If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my P-Tang12!!!
_____________________________
(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
...
And somewhere above the noise, the Premier League title race suddenly felt very real again.
The rain still fell lightly across the Etihad as Arsenal players continued celebrating near the away end beneath the floodlights.
Not wild chaos anymore.
Something deeper.
Relief.
Belief.
The kind of victory that felt important immediately the moment the final whistle sounded.
Supporters bounced behind the goal singing loudly while players applauded them with exhausted smiles and heavy legs after ninety brutal minutes. Scarves waved through the cold Manchester night. Phones flashed everywhere. Commentary voices echoed faintly from television monitors around the stadium.
And at the center of almost every camera stood Francesco.
Captain tonight.
Brace tonight.
Match winner tonight.
He still hadn't fully processed the second goal yet honestly.
Moments like that always arrived too quickly while happening and too slowly afterward. The run. Özil's pass. The pendulum around Ederson. The open net. The noise exploding behind him.
It still replayed in fragments inside his head while he walked slowly across the pitch applauding supporters.
Walker suddenly appeared beside him completely soaked from rain and sweat.
"You realize," he announced dramatically, "this proves Manchester weather emotionally favors counterattacking football."
Francesco looked at him blankly.
"You scored absolutely zero goals tonight and somehow became more confident."
"That's leadership."
"No."
"Yes."
Robertson walked past a second later shaking his head.
"I've stopped trying to understand him."
"Cowardice," Walker replied immediately.
Nearby Alexis was still buzzing with adrenaline, grabbing teammates randomly and replaying the counterattack for the tenth time already.
"I knew it," the Chilean insisted loudly while pointing toward Francesco. "The second Mesut got the ball there I knew."
"You say that after every attack," Ramsey called from behind them.
"Because I believe aggressively."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"It emotionally makes sense."
Walker pointed proudly.
"Exactly."
Ramsey looked physically exhausted by the entire squad now.
Francesco laughed quietly under his breath while wiping rain from his forehead with the bottom of his shirt.
The adrenaline slowly settled enough now for exhaustion to begin hitting properly.
His legs felt heavy.
His lungs burned.
His shirt clung cold against his skin beneath the rain.
But emotionally?
He felt weightless.
Absolutely weightless.
Then one of Arsenal's media staff approached through the crowd of players and photographers.
"Francesco."
He turned.
"Sky want you pitchside."
Of course they did.
Brace.
Late winner.
Captain.
Massive title-race match.
There had never been any chance he was escaping interviews tonight.
Walker immediately slapped his shoulder dramatically.
"Go spread emotional wisdom."
"I regret helping you become confident."
"Impossible."
Alexis pointed toward him too.
"Tell them I assisted spiritually."
"You did nothing spiritually."
"I pressed spiritually."
Reasonable Alexis logic.
Francesco shook his head smiling faintly before jogging slowly toward the sideline interview area where cameras, microphones, and production crews already waited beneath the floodlights.
The closer he got, the louder the stadium atmosphere felt again.
City supporters still lingering disappointed in sections of blue seats.
Arsenal fans still singing relentlessly from the away corner.
Commentators speaking rapidly over replay footage.
Security staff moving along the touchline.
The entire stadium carrying that strange emotional mixture only existed after enormous football matches.
Triumph on one side.
Pain on the other.
At the interview area, the Sky Sports presenter waited already holding a microphone while producers adjusted cables and cameras around them.
Bright lights hit immediately.
Francesco squinted slightly while brushing wet hair back from his forehead.
"You alright?" the interviewer asked quietly off-camera first.
"Yes."
"You look exhausted."
"I am exhausted."
"That usually means it was a good game."
Francesco laughed softly once.
Then the countdown came.
"Three… two… one…"
The red camera light switched on.
And suddenly the interview began live across England.
The presenter smiled toward the camera first while the Etihad crowd continued roaring faintly behind them.
"Well, Arsenal have come to the Etihad tonight and produced a massive statement victory in the title race, winning 2–1 against Manchester City thanks to a dramatic late winner from the Arsenal captain Francesco, who joins us now."
The microphone turned toward him.
"First of all, congratulations. What are you feeling right now after a match like that?"
Francesco exhaled slowly first.
Because honestly?
There were too many emotions happening at once to explain quickly.
"Tired," he admitted with a small smile.
The interviewer laughed.
"Fair answer."
Then Francesco glanced briefly toward the away supporters still singing behind the cameras.
"But mostly proud," he continued more seriously. "This was a very difficult match. City here… they force you to suffer. Physically, mentally, emotionally. So to stay disciplined and win like that at the end…" He shook his head slightly. "It means a lot."
Behind the camera several Arsenal staff nodded quietly hearing that.
Because everyone understood exactly how difficult the night had been.
The presenter continued.
"You mentioned emotionally there, and that's become a huge talking point around Arsenal recently after the Watford defeat. Do you think this team has grown from that experience?"
Francesco thought about the question for a second while rain continued drifting beneath the floodlights around them.
"Yes," he answered honestly. "Definitely."
His voice stayed calm now despite the noise surrounding the stadium.
"Sometimes difficult moments teach you important things about yourselves. After Watford we had to improve how we react during matches. Not panic. Not lose structure emotionally when momentum changes."
There was that word again.
Emotion.
Always emotion now.
The interviewer nodded immediately.
"And tonight felt like proof of that?"
"Yes," Francesco replied. "Because after they equalized, this stadium becomes difficult. Very difficult. The crowd pushes them forward, the game becomes faster, more chaotic. But we stayed calm. We kept believing in our structure and waited for the right moment."
The replay of his winning goal appeared on the giant stadium screen above them just then.
The Etihad reacted with a mixture of groans and applause.
Francesco glanced upward briefly as the footage rolled again.
Özil's pass.
The run.
The pendulum.
Finish.
Goal.
Even replayed above the stadium it still looked surreal somehow.
The presenter smiled immediately seeing the replay continue.
"We have to ask about that goal obviously."
Francesco laughed quietly.
"Of course."
"Talk us through it. Because the composure there in the eighty-ninth minute… that's elite."
Francesco rubbed the back of his neck briefly still breathing heavily from the match.
"The counterattack happened very quickly," he explained. "When Mesut gets the ball facing forward, you know there's always a chance because he sees spaces before anyone else."
True statement.
"Then Alexis and Santi combined perfectly. And once Mesut lifted the pass…" Francesco paused briefly. "I just tried to stay calm."
The interviewer raised an eyebrow jokingly.
"Just stay calm?"
"Yes."
"You make that sound simple."
"It did not feel simple."
That got a laugh from both the presenter and nearby production crew.
Francesco smiled faintly before continuing.
"When Ederson came out, I knew if I rushed the finish I would miss the moment. So I waited one extra second."
The replay rolled again on nearby monitors.
Pendulum.
Goalkeeper sliding wrong direction.
Open net.
Goal.
The presenter shook his head admiringly.
"It's a brilliant finish. And in a massive moment too."
Francesco nodded once.
"Yes."
Then after a second more quietly:
"These are the moments you dream about as a kid."
That line lingered softly for a moment beneath the noise of the stadium.
Because it was true.
Completely true.
The interviewer glanced toward the crowd before asking the next question.
"You've scored twice tonight, captained the side, and Arsenal now leave the Etihad with a huge three points. Does this feel like a statement victory in the title race?"
Francesco immediately shook his head slightly.
"Important victory, yes. Big victory, yes. But it's still early."
Classic footballer answer.
The interviewer smiled knowingly.
"You don't want to say statement?"
"No," Francesco replied honestly. "Because titles are not won in November."
"But matches like this matter later."
"Yes," he admitted. "They matter because they build belief. Especially away from home against top teams."
Behind them Arsenal supporters suddenly began singing his name loudly from the away section.
The noise rolled across the stadium beautifully beneath the rain.
Francesco glanced sideways toward them instinctively.
The interviewer noticed immediately.
"They're enjoying your performance tonight."
Francesco smiled softly this time.
"I think we all are."
That got another laugh.
The interviewer continued.
"One thing pundits have spoken about recently is your leadership. Gary Neville tonight said Arsenal look emotionally calmer with you leading the side in big moments. Do you feel yourself growing into that responsibility now?"
Francesco visibly looked uncomfortable hearing that directly.
The presenter noticed instantly.
"There's the uncomfortable face."
"I do not have uncomfortable faces."
"That's exactly what people with uncomfortable faces say."
Even Francesco laughed at that.
Then he answered more seriously afterward.
"I'm still learning honestly. We have many leaders in this team already. Virgil. Laurent. Petr. Santi. Alexis in his own… very aggressive way."
That definitely earned laughter.
"But as captain," Francesco continued, "you have responsibility to help the team stay calm during difficult moments. Especially emotionally. Sometimes after goals or mistakes, matches can become chaotic very quickly."
The interviewer nodded thoughtfully.
"And Arsenal handled those moments brilliantly tonight."
"I think so, yes."
Then he looked back toward the pitch briefly where teammates still applauded supporters near midfield.
"And honestly, everyone contributed. N'Golo was unbelievable again tonight. Mesut controlled difficult moments. The defenders suffered against City's attacks but stayed concentrated. It was a team victory."
The presenter smiled slightly hearing that answer.
Professional.
Mature.
Very captain-like.
Then came another replay package on the stadium screen showing both of Francesco's goals again.
The first one especially looked absurd from behind the net camera angle.
Kanté intercepting.
Francesco shifting onto his right foot.
Curling finish into the top corner.
Ederson helpless.
The interviewer pointed upward.
"That first goal deserves attention too by the way. That strike is outrageous."
Francesco looked up briefly again.
"It was a good pass from N'Golo."
"That man could assist a bicycle kick and still apologize for it afterward."
"That sounds accurate."
The presenter laughed again.
Then his expression softened slightly for the final question.
"You've had some massive moments already in your career. But where does tonight rank emotionally for you?"
Francesco went quiet for a second hearing that.
Because honestly?
It ranked high.
Very high.
Not just because of the goals.
Because of the meaning.
The pressure.
The growth.
The response after difficult weeks.
He looked out toward the away supporters again before answering carefully.
"It's special," he admitted finally. "Very special."
The rain continued falling lightly around them while stadium lights reflected off the wet pitch behind.
"These are the matches everyone wants to play in. Big stadium. Big opponent. Big pressure." He smiled faintly afterward. "And when you win together like this… you remember it."
The interviewer nodded slowly.
"You can see that written all over your face."
Then suddenly another figure approached from off-camera carrying a small silver trophy.
The presenter grinned immediately.
"And before we let you go, I think there's something else waiting for you tonight."
Francesco blinked once.
Then noticed the Premier League logo on the award.
Man of the Match.
The interviewer lifted it slightly toward the camera.
"Two goals. Captain's performance. A dramatic late winner away at the Etihad. Francesco, you are tonight's Man of the Match."
Applause broke out around the production crew and nearby Arsenal staff immediately.
Francesco accepted the trophy with both hands looking slightly embarrassed by the attention already.
The silver award reflected brightly beneath the floodlights while rain droplets slid across its surface.
The interviewer smiled.
"Another one for the collection."
"I prefer the three points."
"That is an extremely footballer answer."
"It is true."
The presenter laughed again before turning back toward the camera.
"Francesco, congratulations again. Arsenal win 2–1 here at the Etihad in what could become one of the defining results of the season. Their captain with two massive goals tonight and our Man of the Match."
The camera light finally switched off.
And immediately the atmosphere relaxed.
Production staff exhaled.
Microphones lowered.
The presenter shook Francesco's hand warmly.
"Seriously, brilliant performance."
"Thank you."
"You looked calmer than everyone else during that last chance."
"I was not calm."
"You hid it well."
Francesco smiled tiredly while adjusting his grip on the trophy.
Now that the interview ended properly, exhaustion returned almost immediately.
The adrenaline began fading again.
Leaving behind heavy legs and emotional emptiness after such an intense match.
But a good emptiness.
A satisfied one.
As he walked away from the interview area carrying the Man of the Match award beneath the rain, Arsenal supporters near the tunnel immediately spotted him.
And exploded again.
Songs.
Cheers.
Scarves raised high above heads.
Francesco lifted the trophy briefly toward them in acknowledgment.
The response became deafening.
Behind him Walker shouted loudly from near midfield the second he noticed the award.
"EMOTIONAL MAN OF THE MATCH!"
Robertson buried his face in both hands.
"I'm leaving this club."
"No you're not," Walker replied proudly. "You emotionally belong here now."
Francesco laughed despite himself while continuing toward the tunnel where teammates waited.
The tunnel leading back toward the dressing rooms felt warmer immediately after the freezing rain outside.
Not physically warm exactly.
Alive warm.
Victory warm.
Arsenal players moved through the corridor exhausted but visibly lighter now, boots scraping against the floor while staff members congratulated them along the way. Security guards stepped aside. Television crews rushed around trying to capture final reaction shots. Somewhere farther down the hallway City staff moved quietly in the opposite direction carrying disappointment through lowered voices and tight expressions.
That contrast always existed after huge matches.
One dressing room breathed easier.
The other replayed mistakes already.
Francesco walked near the middle of Arsenal's group still carrying the small Man of the Match trophy loosely in one hand while his soaked match shirt clung uncomfortably against his skin.
Walker immediately spotted the trophy again.
"There it is," he announced dramatically to nobody and everybody simultaneously. "Physical proof of emotional greatness."
Robertson sighed deeply beside him.
"I genuinely think your brain needs medical examination."
"That's emotional discrimination."
"No. It's science."
Alexis walked backward through the corridor pointing toward Francesco.
"You should thank me in your speech."
"There was no speech."
"There should be."
"For what?"
"My spiritual pressing contribution."
Francesco shook his head tiredly.
"You are impossible after victories."
"Correct."
Even exhausted, the squad energy felt loose now.
Relieved.
The kind of atmosphere only existed after surviving massive away matches together.
As the players entered the dressing room properly, noise returned instantly.
Music started somewhere near the recovery area.
Boots hit the floor.
Tape ripped off wrists and ankles.
Players collapsed into seats groaning dramatically while staff handed out recovery shakes and towels.
The room smelled like rain, sweat, deep heat cream, and victory.
A very football smell.
Francesco finally dropped into his seat beneath his locker while rubbing both hands slowly across his face.
Now that the adrenaline kept fading, fatigue hit properly.
His thighs burned.
His calves felt tight.
His lungs still carried traces of cold Manchester air.
Beside him Özil loosened his boots carefully before leaning back against the locker.
"You know," Mesut said quietly, "your second goal looked slower from the pitch."
Francesco glanced sideways.
"Slower?"
"Yes. Like everything paused for one second."
Francesco thought about it.
Honestly?
That was exactly how it felt.
"Maybe adrenaline," he replied.
"No," Özil said calmly. "Control."
Typical Mesut answer.
Simple.
Accurate.
A few lockers away Walker stood on a bench for absolutely no reason while giving an aggressively unnecessary speech to nobody.
"Gentlemen," he announced loudly, "tonight we proved Manchester rain psychologically benefits emotionally resilient football institutions."
Ramsey threw a towel directly at his head.
"Please shut up."
Walker caught it proudly.
"Violence against innovators."
Cazorla laughed so hard he nearly dropped his recovery drink.
Across the room Wenger finally entered quietly with assistant coaches behind him.
And immediately the atmosphere shifted slightly again.
Still joyful.
But attentive now.
The manager looked around the dressing room first before speaking.
No dramatic speech.
That wasn't Wenger's style after performances like this.
Instead he nodded once slowly.
"Very good."
Simple words.
But from Wenger after a match like this?
That meant something.
Players listened quietly while toweling off sweat and rainwater.
The manager continued calmly.
"You suffered when necessary. You stayed disciplined emotionally after difficult moments. And you remained brave enough to attack late in the match."
There was that word again.
Emotion.
The defining language of Arsenal's season now.
Wenger glanced toward Francesco and Özil briefly.
"That final counterattack was exceptional."
Özil lowered his head modestly.
Francesco just exhaled tiredly.
The replay still looped endlessly in his mind.
Then Wenger's expression softened slightly.
"But the most important thing tonight was the mentality after City equalized. No panic. No loss of structure."
Kanté sat quietly nearby listening while rewrapping one ankle.
Van Dijk leaned back against his locker exhausted.
Cech drank water slowly while watching the manager carefully.
Everyone understood the deeper meaning underneath Wenger's words.
Watford.
Everything kept tracing back there.
Because a month earlier maybe Arsenal lose emotional control in this environment.
Maybe they chase the game too wildly after conceding.
Maybe they open spaces emotionally trying too hard to prove themselves.
Tonight they didn't.
Tonight they grew up.
Wenger eventually nodded once more.
"Recover properly tonight. We continue working tomorrow."
Then after a small pause:
"And enjoy the victory."
That earned smiles immediately across the room.
The manager almost looked amused himself.
Almost.
As Wenger turned toward the coaches near the doorway, he paused briefly before looking back toward Francesco and Özil.
"You two," he said calmly. "Press conference with me."
Walker gasped dramatically.
"The emotional trio."
"No," Ramsey replied immediately. "Absolutely not."
Mesut looked deeply disappointed already.
"I was hoping to avoid journalists tonight."
"You had three assists emotionally," Walker informed him proudly.
"I regret speaking English."
Francesco laughed quietly while standing up slowly from his seat.
His legs protested immediately.
Massive matches always revealed themselves physically afterward.
Around the room players gradually began moving toward the showers while staff collected gear and equipment from the floor.
Steam soon filled parts of the dressing room while water hammered against tiled walls beyond the recovery area.
Footballers always transformed strangely fast after matches.
One minute warriors under floodlights.
Ten minutes later exhausted men standing barefoot in towels arguing about music choices.
Francesco eventually stepped beneath the hot shower and finally felt tension begin leaving his muscles properly for the first time all night.
The water hit hard against sore shoulders and tight legs while match moments replayed endlessly behind his eyes.
First goal.
Aguero equalizer.
Kanté interceptions.
Özil's pass.
The pendulum.
The roar afterward.
Big matches always lingered longer emotionally somehow.
When he finally emerged afterward, the dressing room atmosphere had softened even more now.
Players changed into Arsenal travel jumpsuits and recovery gear while post-match food sat arranged across one side of the room.
Pasta.
Fruit.
Protein shakes.
The glamorous reality of elite football.
Walker sat eating chicken while still talking somehow.
"I'm just saying," he continued confidently, "rain statistically improves dramatic narrative structures."
Robertson looked physically close to retirement.
"You're inventing mathematics now."
"Emotionally."
"Stop adding emotionally to random words!"
Alexis pointed at Walker with a fork.
"No. Continue. It's entertaining."
"Thank you."
"Like zoo animals."
Walker looked proud anyway.
Francesco pulled on his Arsenal jumpsuit slowly before toweling his hair dry again.
The Man of the Match trophy sat on the bench beside him now reflecting the fluorescent dressing room lights.
He stared at it for a second quietly.
Then looked away almost immediately.
Awards felt strange sometimes.
Nice.
But strange.
Because football never really stopped long enough emotionally to enjoy them completely.
Another match always waited ahead.
Another pressure.
Another story.
Still, tonight mattered.
And deep down he knew it.
Eventually a media officer appeared near the doorway.
"Press room in two minutes."
Özil groaned softly.
"I truly dislike this part."
"You dislike speaking," Francesco replied.
"Correct."
"You're very good at it though."
"That makes it worse."
A few teammates clapped sarcastically as the two stood up beside Wenger near the exit.
Walker pointed dramatically at them again.
"Represent the emotionally victorious."
Wenger finally looked at him directly.
"Please let them leave in peace."
The dressing room erupted laughing immediately.
Even Walker looked stunned.
"Boss," he said slowly, "that was emotionally devastating."
Wenger walked away before answering.
The corridor toward the press conference room felt quieter than before now.
Less chaotic.
Most media activity had shifted toward mixed zones and live television areas already, but reporters still moved quickly through the stadium hallways carrying laptops, cameras, and phones while discussing the result excitedly.
Arsenal beating City away this late in dramatic fashion?
That would dominate football coverage for days.
Francesco walked beside Özil while Wenger led slightly ahead.
"You ready?" Mesut asked quietly.
"No."
"Good."
"You?"
"I would rather defend corners for another hour."
Reasonable answer honestly.
As they approached the press room entrance, the noise inside became audible already.
Reporters talking rapidly.
Chairs moving.
Camera crews adjusting equipment.
The Arsenal media officer opened the door.
And instantly dozens of faces turned toward them.
Bright lights again.
Microphones everywhere.
Sponsor boards covering the backdrop behind the long table at the front of the room.
The familiar organized madness of elite football press conferences.
Wenger sat in the center seat calmly as always.
Francesco on his right.
Özil on his left.
Cameras flashed immediately while reporters prepared questions before they'd even fully settled into their seats.
The media officer spoke first.
"Good evening everyone. We'll begin with questions for Arsène, Mesut, and Francesco."
Hands shot up instantly.
Of course.
The first journalist didn't even wait long.
"Arsène, congratulations. Massive result tonight. How important is a win like this psychologically for your team?"
Wenger folded his hands calmly on the table.
"It is important because of the quality of the opponent and because of the way we responded during difficult moments in the match."
Calm answer.
Measured answer.
Classic Wenger.
"We showed maturity tonight," he continued. "Especially after conceding the equalizer in such an intense atmosphere."
Another reporter jumped in quickly afterward.
"Francesco, can you describe what was going through your mind during that final counterattack?"
Immediately cameras shifted toward him again.
Francesco leaned slightly toward the microphone.
"Honestly? Mostly survival."
That got laughter across the room instantly.
"No," he continued smiling faintly, "the move happened very quickly. Once Mesut had space facing forward, I knew I needed to attack the channel immediately."
Beside him Özil lowered his head slightly already anticipating praise.
"The timing from Alexis and Santi was perfect," Francesco continued. "Then Mesut's pass…" He shook his head lightly. "It makes the decision much easier for the striker."
A reporter pointed toward Özil immediately.
"Mesut, that through ball was unbelievable. Did you already see the run before receiving the pass from Cazorla?"
Özil shrugged lightly in typical Özil fashion.
"Yes."
The room laughed immediately because of course he answered like that.
Then Mesut smiled slightly before elaborating.
"When Francesco starts moving like that, you trust him to attack the space properly. I only needed to place the ball in the right area."
"Only," Francesco muttered quietly beside him.
Özil ignored him professionally.
Another reporter raised his hand quickly.
"Francesco, the composure for the finish was extraordinary considering the moment. Did you always know you would round Ederson?"
He paused briefly.
Because honestly?
No.
Football moments happened too fast for complete planning sometimes.
"No," he admitted. "I reacted to the goalkeeper. When he committed forward, I felt there was enough space to go around him instead of shooting early."
Then after a second:
"But if I touched it too far, everyone would kill me afterward."
That got another wave of laughter through the room.
Even Wenger smiled faintly.
A Spanish journalist turned toward Wenger next.
"Arsène, many people questioned Arsenal emotionally after Watford. Tonight your team looked extremely calm in difficult moments. Do you believe the defeat actually helped your players grow mentally?"
Wenger leaned back slightly thinking first.
"Sometimes difficult experiences accelerate maturity," he answered carefully. "After Watford we had important conversations about emotional management during matches. Football today is not only technical or physical. The emotional control of momentum is extremely important at the highest level."
Francesco noticed several reporters immediately writing that quote down word for word.
Because Wenger rarely spoke that directly about mentality publicly.
Another hand rose.
"Mesut, tonight the midfield battle against De Bruyne, Silva, and Fernandinho looked exhausting. How difficult was it tactically?"
Özil exhaled softly.
"Very difficult. City move constantly. You cannot switch off mentally even for one second because they punish spaces very quickly."
Then he glanced briefly toward Francesco.
"But I think tonight we managed difficult moments more patiently than maybe before."
Interesting wording.
Maybe before.
Everyone understood the reference.
A reporter from Sky Sports leaned forward next.
"Francesco, Gary Neville said during commentary tonight that Arsenal now look emotionally calmer with you captaining the side. Do you enjoy this growing leadership responsibility?"
There it was again.
Leadership.
Francesco visibly looked uncomfortable immediately.
The entire room noticed too.
One journalist actually laughed quietly seeing his expression.
"I don't know why people enjoy asking me this," Francesco admitted honestly.
More laughter.
Then he answered properly.
"I try to help the team stay organized during difficult moments. But leadership is shared inside this squad. Tonight Laurent was unbelievable defensively. Petr made huge saves. N'Golo controlled transitions. Mesut controlled rhythm. Everyone contributes leadership differently."
Beside him Wenger nodded subtly hearing that answer.
A French journalist spoke next.
"Arsène, where does this performance rank compared to your biggest away wins recently?"
The manager thought carefully before answering.
"It is one of our most mature away performances," he admitted. "Not perfect. But mature."
That word again.
Mature.
"We suffered," Wenger continued. "But we accepted suffering without losing tactical discipline."
Another reporter immediately followed.
"And Francesco's performance?"
Wenger glanced sideways briefly toward him before speaking.
"Top-level performance. Especially emotionally after the equalizer."
The room smiled hearing Wenger use that word too now.
Walker had infected the club permanently.
Even the journalists looked amused.
Francesco buried his face briefly into one hand laughing under his breath.
Wenger noticed immediately.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No, tell them."
Francesco shook his head smiling.
"One of our teammates now says emotionally before every sentence."
The room burst laughing.
Even Wenger looked defeated.
"Yes," the manager admitted calmly. "Unfortunately."
A reporter shouted immediately:
"Who?"
Francesco and Özil answered together instantly.
"Walker."
That caused another wave of laughter across the room.
Meanwhile somewhere inside the dressing room Kyle Walker probably sneezed spiritually.
The atmosphere loosened after that.
Questions kept flowing though.
About the title race.
About Arsenal's tactical adjustments.
About Kanté's performance.
About the emotional growth of the squad.
One reporter eventually turned serious again.
"Francesco, after scoring the winner, what did you feel seeing the Arsenal supporters celebrating behind the goal?"
The room quieted slightly hearing that question.
Because those moments mattered.
Francesco thought carefully before answering.
"Relief first," he admitted softly.
Then after a second:
"And connection."
The reporters listened closely now.
"You hear them all game," he continued. "Especially away from home in matches like this. They travel everywhere with us. So when you score that late…" He smiled faintly. "You feel everyone release emotion together."
Even Wenger looked quietly pleased with that answer.
Another reporter spoke quickly afterward.
"Does tonight send a message to the rest of the league?"
Francesco immediately shook his head again.
"No messages. Just three points."
The room laughed because it was such a perfectly footballer response.
But Wenger interrupted this time.
"It sends a message internally."
Interesting.
Every reporter immediately looked up again.
The manager continued calmly.
"For ourselves. About what kind of team we can become if we continue improving emotionally and tactically together."
That line hung heavily inside the room afterward.
Because it felt bigger than one match.
Bigger than Manchester City away.
It felt like Wenger acknowledging growth publicly.
Real growth.
Eventually after nearly thirty exhausting minutes, the media officer finally stepped forward again.
"Last question."
One final hand rose near the back.
"Francesco, you received Man of the Match tonight after a brace and a captain's performance. Where will the trophy go?"
He blinked once hearing that.
Then smiled.
"Probably somewhere Cheddar can't destroy it."
The room exploded laughing immediately.
Even Özil fully laughed this time.
Wenger shook his head slowly.
"Wise decision."
The press conference finally ended after that.
Chairs moved.
Cameras lowered.
Reporters shouted final congratulations while the trio stood from the table, and they walked back toward the corridor again.
______________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 18 (2016)
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: 20
Goal: 25
Assist: 1
MOTM:3
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