The long shot is close too.”

Ma’el murmured, suddenly feeling hopeful about the future, closed the panel and went home hugging the football.

Today he trained at the doorstep of his home, went inside and lay directly on the sofa, waiting for Safina’s food.

...

On February 19th, the FA Cup fifth-round match began, Arsenal’s rotation squad headed to Sunderland’s Brighton Stadium, facing off with this familiar team from another competition.

Originally, Ma’el planned to watch this match at home, but he received a call from Kevin Strom, learning that Facebook’s negotiator had arrived in London.

He looked at the time, thought about how the next few days might be busy, and thus contacted that person to arrange a meeting at a coffee shop downtown.

About twenty minutes later, he arrived at the coffee shop, all the way walking towards the private box direction.

”Ma’el!”

”It’s him!”

”Ah...!”

There were quite a few people in the café, many showed surprise upon seeing him, but nobody stood up, as if waiting for the first brave person.

Ma’el nodded with a smile towards them, then quickly entered the box before giving them a chance to encircle him, and closed the door.