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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
Above him thousands of supporters continued singing Arsenal songs into the cold London evening.
The atmosphere felt almost impossible to describe.
Not because Arsenal had won.
Winning always felt good.
But because of how they had won.
Against one of their biggest rivals.
In front of a packed Emirates.
To begin a new year.
To continue their title defense.
Everything about the afternoon felt important.
Meaningful.
The kind of result that built momentum.
The kind of result that strengthened belief.
Francesco remained near the touchline for a few moments longer, applauding the supporters alongside his teammates.
The Arsenal fans responded immediately.
Chants echoed down from every corner of the stadium.
His name rolled around the Emirates repeatedly.
Louder.
And louder.
And louder.
A smile appeared despite his efforts to hide it.
No matter how many times it happened, hearing thousands of supporters singing your name never truly felt normal.
Not really.
It always carried weight.
Always felt special.
Eventually the players began drifting toward the tunnel.
Some swapped shirts.
Others greeted former teammates.
A few stopped to sign autographs near the front rows.
The post-match rituals of football.
Familiar.
Comfortable.
Part of the game.
Francesco had just started walking toward the tunnel entrance when someone called out behind him.
"Francesco."
He turned.
An FA staff member was jogging toward him.
Headset on.
Credential hanging around his neck.
Professional.
Efficient.
Clearly working.
"There you are."
Francesco smiled.
"Should I be worried?"
The man laughed.
"No."
"Good."
"You've got a pitch interview."
Of course.
Francesco should have expected it.
A goal.
An assist.
Captain.
A big win against Chelsea.
Television producers loved days like this.
The staff member gestured toward the opposite side of the pitch.
"Sky Sports."
Francesco nodded.
"No problem."
The man pointed again.
"They're already waiting."
As expected.
Television moved quickly.
Always.
One moment the match ended.
The next moment cameras were rolling.
Commentary teams were already preparing post-match analysis.
Highlights were already being reviewed.
Questions were already being written.
Football never really stopped.
Even after the final whistle.
Francesco adjusted the captain's armband one final time before following the staff member across the pitch.
The Emirates remained busy around them.
Supporters were still leaving their seats.
Security staff moved throughout the stadium.
Camera crews worked everywhere.
Broadcasters prepared interviews.
The giant stadium slowly transitioned from match mode into post-match mode.
As he approached the Sky Sports area set up beside the pitch, he immediately recognized the figure waiting there.
Tall.
Well dressed.
Microphone in hand.
A familiar face from English football.
Gary Neville.
The former Manchester United defender spotted him approaching and smiled.
"Here he is."
Francesco laughed.
"Good evening."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
They shook hands warmly.
Despite their different football loyalties, there had always been mutual respect.
Gary understood football.
Players respected that.
The Sky Sports production crew quickly moved into position.
Cameras adjusted.
Microphones checked.
Lighting confirmed.
Everything happened efficiently.
Professionally.
Within moments the producer gave a signal.
Three.
Two.
One.
Live.
Immediately Gary's television smile appeared.
The polished smile of somebody who had spent years working in front of cameras.
"Gary Neville here for Sky Sports, and I'm joined by Arsenal captain Francesco following Arsenal's impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea here at the Emirates Stadium."
The crowd noise still drifted through the background.
Supporters remained visible behind them.
The atmosphere added something extra to the broadcast.
Made it feel authentic.
Real.
Gary turned toward him.
"First of all, congratulations. That's a fantastic way to begin 2018."
"Thank you."
Francesco nodded.
"It was a big match."
"A difficult match."
"Chelsea are a top team."
"So we're very happy with the result."
Gary smiled.
"You should be."
The former defender glanced briefly toward the camera.
"Let's start with the obvious question."
"The first half was very competitive."
"One-one at the break."
"What did Arsène Wenger say at halftime that changed things?"
Francesco immediately thought back to the dressing room.
Wenger standing calmly beside the tactical board.
His belief.
His confidence.
His instructions.
"He told us to stay brave."
Gary nodded.
Listening carefully.
"He felt we were playing well."
"We were creating opportunities."
"But we needed to be more compact defensively."
"Hazard punished us with a fantastic goal."
"So the manager wanted us to tighten the spaces and continue attacking with confidence."
Francesco smiled slightly.
"Basically, he wanted us to keep doing what we were doing—but do it better."
Gary laughed.
"Managers tend to like that answer."
The surrounding crew chuckled as well.
The interviewer continued.
"The response was excellent."
"You came out much more aggressively."
"Was that a conscious decision?"
"Absolutely."
Francesco answered immediately.
"We wanted to control the second half."
"We didn't want to sit back."
"We didn't want Chelsea to feel comfortable."
"When Arsenal are at our best, we play on the front foot."
"We attack."
"We move the ball quickly."
"I think we did that well."
Gary nodded thoughtfully.
Then came the question everyone expected.
"Let's talk about your contribution."
"A goal and an assist."
"The opener was classic Francesco."
"The run."
"The finish."
"The timing."
He smiled.
"Talk us through it."
The stadium screens were already replaying highlights somewhere above them.
Francesco could almost picture the move.
Van Dijk winning possession.
Kante turning.
Özil finding space.
The pass.
The run.
The finish.
"It started with Virgil."
"His interception was important."
"Then Kante moved the ball quickly."
"And when Mesut gets his head up…"
Francesco laughed.
"Usually something good happens."
Gary grinned.
"A fair assessment."
"The pass was perfect."
"So after that my job became easier."
The interviewer raised an eyebrow.
"Easier?"
"You still had plenty to do."
"Maybe."
Francesco shrugged modestly.
"But Mesut deserves a lot of credit."
The compliment would probably make Özil happy later.
Or at least as happy as Özil ever looked.
Gary smiled.
"You footballers always share the credit."
"Because it's true."
"Fair enough."
The interviewer continued.
"And the assist for Gnabry?"
Francesco's smile widened.
"That one was all Serge."
"No."
Gary pointed.
"That's not how interviews work."
The nearby crew laughed again.
"You don't get away with that."
Francesco chuckled.
"Fine."
"I saw him making the run."
"The space opened."
"I played the pass."
"And then he finished brilliantly."
"Simple."
Gary immediately shook his head.
"It's never simple."
"It looked pretty simple from where I was standing."
More laughter.
The interview continued naturally.
Comfortably.
The kind of football conversation players actually enjoyed.
Questions about tactics.
Questions about chemistry.
Questions about confidence.
Questions about Arsenal's title defense.
Eventually Gary shifted toward the bigger picture.
"This Arsenal team has achieved a lot already."
"The Premier League."
"The Champions League."
"The domestic trophies."
He looked directly at Francesco.
"Do performances like today convince you that there's still another level to reach?"
The question carried more weight.
More significance.
Francesco thought carefully before answering.
Because he genuinely believed the answer.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Just certainty.
Gary seemed interested immediately.
"Why?"
"Because we're still improving."
The answer came naturally.
"We've got experienced players."
"We've got young players."
"We've got leaders."
"We've got talent."
"But most importantly, we've got players who are still hungry."
The captain glanced toward the Arsenal players still celebrating near the stands.
"Nobody in that dressing room is satisfied."
"We enjoy winning."
"But we always want more."
The answer clearly impressed Gary.
The former defender nodded slowly.
"I think Arsenal supporters will enjoy hearing that."
"I hope so."
Gary smiled.
"They probably are."
The interview moved toward its conclusion.
The crowd behind them remained lively.
Several Arsenal supporters were waving toward the cameras.
Trying desperately to appear on television.
Some things never changed.
Then Gary glanced down briefly at a card being handed to him by a member of the production team.
A smile appeared immediately.
One of those smiles that suggested he already knew what came next.
Francesco noticed it instantly.
"So that's never a good sign."
Gary laughed.
"No, this is a very good sign."
The interviewer turned toward the camera.
"And before we finish, we have one final thing to do."
The crowd noise seemed to increase.
Supporters close enough to hear the conversation already knew what was happening.
A few started cheering.
Others began shouting Francesco's name again.
Gary looked back toward him.
"Today you scored the opening goal."
"You provided the assist for Arsenal's second."
"You captained your side to a massive 3-1 victory over Chelsea."
"And because of that…"
He reached for a small trophy being handed over by a staff member.
The familiar blue-and-silver award.
The one every player secretly appreciated receiving.
Even if they pretended otherwise.
Gary held it out.
"You are Sky Sports Man of the Match."
For a brief moment, applause erupted around them.
Crew members clapped.
Nearby supporters cheered.
Even a few stadium staff joined in.
Francesco accepted the trophy with a smile.
"Thank you."
The award wasn't as important as the three points.
Nothing was.
But recognition always felt nice.
Especially after performances like this.
Gary shook his hand again.
"Well deserved."
"I appreciate it."
The interviewer nodded.
"You've started 2018 pretty well."
"Hopefully we can keep it going."
Gary pointed toward the camera.
"I'm sure Arsenal supporters would like that."
The former defender turned back toward the broadcast.
"That was Arsenal captain Francesco, today's Sky Sports Man of the Match after a goal, an assist, and an excellent performance in Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Chelsea."
The camera remained focused for a few more seconds.
Then the producer signaled.
And they were off air.
Immediately the atmosphere relaxed.
The formal television energy disappeared.
Gary grinned.
"You know, I hate complimenting Arsenal players."
Francesco laughed.
"There it is."
"I was wondering how long it would take."
Gary shook his head dramatically.
"Years of Manchester United conditioning."
"Understandable."
"But seriously."
The former defender gestured toward the trophy.
"Excellent performance."
"Thank you."
"And that pass for Gnabry?"
He pointed.
"Don't pretend it was simple."
Francesco laughed.
"I'll try harder next time."
"Please don't."
They shared one final handshake.
Then Gary headed back toward the Sky Sports team.
Already preparing for the next segment.
Already analyzing the match.
Already moving on to the next story.
That was television.
Always moving.
Always evolving.
Francesco remained standing beside the pitch for a moment longer.
The Man of the Match trophy resting comfortably in his hands.
The Emirates was slowly emptying now.
The noise fading.
The lights still shining brightly above him.
The Emirates continued emptying around him.
Rows of red seats gradually reappeared as supporters filtered toward the exits.
Stewards moved through the stands.
Broadcast crews packed away equipment.
The noise that had shaken the stadium only minutes earlier slowly faded into a distant hum.
Yet traces of the afternoon still lingered everywhere.
Arsenal scarves remained draped over shoulders.
Supporters stopped for final photographs beside the pitch.
Children waved excitedly whenever a player appeared near the tunnel.
Nobody wanted to leave too quickly.
Not after a performance like that.
Not after a victory over Chelsea.
Not after beginning 2018 with three points.
Francesco stood for another few moments beside the touchline, the Sky Sports Man of the Match trophy resting comfortably beneath one arm.
The cool January air felt refreshing against his face.
His body carried the familiar exhaustion that followed ninety intense minutes of football.
The pleasant kind.
The satisfying kind.
The kind that reminded players they had left everything on the pitch.
Eventually he glanced toward the tunnel.
The evening wasn't finished yet.
Far from it.
There were still responsibilities waiting.
Media duties.
Recovery.
The press conference.
The life of a professional footballer never truly stopped after the final whistle.
With one final look around the stadium, Francesco turned and headed toward the tunnel.
The familiar concrete corridors beneath the Emirates buzzed with activity.
Club staff moved quickly between rooms.
Security personnel directed people toward various exits.
Medical staff transported equipment.
Journalists hurried toward media areas.
The controlled chaos of post-match football.
As Francesco approached the Arsenal dressing room, laughter immediately reached him through the door.
A good sign.
A very good sign.
He pushed the door open.
The reaction was immediate.
"Look who finally decided to join us."
Walker.
Naturally.
Francesco barely made it three steps inside before Robertson pointed dramatically toward the trophy.
"There it is!"
The Scottish fullback stood up and applauded.
Several teammates immediately joined in.
Then several more.
Within seconds the dressing room erupted into exaggerated applause.
Francesco rolled his eyes.
"Very funny."
"It is."
Walker nodded seriously.
"It really is."
"You're enjoying this too much."
Robertson grinned.
"Absolutely."
The applause continued.
Someone whistled.
Someone shouted "Speech!"
Another player demanded to know where the trophy would be displayed.
The atmosphere was exactly what Francesco expected.
Relaxed.
Happy.
Victorious.
He finally set the award on a nearby bench.
Immediately Walker picked it up.
"Oh, this is nice."
"Put it down."
"I just want to inspect it."
"You've never inspected a trophy in your life."
Walker considered this.
"Fair point."
The dressing room dissolved into laughter.
Nearby, Özil sat quietly at his locker, sipping water.
The German glanced toward the trophy.
Then toward Francesco.
A small smile appeared.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Özil nodded.
"You owe me fifty percent."
"There it is."
The German lifted an eyebrow.
"The pass."
"Ah."
"Exactly."
Francesco laughed.
"I'll think about it."
"Good."
That was probably the most words Mesut Özil had spoken in a ten-minute period all week.
Which made the joke significantly funnier.
Across the room, Giroud was already reliving his goal.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The French striker had found a willing audience.
Mostly because everyone was in a good mood.
And because watching Giroud describe his own goals was always entertaining.
According to Giroud, the finish became more impressive every time he told the story.
By the fourth version, it was practically the greatest goal in football history.
Nobody corrected him.
Not today.
The atmosphere remained light.
Music played softly through speakers.
Recovery drinks appeared.
Conversations overlapped.
Players joked.
Staff smiled.
Victories created environments like this.
Losses made dressing rooms quiet.
Victories made them feel alive.
After a few minutes Francesco finally grabbed a towel from his locker.
The shower sounded increasingly appealing.
His legs agreed.
His shoulders agreed.
Every muscle in his body agreed.
"Don't fall asleep in there," Robertson called.
"No promises."
Walker pointed toward the trophy.
"We're keeping it if you're gone too long."
"You're not touching it."
"We absolutely are."
Francesco shook his head as he headed toward the shower area.
Some things never changed.
The shower room was quieter.
Calmer.
The noise of celebration became distant.
Muted.
Steam already filled the air.
Several players had arrived before him.
The sound of running water echoed softly against tiled walls.
For a few moments Francesco simply stood beneath the hot water and let the tension drain away.
Football was strange.
Ninety minutes of intensity.
Ninety minutes of pressure.
Then suddenly it was over.
The adrenaline slowly disappeared.
The emotions settled.
The body finally had time to realize how hard it had been working.
The warmth felt wonderful.
He replayed parts of the match in his mind.
The goal.
Özil's pass.
The crowd erupting.
Gnabry's finish.
The standing ovation when he left the field.
The victory.
A good day.
A very good day.
Yet even as the memories replayed, another reality lingered in the back of his mind.
There would be another match soon.
Always another match.
Football never stopped moving forward.
Not for victories.
Not for defeats.
Not for anyone.
Still.
For tonight, Arsenal had earned the right to enjoy this one.
And so had he.
Twenty minutes later he emerged from the dressing area feeling significantly more human.
Fresh.
Relaxed.
Recovered.
The Arsenal jumpsuit felt comfortable after ninety minutes in match kit.
Simple navy fabric.
Club crest over the chest.
Professional.
Familiar.
Several teammates were already dressed and preparing to leave.
Others remained seated, talking and laughing.
The atmosphere remained positive.
Wenger was speaking quietly with a member of the coaching staff near the doorway.
When he spotted Francesco approaching, the manager nodded.
"Ready?"
Francesco immediately knew what that meant.
"The press conference?"
"Unfortunately."
A faint smile appeared on Wenger's face.
"Part of the job."
"One of the less enjoyable parts."
Wenger chuckled softly.
"Today it will be easier."
He had a point.
Press conferences after victories were always easier.
Reporters asked different questions.
The atmosphere changed completely.
Winning made everyone friendlier.
Mostly.
"Let's go."
The journey toward the media room took them through another network of corridors beneath the Emirates.
Club officials greeted them along the way.
Staff members offered congratulations.
Several journalists were already gathering outside the press conference area.
Word of Arsenal's victory had spread quickly.
Not that it needed spreading.
The entire football world had watched.
Chelsea.
Arsenal.
The first major match of the new year.
People were already discussing it everywhere.
Eventually they reached the media room.
The familiar setting awaited them.
A long table.
Microphones.
Club branding behind the seats.
Rows of journalists already filling the room.
Television cameras positioned throughout the space.
Reporters checked notes.
Prepared questions.
Adjusted recording devices.
The moment Wenger and Francesco entered, conversations immediately quieted.
The room shifted into work mode.
Professional mode.
Everyone settled into position.
Wenger sat first.
Francesco beside him.
Microphones were adjusted.
Water bottles appeared.
A media officer stepped forward briefly.
"Good evening, everyone."
A pause.
Then a smile.
"And happy New Year."
The room laughed softly.
Several journalists returned the greeting.
The atmosphere immediately felt lighter.
More relaxed.
The first press conference of 2018.
A fitting way to begin.
The media officer nodded.
"We'll begin."
Instantly hands rose throughout the room.
Many hands.
Far too many hands.
The familiar reality of football media.
The first journalist received the nod.
A veteran reporter from one of the major newspapers.
"Arsène, happy New Year."
Wenger smiled.
"Happy New Year."
The reporter returned the smile.
"Three-one against Chelsea. A strong performance. How satisfied are you with what you saw today?"
Wenger leaned slightly toward the microphone.
The question clearly pleased him.
"I am very satisfied."
Simple.
Honest.
"We played with quality."
"We played with discipline."
"We showed character after conceding."
The Frenchman folded his hands together.
"Chelsea are a very strong team."
"When you play against opponents of that level, you must remain focused for every minute."
"I thought the players responded excellently."
Several journalists scribbled notes immediately.
The next hand was chosen.
This time directed toward Francesco.
"Happy New Year, Francesco."
"Happy New Year."
The reporter smiled.
"Congratulations on the award."
"Thank you."
"A goal and an assist today."
"Was this one of your best performances of the season?"
The question made him pause.
Not because he didn't know the answer.
Because footballers were always careful with questions like that.
There was a fine line between confidence and arrogance.
"I don't know."
Honest.
"It's difficult to compare performances."
"Every match is different."
"But I'm happy."
He glanced briefly toward Wenger.
"I'm happy because we won."
"The goal was important."
"The assist was important."
"But the three points are the most important thing."
A few reporters nodded.
Expected answer.
But sincere.
The next question arrived immediately.
Another journalist.
Another microphone.
"Francesco, can you talk about your partnership with Mesut Özil?"
A few smiles appeared around the room.
The football world loved discussing attacking partnerships.
Especially successful ones.
Francesco smiled slightly.
"Mesut makes football easier."
The room laughed softly.
Even Wenger looked amused.
"It's true."
"When players like him receive the ball, you make runs because you know he can see them."
"You trust him."
"And he trusts you."
The answer seemed to satisfy everyone.
Particularly because nobody disagreed.
The next question returned to Wenger.
Then another.
Then another.
The press conference settled into rhythm.
Questions about tactics.
Questions about title races.
Questions about squad depth.
Questions about Chelsea.
Questions about Hazard's goal.
Questions about Arsenal's future.
The room remained engaged.
Interested.
Energetic.
At one point a journalist asked Wenger whether Arsenal had sent a message to the rest of the league.
The Frenchman smiled.
The smile alone suggested the answer.
"I do not know about messages."
The room chuckled.
"I only know about football."
Classic Wenger.
The journalists laughed again.
Even after all these years, he remained remarkably good at handling press conferences.
Eventually another reporter addressed Francesco directly.
"Do results like today increase belief inside the dressing room that Arsenal can retain the Premier League title?"
The room became slightly quieter.
A serious question.
An important question.
Francesco thought carefully.
Then answered honestly.
"Belief has always been there."
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
"We respect every opponent."
"We know how difficult the league is."
"But we believe in ourselves."
He looked around the room.
"We believed before today."
"We believed before kickoff."
"And we'll believe before the next match too."
Several journalists immediately wrote that down.
They always liked quotes about belief.
Always.
The questions continued.
The conversation flowed naturally.
And as the first press conference of 2018 continued beneath the bright lights of the Emirates media room, both Wenger and his captain represented Arsenal exactly as they had represented the club all afternoon.
______________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 19 (2017)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, and 2016/2017 Champions League.
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 31
Goal: 38
Assist: 2
MOTM: 5
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 2
Goal: 2
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 16/17 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 55
Goal: 87
Assist: 5
MOTM: 14
POTM: 1
England:
Match: 1
Goal: 1
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 15/16 stats:
Arsenal:
Match Played: 60
Goal: 82
Assist: 10
MOTM: 9
POTM: 1
England:
Match Played: 2
Goal: 4
Assist: 0
Euro 2016
Match Played: 6
Goal: 13
Assist: 4
MOTM: 6
Season 14/15 stats:
Match Played: 35
Goal: 45
Assist: 12
MOTM: 9