"Get me a black beer!"
Billy slid onto a stool at the Oak Tree Bar, eyes shining with excitement. Despite it being a weekday, the bar was packed with fans buzzing about yesterday's match.
"It was incredible! Yesterday's game was a joy to watch!"
"Kai was unstoppable!"
"Cazorla played beautifully too!"
"Di Maria was on fire!"
"Everyone played brilliantly!"
"Come! On! You! Gooners!"
Billy listened with a broad grin, the excitement reflected in his every expression.
"Here you go," Meadows said, sliding a glass across the bar. Billy tilted it back, downing half in one gulp, burping, then flashing a grin. "That hit spot."
"I can see business is good."
Meadows laughed, "Thanks to Arsenal."
They slapped palms with a crisp clap that echoed through the bar.
"Different kind of strength than Henry's era," someone said, raising his beer to Meadows.
Meadows nodded. "More resilient, more disciplined, and built to win."
Billy clapped and leaned back. "Exactly! Back then, victories felt sudden, almost unreal. Arsenal would overwhelm opponents, but in tough spots, they struggled. This team… it's different. They keep morale high under pressure and can untangle even complex situations."
The two shared a satisfied smile.
"Ahh, my Arsenal… so great," Billy said, resting his cheek in his hand.
Meadows laughed, shaking his head at Billy's theatrics.
This season, Arsenal's Champions League performance could no longer be called just good. A perfect record in the group stage placed them alongside only Real Madrid.
As of yesterday, the group stage was officially over. The qualifiers:
Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus
Group B: Real Madrid, Basel
Group C: Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen
Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund
Group E: Bayern Munich, Roma
Group F: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain
Group G: Chelsea, Schalke 04
Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk
While the traditional powerhouses remained consistent, Arsenal had surprised everyone. Building from last season's excellent Champions League run, they now finished with a perfect record, rivaling Real Madrid, who had built their strength through heavy spending.
Arsenal's squad improvements this season translated into cohesion, dazzling attack patterns, and rock-solid defense. Every opponent felt the team's toughness.
Anyone facing Arsenal could expect a harsh challenge.
Still, skeptics existed. Arsenal's past knockout performances had disappointed, leading some to assume history would repeat. Those critics ignored the team's last season Champions League run and their recent form entirely.
Fans, however, felt a different energy, sensing Arsenal might achieve something monumental.
Two days after the match, the Round of 16 draw took place. Group winners were paired against runners-up.
Fans' nerves were taut; in past seasons, Arsenal had drawn Bayern Munich back-to-back, suffering from bad luck. This year, being group winners offered some reprieve, though threats like Juventus and PSG loomed.
Finally, Lady Luck smiled. Arsenal's opponent was Basel, a Swiss Super League side, not from the Top Five Leagues. Relief and excitement rippled through fans.
Billy raised his glass. "Perfect record, Basel next. Let's go, Gunners!"
Meadows chuckled. "Now we can really focus. No tough time with Bayern."
This news electrified Arsenal fans.
It was a favorable draw. Basel's performance in the group stage had been decent but hardly threatening. Confidence ran high among the Gunners' supporters—they believed victory was within reach.
For Swiss Super League giants Basel, the draw was a shock.
"Why Arsenal?!"
Paulo Sousa pressed his palms to his face, frustration written across every line. Drawing both Arsenal and Real Madrid in the same season's Champions League felt like a curse.
Arsenal had grown into a true European-level challenge, and Sousa knew Basel was no match for them on paper.
Sousa had just taken the reins at Basel this season, signing a three-year deal, but recent team performances had tested patience.
In reality, he was more of a stopgap coach, the kind who went wherever problems arose. Basel, despite their status as a Swiss giant, operated on tight finances. They wanted a coach with top-league experience but weren't willing to invest heavily, leaving them reliant on itinerant professionals like Sousa.
Initially, he had ambitious plans with Basel, hoping to make his mark, but the grueling match schedule across multiple competitions had worn him down. Facing Arsenal in the Champions League now felt like an insurmountable challenge.
The gap between the two teams was stark. Honors, heritage, squad quality, tactical depth—Arsenal outclassed them in every category.
Even their Chinese players illustrated the disparity: Basel's was a mere substitute, while Arsenal's captain was a core national-level player. The difference was undeniable and only growing.
Sousa nursed his headache, yet inside the team, the mood was calmer. Fear had been the initial reaction to Arsenal, but players soon adjusted. Now, a sense of eager determination settled in. This was Basel's chance to measure itself against a true European elite.
Among the Basel squad, Ouyang Fei couldn't hide his excitement. The Round of 16 represented more than a match—it was an opportunity to test himself against Le Kai, to see the payoff of half a year of training in Europe. He quickly typed out a message on his phone.
Far away in London, Le Kai had just finished a set of flexibility drills. Dropping onto his yoga mat, he checked his phone.
A message from Ouyang Fei:
Kai Ge, I am coming for you. Believe it!
Le Kai smiled, a faint hum of amusement escaping him. He didn't reply immediately, letting the challenge linger.
"Kid… you're still a long way off," he murmured to himself, before resuming his practice.
. . .
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