From Arsenal, Forge the Path to Football God

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August 14th, Southern France, Aix.

7:10 PM, with only twenty minutes left before Cardiff City's home match against Sheffield United.

In an old residential building, a family of five had prepared chilled beer, abundant snacks, and appetizers, eagerly awaiting the match.

"How much longer until it starts?"

A middle-aged woman, busy serving dishes, looked a bit tired but her spirits were high, "I heard from the supermarket that a 17-year-old playing in the Championship is considered a genius."

"Genius?"

The middle-aged man sitting on the sofa beamed with pride, "First professional league match, starting as a starter, far more than just a genius. Our nephew is a prodigy!"

"Clement! Clement!"

The third child, Eva, ran out from the inner room, calling her father's name, her eyes red and voice trembling, "Brother's pizza, Sister ate two pieces!"

"Call me Dad."

Clement's face turned serious, but then he softened, picking her up and placing her on his lap, "That's a big pizza, you can't eat it all by yourself."

"Then why didn't she ask Brother to buy her one, and eat mine instead?" Eva wiped her tears, her voice innocent.

The eldest sister and the second brother came out from the inner room, the former rolling her eyes slightly, "She only ate two pieces, I'll buy you another one later."

The family's noisy chatter added a lively atmosphere to the small house, making it a warm and cozy scene, just like a big family.

"Does Maël really earn 2,500 pounds a week now?"

The eldest sister, sitting on the sofa, thought of the 3,000 pounds Maël had sent back recently, "Isn't that more than what you and Mom earn combined?"

"We're just ordinary people."

Clement smiled, not caring about his own pride, only praising his nephew, "After Maël plays today, he'll be considered a young star. This 2,500 pounds a week will only go up."

He glanced at his wife, his eyes filled with relief at having insisted on Maël playing football, and a hint of regret and fear.

They had almost stifled their nephew's talent.

His wife turned away, saying nothing. Time had passed, and she had long put her past doubts and struggles behind her.

"Brother! Brother!"

Suddenly, the youngest daughter, Eva, widened her eyes and pointed at the TV, clapping and jumping, "Look, Brother is on!"

The whole family looked at the screen, immediately seeing a close-up of Maël's face, looking very serious, seemingly in the player tunnel.

"Maël! Arsenal Youth Academy product! Today is destined to be a memorable day for him!

"Kevin has given this young player enough trust, making him one of the rare players to start in his debut!" The commentator's voice pulled them into the exciting and tense atmosphere of the match.

It was a truly magical feeling.

A once ordinary and even somewhat quiet person, now appearing on TV, with a completely transformed identity.

"Wow!" Eva opened her mouth wide, laughing and shouting.

The others couldn't express themselves freely, but from the occasional tremors in their bodies due to excitement, their emotions were the same as Eva's.

Colney Training Ground, Arsenal U17 Dormitory.

With several doors opening simultaneously, almost everyone who received the news rushed out, hurriedly heading towards the youth team meeting room.

"Don't lie in bed! Come out!"

"English Football League (EFL) Championship second round, our former teammate! Maël has been given a starting position!"

"Quick, to the meeting room! Coach Hans is waiting for us!"

Some considerate ones didn't forget to share the joy with their teammates, knocking on doors to call those who hadn't noticed the phone messages, "I'm not lying, check your phones for messages from Coach Hans."

Another series of sounds, like many people jumping out of their beds and hurriedly putting on shoes.

Soon, over a dozen people ran out of the dormitory, heading towards the youth team meeting room as if in a 100-meter dash.

Some, on the way, couldn't help but express their amazement, "I never thought they would really get the chance."

"Yeah, and who would have thought Maël would be the first to start?"

"Hurry up! It's 7:30, the match is starting!"

"Is Gilbert on the squad list?"

"Yes, yes, why worry so much? If we're late, we won't even see Maël's entrance!"

Some walked slowly, their hearts filled with mixed emotions, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, or disbelief, just as before.

Maël's rapid rise had repeatedly exceeded their understanding, leaving them in a constant state of disorientation, always feeling he was still the trial player they remembered.

If his rise had been slower, giving them time to react and accept it, they wouldn't have been in this state.

Soon, those who arrived first saw Coach Hans pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, his face filled with urgency and excitement, unable to sit still.

"Sorry, I got the news late."

Hans waved at the players, then his right hand slapped his left palm, his words jumbled, "I didn't... I didn't expect Maël to start this match."

He wasn't stuttering, but rather in a state of excitement and agitation, "In the last match against the English League, I didn't see the two of them, I thought they had become completely marginalized in the club."

The players shook their heads and waved, indicating it was no big deal, and they all took their seats in the meeting room, looking up at the big screen.

There, the live broadcast of their U17 team's 'outstanding graduate' Maël was playing.

The logo in the top left corner was clear, this was the English Championship!

Cardiff City Stadium, Player Tunnel.

The sound of heavy breathing filled the air as Maël adjusted his breathing, trying to focus and stay calm.

He held the hand of a ball boy, surrounded by a group of tall and strong English Football League (EFL) Championship players, about to step onto the pitch and begin his professional career.

"Beep!"

The referee's whistle signaled the players to enter the pitch, and the three referees led the front row of players into the field.

Maël mechanically followed the Sheffield United players, his heart pounding, his hearing slightly impaired, only hearing a cacophony of sounds.

He walked through the dark player tunnel, step by step, towards the bright pitch, towards the place he had longed for.

"Oh!!!"

As he stepped onto the pitch, the sounds in his ears became clear, and the scene before him brightened, filled with the roars of fans and the glare of spotlights.

Looking around, the stadium, which could hold over 30,000 people, was packed, a sea of people, their waving arms turning the stands into a sea of joy, a grand feast for football fans.

He stepped onto the pitch with legs that felt numb, completing the entrance ceremony in a daze, and took his position.

"Come on! Come on!!" A shout came from the bench, it was Gilbert, in a tank top, waving at him.

Maël calmed down a bit, knowing that many people he cared about were watching him, he couldn't let them down on the pitch.

"Breathe..."

Taking a deep breath, he heard the fans start a countdown.

"Seventeen... three... two... one!!!"

As the countdown ended, the referee, standing on the center circle extension line, raised his right hand and blew the whistle to start the match, "Beep!!!"

The English Football League (EFL) Championship second round match officially began!

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