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For Arsenal, however, belief continued to grow that this might finally be the season they could make a genuine run at European glory.
The celebrations in front of the travelling Arsenal supporters continued for several more minutes.
The away end was a sea of red and white.
Scarves swayed from side to side.
Flags rippled in the cool Portuguese night.
The songs never seemed to stop.
For those supporters, this was more than just another European away trip.
They had crossed countries to follow their club, hoping to witness a positive result.
Instead, they had been treated to one of Arsenal's greatest away performances in the Champions League era.
Francesco stood at the front of the squad, applauding continuously.
Beside him, Alexis Sánchez raised both hands toward the supporters.
His name echoed around the away section.
"Alexis! Alexis! Alexis!"
The Chilean smiled broadly before placing a hand over the Arsenal crest on his shirt.
Walker leaned across to Robertson.
"I think he might've had a decent game."
Robertson didn't even bother looking at him.
"You've got a gift for understatement."
"I try."
"You really don't."
Even after ninety exhausting minutes, the little exchange made several teammates laugh.
Eventually, one of UEFA's match coordinators approached the Arsenal group.
He spoke quietly with a member of Arsenal's media staff before looking toward Francesco and Alexis.
"Francesco."
"Alexis."
"Would you both come with me, please?"
Francesco glanced at Alexis.
"Looks like we're not finished yet."
Alexis chuckled.
"I was hoping for the ice bath."
"I'm afraid that can wait."
The pair exchanged a quick nod with Wenger, who simply smiled.
"Go."
"We'll wait."
The two attackers followed the UEFA official along the touchline toward the designated television interview area.
The rest of Arsenal's players remained near the away supporters, continuing to applaud the fans while photographers captured the celebrations.
As Francesco and Alexis approached the interview position, television crews were already waiting.
Large floodlights illuminated the small media area.
Several cameras pointed toward them.
Microphones had already been prepared.
The interviewer stepped forward with a warm smile.
"Francesco."
"Alexis."
"Congratulations."
She shook hands with both players before the cameras went live.
"We're joined by Arsenal captain Francesco Lee and Alexis Sánchez after an extraordinary 6-0 victory here at the Estádio do Dragão."
She turned toward both players.
"First of all, congratulations on a remarkable performance."
"Winning away in the Champions League is never easy."
"Winning by six goals is exceptional."
"How are you both feeling right now?"
Francesco looked briefly toward the Arsenal supporters still celebrating behind one of the goals before answering.
"It feels good."
"Very good."
"But more than anything, I'm proud of the team."
He smiled.
"We knew Porto would start aggressively because of the atmosphere here."
"They're a very good side."
"The opening fifteen or twenty minutes were important."
"We stayed calm."
"We defended together."
"And once we found our rhythm, everything started flowing."
The interviewer nodded.
"You scored once and provided an assist tonight."
"But your movement throughout the match constantly created space for your teammates."
Francesco smiled modestly.
"That's part of being a striker."
"Sometimes you score."
"Sometimes you create."
"Sometimes your movement allows someone else to score."
He looked sideways toward Alexis.
"Tonight everyone contributed."
"Alexis finished the chances brilliantly."
"Mesut created."
"Granit gave an unbelievable assist."
"Our defenders were outstanding."
"Petr kept another clean sheet."
"This result belongs to everyone."
The interviewer turned toward Alexis.
"And speaking of finishing…"
She laughed softly.
"A Champions League hat-trick."
"How special is this night for you?"
Alexis took a deep breath before answering.
"It's one of those nights every footballer dreams about."
He glanced around the stadium.
"The Champions League always feels different."
"The atmosphere."
"The pressure."
"The quality of the opposition."
"When you score once, you're happy."
"When you score three…"
He laughed.
"…it's something you'll remember for a very long time."
The interviewer smiled.
"Your third goal…"
"The free kick."
"It was absolutely spectacular."
"What was going through your mind when Francesco handed you the ball?"
Alexis immediately looked toward his captain.
"He asked me if I wanted it."
"I said yes."
"I felt confident."
He shrugged with a grin.
"Sometimes you strike the ball exactly the way you imagine."
"Tonight that happened."
Francesco laughed.
"I think everyone in the stadium knew it was going in."
Alexis shook his head.
"I definitely didn't."
"I was just hoping to hit the target."
The interviewer smiled at the relaxed chemistry between them.
"It seems there's a fantastic understanding within this Arsenal squad."
Francesco nodded immediately.
"There is."
"We work together every day."
"We trust each other."
"And that's probably our biggest strength."
He continued thoughtfully.
"You saw it tonight."
"No one was chasing personal statistics."
"When someone was in a better position, the pass was made."
"Football becomes much easier when everyone plays for each other."
Alexis agreed.
"Exactly."
He pointed toward the away section.
"And we also play for these supporters."
"They travelled a long way."
"They sang from the first minute until the last."
"We wanted to give them something to remember."
The interviewer followed his gaze toward the jubilant Arsenal fans.
"I think it's fair to say you've done exactly that."
She then looked back toward Francesco.
"A six-goal advantage heading into the second leg at the Emirates…"
"Surely the tie is almost over?"
Francesco smiled politely before shaking his head.
"In football, you can never think like that."
"This competition has taught everyone that."
"We've played one excellent match."
"But there's another ninety minutes."
"Our job now is to recover well and prepare properly."
"We'll approach the second leg with exactly the same professionalism."
The interviewer nodded approvingly.
"A captain's answer."
Francesco laughed.
"I suppose it is."
She then turned once more toward Alexis.
"You've produced one of the finest individual performances of this Champions League season."
"Three goals."
"Constant movement."
"Outstanding work rate."
"And because of that…"
She smiled as a UEFA official stepped forward carrying a small presentation case.
"I have one more thing."
The official opened the case before carefully lifting out the UEFA Player of the Match trophy.
Its polished surface reflected the floodlights brilliantly.
The interviewer accepted it before facing Alexis.
"Alexis Sánchez…"
"Congratulations."
"You have been selected as the UEFA Player of the Match."
"You thoroughly deserve it."
Alexis looked genuinely surprised for a brief moment.
Then he smiled warmly.
"Thank you."
She handed him the trophy.
The Arsenal winger accepted it with both hands before looking down at it for a second.
"It's beautiful."
The cameras immediately began flashing.
The interviewer gestured toward Francesco.
"Would you mind joining him for a photograph?"
"Of course."
Francesco stepped beside his teammate.
Rather than taking the centre of attention, he placed a congratulatory hand on Alexis' shoulder.
"You earned it."
Alexis smiled.
"We earned it."
The photographers captured several images.
One with Alexis holding the trophy alone.
Another with both Arsenal players smiling together.
Finally the interviewer concluded.
"Thank you both for your time."
"Congratulations once again."
"And good luck for the second leg."
"Thank you."
"Thank you very much."
The live broadcast ended.
The floodlights around the interview position dimmed slightly as television staff immediately began packing away cables and equipment.
Alexis looked down at the trophy once more.
Walker, who had somehow appeared almost immediately with the rest of the squad nearby, pointed dramatically.
"There it is."
"The evidence."
Alexis laughed.
"What evidence?"
"That you're buying dinner."
Robertson walked past without missing a beat.
"That's not how awards work."
"It is tonight."
"I'll let you explain that to Alexis."
Alexis shook his head, still laughing.
"I've only just won it."
"And you've already found a way to cost me money."
Walker grinned.
"That's what teammates are for."
The group shared another laugh before making their way back toward the away end one final time.
The Arsenal supporters were still waiting.
Nobody had left.
Many remained singing despite the late hour.
As soon as they saw Alexis returning with the UEFA Player of the Match trophy, another huge cheer erupted.
"Alexis! Alexis! Alexis!"
The Chilean lifted the trophy high above his head.
The travelling fans answered with thunderous applause.
Francesco began clapping once more, encouraging every teammate to move closer to the supporters.
One by one, the Arsenal players lined up in front of the away section.
Wenger joined them quietly from a distance, allowing the players to enjoy the moment together.
Van Dijk applauded continuously.
Koscielny threw one of his match shirts into the crowd, where it was caught by a young Arsenal supporter who could hardly believe his luck.
Walker tossed his wristbands into the stands before pretending to complain.
"I should've kept those."
Robertson laughed.
"Too late now."
Kanté bowed his head respectfully toward the supporters before applauding them again.
Čech removed his gloves and handed them to a child sitting in the front row, drawing another huge ovation from the away end.
Giroud and Iwobi thanked every section of supporters individually, pointing around the stand.
Francesco eventually stepped forward.
He removed the captain's armband for a moment before holding it against his chest.
Then he raised both hands toward the supporters.
No words were needed.
The gesture alone expressed everything.
Thank you for travelling.
Thank you for believing.
Thank you for standing with us.
The supporters responded by singing Arsenal's anthem even louder than before.
Many players simply stood still for a few moments, taking everything in.
European away victories always felt special.
Victories like this were unforgettable.
Eventually one of Arsenal's operations staff approached the group.
"Gentlemen…"
"The bus schedule."
It was the reminder every player expected.
The evening wasn't quite over yet.
Recovery still awaited.
Media duties.
Treatment.
The flight home the following day.
Francesco nodded.
"One last applause."
The entire squad turned together toward the away section.
In perfect unison, every Arsenal player applauded the supporters for several long moments.
The fans answered with one final roar that echoed around the Estádio do Dragão.
Only then did the players begin making their way back toward the tunnel.
As they disappeared beneath the concrete stands, the noise of the stadium slowly faded behind them.
Walker stretched his shoulders.
"I don't know about anyone else…"
"…but I'm starving."
Robertson sighed dramatically.
"You've just played ninety minutes in the Champions League."
"And that's your first thought?"
"It wasn't my first."
"What was?"
"The interview took too long."
Alexis burst into laughter.
"I knew he'd eventually mention food."
"I waited almost two hours."
"You should be proud of me."
Francesco shook his head with a smile as the dressing-room door came into view.
"Come on."
"We've earned the recovery first."
Walker looked disappointed.
"So… food after recovery?"
Robertson smiled.
"Now that sounds much more realistic."
Still smiling after one of the greatest European nights of their season, the Arsenal squad finally stepped back into the dressing room together.
The familiar comfort of the away dressing room welcomed the Arsenal players back after the long walk from the pitch.
The roar from the Estádio do Dragão was still audible somewhere beyond the concrete walls, but it sounded distant now, almost like an echo from another world.
Inside, exhaustion finally began replacing adrenaline.
Training tops were thrown over chairs.
Boots were unlaced.
Tape was peeled carefully from tired ankles.
For ninety minutes they had lived entirely inside the match.
Now reality slowly returned.
Walker dropped onto the wooden bench with an exaggerated groan.
"I've decided."
Nobody even looked up.
Robertson already knew something ridiculous was coming.
"I'm retiring."
Robertson began removing his shin pads.
"Until Saturday?"
Walker pointed.
"Exactly."
"I need at least twelve hours."
Alexis, still carrying the UEFA Player of the Match trophy in one hand, laughed as he sat down.
"Twelve?"
"I'll give you six."
Walker looked wounded.
"This squad doesn't appreciate sacrifice."
"It appreciates clean sheets," Van Dijk replied with a grin.
"And six goals."
That earned another ripple of laughter around the room.
The atmosphere felt wonderfully relaxed.
No shouting.
No loud music.
Just satisfied professionals enjoying the quiet after producing something special.
The medical staff immediately got to work.
Ice packs appeared.
Recovery drinks were handed around.
Massage tables were occupied almost instantly.
Francesco slowly untied the captain's armband before placing it carefully inside his locker.
Beside him, Alexis rested the silver UEFA trophy on the shelf.
For a brief moment both men simply looked at it.
"It'll look good in your house," Francesco said.
Alexis smiled.
"It'll remind me of tonight."
"It should."
"You deserved it."
"So did everyone."
Before the conversation could continue, Wenger entered the room.
The players instinctively quietened.
The manager waited until everyone had settled before speaking.
"You should enjoy this evening."
His voice carried the same calm authority as always.
"You've represented this football club exceptionally well."
He looked around the room.
"Our discipline."
"Our movement."
"Our attitude."
"Everything was at the level I expected."
A small smile appeared.
"Perhaps the scoreline exceeded even my expectations."
That earned a few quiet chuckles.
"But…"
The smile disappeared again.
"The second leg still exists."
Nobody argued.
Even with a six-goal advantage, Wenger would never allow standards to slip.
"We recover."
"We prepare."
"And when Porto come to London, we show them exactly the same respect."
Francesco nodded.
"Understood."
"Good."
Wenger looked across the room.
"Alexis."
The Chilean looked up.
"Come with me."
"We've got the press conference."
Walker immediately called out.
"Don't forget to mention my defending."
Alexis didn't miss a beat.
"I'll tell them you nearly scored."
"I'll take that."
The room laughed once more as Wenger and Alexis disappeared through the dressing-room door toward the media theatre.
While Alexis accompanied the manager, the rest of the squad finally enjoyed a well-earned shower.
Hot water washed away ninety minutes of sweat and tension.
Conversations drifted lazily between different corners of the room.
Giroud replayed his late goal with Cazorla.
"I honestly thought Santi was going to shoot."
Cazorla grinned.
"I saw you first."
"You always see everything."
Nearby, Čech and Koscielny discussed Porto's set pieces.
"They attacked the near post more than I expected," Čech observed.
"They changed after halftime."
"They were chasing the game," Koscielny replied.
"Exactly."
Even after winning 6-0, football remained footballers' favourite subject.
Twenty minutes later the dressing room looked completely different.
Training gear had disappeared.
Every player now wore the navy Arsenal club jumpsuit for the journey home.
Travel bags were packed once again.
Phones came back out.
Messages from family members flooded every screen.
Francesco smiled as another text from Leah appeared.
Congratulations. Cheddar would probably bark at every goal if he understood football. Hurry home.
He couldn't help laughing quietly.
Walker noticed.
"Good news?"
Francesco nodded.
"Cheddar apparently celebrated."
"I knew he was intelligent."
"You've never even met him."
"I don't need to."
Elsewhere inside the stadium, Wenger and Alexis entered the Champions League press conference room.
The room was packed.
Television cameras.
Journalists from England.
Portuguese reporters.
European football correspondents.
Microphones covered the long table.
The UEFA backdrop filled the wall behind them.
The moderator welcomed everyone before opening proceedings.
The first question went immediately to Wenger.
"Arsène, congratulations."
"Did you expect a performance of this level away from home?"
The Frenchman smiled politely.
"You always hope your team performs well."
"But you never expect six goals against a club with Porto's European history."
"I thought we were excellent from the first minute."
"Our concentration never dropped."
"Our movement without the ball was outstanding."
Another journalist raised his hand.
"You substituted several key players with nearly twenty minutes remaining."
"Were you already thinking about the fixtures ahead?"
Wenger nodded.
"We have many important matches."
"When the opportunity exists to protect players while maintaining performance levels, it is the responsible decision."
Attention soon shifted toward Alexis.
"You've scored a Champions League hat-trick."
"Where does tonight rank in your career?"
The Chilean thought carefully.
"It's one of my favourite nights."
"But only because we won together."
He briefly smiled.
"If I scored three and we lost…"
"…the goals wouldn't matter very much."
Another reporter asked,
"Did Francesco insist you take the free kick?"
Alexis laughed.
"No."
"He simply asked whether I wanted it."
"I said yes."
"He trusted me."
"I was fortunate enough to score."
Wenger glanced sideways.
"It wasn't fortune."
"It was an outstanding strike."
The room chuckled softly.
The press conference continued for another fifteen minutes before finally drawing to a close.
After thanking the media, Wenger and Alexis made their way back toward the waiting team bus.
Walker spotted them climbing aboard.
"There they are."
"The celebrities."
Alexis held up the UEFA trophy.
"I've brought proof."
Walker nodded approvingly.
"Excellent."
"Now everyone will believe me when I say you're paying for dinner."
Even Wenger smiled as he took his seat.
The team bus rolled quietly away from the Estádio do Dragão.
Police escorts once again guided Arsenal smoothly through Porto's evening traffic.
This time the mood inside the coach was completely different from the journey before kickoff.
Headphones had disappeared.
Conversations returned.
Laughter echoed through the aisle.
Outside, Porto drifted past beneath glowing streetlights.
Supporters still walked through the city, many discussing the extraordinary match they had just witnessed.
Francesco looked out of the window.
Football could humble you one week and make you feel unstoppable the next.
That was why nobody inside Arsenal intended to get carried away.
The airport arrived surprisingly quickly.
Club staff handled the luggage efficiently while players stretched their legs before boarding the charter aircraft.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere settled almost immediately.
The emotional intensity of the evening had finally caught up with everyone.
Walker fastened his famous travel pillow.
Robertson noticed instantly.
"It survived another flight."
"It never lets me down."
"I think you're more attached to that pillow than most people are to pets."
Walker considered it.
"It's close."
Alexis shook his head.
"I don't even know how to answer that."
Within minutes of take-off, the aircraft climbed above the clouds.
Dinner was served.
Simple meals.
Protein-rich.
Easy to digest.
Nobody complained.
After ninety minutes of football, almost everyone was hungry.
Walker looked around happily.
"See?"
"I told you food comes eventually."
Robertson sighed.
"I've spent three days listening to you think about meals."
"And yet here we are."
They all laughed.
The lights inside the cabin dimmed.
Several players watched films.
Others slept almost immediately.
Francesco rested against the window, looking down at the lights scattered beneath the clouds before eventually closing his eyes.
It had been a long day.
A perfect day.
A few hours later the captain's voice echoed gently through the cabin.
"Ladies and gentlemen…"
"We'll shortly begin our descent into London."
Players slowly woke.
Seat belts clicked into place.
Outside the window, familiar lights stretched across the English countryside.
The plane landed smoothly.
Applause broke out among several members of Arsenal's travelling staff.
Home.
The squad disembarked quickly before boarding the waiting Arsenal team bus once more.
Despite the late hour, nobody complained.
London Colney wasn't far away.
The journey through the quiet roads passed peacefully.
Most players simply stared out into the darkness.
Walker finally lost his battle with sleep.
His head slowly leaned sideways until it rested awkwardly against Robertson's shoulder.
Robertson looked down.
"Oh no."
Francesco noticed first.
"Don't move."
"Why?"
"I want to see how long this lasts."
Alexis quietly lifted his phone.
One quick photograph.
Walker remained completely asleep.
When the flashless picture had been taken, Alexis grinned.
"That one's staying."
Robertson couldn't stop laughing.
"I'm sending it to him tomorrow."
Walker woke only as the bus turned through the gates of London Colney.
He blinked.
"Did I miss anything?"
Robertson smiled innocently.
"Nothing at all."
The players collected their cars before gradually heading home.
Francesco climbed into his BMW and drove through the sleeping streets toward Richmond.
When he finally opened the front door of the house, he barely had time to close it again before Cheddar came charging across the hallway.
The excited dog almost knocked him backwards.
"There you are."
Cheddar barked enthusiastically before circling him repeatedly.
Leah appeared from the kitchen wearing a warm smile.
"I told you."
"He spent half the evening waiting."
Francesco knelt to scratch Cheddar behind the ears.
"I brought you absolutely nothing."
The dog wagged his tail anyway.
"I don't think he minds."
"No."
"I don't think he does."
The following morning arrived far more quietly.
For the first time in several days, Francesco had nowhere immediate to be.
Recovery had been scheduled later in the day.
He made himself breakfast before settling onto the sofa with a cup of coffee.
Cheddar immediately climbed beside him.
The television was already filled with football coverage.
Every sports channel carried the same story.
Arsenal.
Porto.
Six goals.
One presenter shook his head while highlights rolled across the screen behind him.
"I don't think anybody predicted this."
"Winning in Porto is difficult enough."
"Winning six-nil?"
"That's extraordinary."
Another former player nodded.
"What impressed me wasn't only the score."
"It was Arsenal's control."
"They defended brilliantly."
"They attacked with purpose."
"And they never looked like losing discipline."
The discussion shifted toward Alexis.
"A deserved Player of the Match."
"A Champions League hat-trick."
"But I also thought Francesco Lee was exceptional."
"One goal."
"One assist."
"And his movement constantly dragged Porto's back line apart."
Another pundit agreed.
"People will remember Alexis because of the hat-trick."
"But watch Francesco's positioning."
"He creates space every time Arsenal attack."
"They complement each other perfectly."
The programme replayed Alexis' stunning free kick.
Then Francesco's composed finish from Özil's pass.
Then Gnabry's brilliant solo run.
Every angle somehow looked even better than it had inside the stadium.
Across social media, newspapers and television, the same question kept appearing.
Could this finally be Arsenal's year in Europe?
Francesco smiled faintly before switching off the television.
The praise was satisfying.
Of course it was.
But he could already hear Wenger's voice in his mind.
Recover.
Prepare.
The next match is always the most important one.
He looked down as Cheddar rested his head against his knee.
The Champions League night in Porto had been unforgettable, but football never stopped moving forward as another challenge was already waiting.
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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: 40
Goal: 47
Assist: 6
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