The King Of Arsenal

If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12

___________________________

As the clock ticked past the 20-minute mark, the intensity showed no signs of waning. Arsenal continued to probe, their intricate passing and movement causing Leicester headaches. Francesco, ever the livewire, kept testing the defense, his direct runs and quick feet a constant threat.

The intensity of the match remained unrelenting as Arsenal and Leicester City battled for control. Every touch of the ball, every pass, and every challenge carried weight, as though the players knew a single moment of brilliance—or mistake—could change everything. Arsenal's fluid play had started to carve out more opportunities, but Leicester's resilience kept the scoreline level. That all changed in the 27th minute.

The move began with Alexis Sanchez, who had been a thorn in Leicester's side since the opening whistle. Picking up the ball just outside the box, Sanchez weaved past Matty James with a clever turn before unleashing a venomous shot toward the far corner. The ball seemed destined to ripple the back of the net, but Mark Schwarzer, Leicester's evergreen keeper, produced another outstanding save. Diving low to his left, he managed to get his fingertips to the ball, deflecting it wide of the post for a corner.

The Emirates roared its approval for Sanchez's effort, and the Arsenal players quickly set up for the set piece. Mesut Özil trotted over to take the corner, his movements deliberate, his eyes scanning the penalty area like a chess master plotting his next move. Arsenal had clearly worked on their set-piece routines in training, and this was the moment to execute them to perfection.

Leicester's defenders were under immense pressure as they scrambled to organize. Wes Morgan barked instructions, pointing furiously as he directed teammates to mark Arsenal's aerial threats. Upson, Morgan, and Cambiasso stood ready, their eyes locked on the cluster of players jostling near the penalty spot. Meanwhile, Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal's reliable center-back, positioned himself just outside the pack, waiting for his moment to strike.

Özil raised his arm, the signal for the delivery, and whipped the ball into the box with surgical precision. The cross was a thing of beauty—perfectly weighted, curling away from the goalkeeper but inviting enough for an attacker to attack. It was the kind of delivery that defenders dread and strikers dream of.

Koscielny timed his run to perfection. Breaking free from Upson and Morgan, who had been preoccupied with Sanchez's movement, the Frenchman surged toward the ball. His leap was majestic, his timing impeccable. Rising high above the melee, Koscielny met the ball with a powerful header, driving it toward the far corner of the goal.

Schwarzer, despite his heroic efforts throughout the match, could do nothing this time. The ball rocketed past him, the net bulging as the Emirates erupted into a deafening roar. Arsenal had taken the lead, and it was a goal born of precision, power, and sheer determination.

Koscielny wheeled away in celebration, his arms outstretched as his teammates rushed to join him. Sanchez was the first to reach him, leaping onto his back with a wide grin, while Özil jogged over with a satisfied smile, knowing his assist had been pivotal. The crowd chanted Koscielny's name, their joy reverberating around the stadium.

On the touchline, Arsène Wenger offered a restrained fist pump, his satisfaction evident despite his typically calm demeanor. He knew how crucial this goal could be in breaking Leicester's defensive resolve and setting the tone for the rest of the match.

Leicester, however, looked shell-shocked. Morgan slammed the ground in frustration, while Upson exchanged heated words with Cambiasso as they tried to figure out how Koscielny had escaped their grasp. Schwarzer, still crouched in his goal, shook his head but quickly rallied his teammates, urging them to stay focused.

As Arsenal's players returned to their positions, the momentum had shifted decisively. The goal had injected them with even more confidence, and they moved with a swagger that suggested they weren't done yet. Leicester, meanwhile, faced an uphill battle. Their game plan of sitting deep and hitting on the counter would need to adapt if they were to find a way back into the match.

With the score now 1-0, the game restarted, and Leicester tried to respond quickly. Morgan, began urging his teammates forward, demanding more aggression in the midfield. Schlupp and Mahrez pushed higher up the pitch, looking for spaces to exploit, while Kramaric drifted wide to stretch Arsenal's defense.

But Arsenal's midfield trio of Coquelin, Özil, and Cazorla was relentless. Coquelin, in particular, was a rock in the center of the park, breaking up Leicester's attacks and launching counters with precise passes. His partnership with Cazorla allowed Arsenal to maintain control, dictating the tempo and keeping Leicester at arm's length.

In the 34th minute, Leicester nearly found an equalizer. A quick counterattack saw Mahrez glide past Monreal and whip in a dangerous cross. Kramaric, lurking at the far post, connected with a diving header, but Ospina was alert. The Arsenal keeper dived to his right, making a stunning save to preserve his team's lead. The Leicester fans in the away section groaned in unison, their hopes dashed once again.

Arsenal, buoyed by their opening goal, continued to dominate proceedings, their crisp passing and relentless movement leaving Leicester chasing shadows. The Foxes, to their credit, refused to crumble, maintaining their defensive shape and looking to hit on the counter. But the Gunners smelled blood, and it was clear they were pushing for a second goal before halftime.

In the 38th minute, Arsenal came tantalizingly close to doubling their lead. The move began with Cazorla, orchestrating play from the center of the pitch. Spotting Francesco hugging the touchline on the left flank, Cazorla sent a perfectly weighted, lofted pass that cut through Leicester's midfield like a scalpel. The ball arced beautifully over Simpson and into Francesco's path.

Francesco controlled it with sublime ease, taking it down with his left foot while keeping his momentum. Simpson tried to close him down, but the young winger showcased his trademark flair, executing a silky step-over that left the Leicester defender flat-footed. With space opening up, Francesco surged forward, now faced with Robert Huth.

The towering center-back attempted to block his path, but Francesco, with a deft flick of his right boot, nutmegged Huth and raced past him, drawing gasps from the Emirates crowd. The goal was in sight, and Francesco, brimming with confidence, unleashed a powerful right-footed strike aimed at the far corner.

The shot seemed destined to ripple the net, but Wes Morgan, threw his body in the way. The ball cannoned off his chest and ricocheted out of danger. The Leicester captain winced from the impact but immediately rose to his feet, rallying his teammates to stay focused. Francesco stood momentarily with his hands on his hips, a mixture of frustration and admiration for Morgan's bravery etched on his face.

The Emirates faithful responded with a roar of appreciation for Francesco's skill and effort, their applause echoing through the stadium. Arsenal's fans could sense that the young winger was on the verge of something special.

Leicester tried to regroup, but the relentless pressure from Arsenal was beginning to tell. Their defense, which had held firm for much of the first half, started to show cracks, and in the 41st minute, those cracks split wide open.

It was a moment Leicester would want to forget. Paul Konchesky, under minimal pressure near the halfway line, attempted a back pass to Matthew Upson. The pass was woefully underhit, leaving the veteran defender scrambling to recover. Theo Walcott, lurking like a predator, pounced on the loose ball with lightning speed.

Walcott's acceleration was breathtaking as he sprinted past Upson, who could only look on helplessly. Wes Morgan, desperate to avert disaster, came across to challenge Walcott, but the Arsenal forward was too quick. With a clever touch, Walcott slipped the ball past the Leicester captain, leaving him stumbling in his wake.

Now one-on-one with Mark Schwarzer, Walcott kept his composure. The Australian keeper charged off his line, arms spread wide, trying to make himself as big as possible. But Walcott was unflustered. With a calmness that belied the intensity of the moment, he slotted the ball low and to Schwarzer's left. The net rippled, and the Emirates exploded in jubilation.

Arsenal 2-0 Leicester City.

Walcott sprinted toward the corner flag, his arms stretched wide in celebration. His teammates flooded toward him, their faces alight with joy. Francesco was among the first to embrace him, ruffling Walcott's hair with a grin.

"That's the pace we need!" Francesco shouted, his excitement contagious.

The Leicester players, meanwhile, were visibly deflated. Konchesky ran his hands through his hair, clearly aware of the gravity of his mistake. Upson exchanged frustrated words with Morgan, while Schwarzer shouted instructions in an attempt to rally his side.

On the touchline, Nigel Pearson shook his head, gesturing animatedly at his defenders. The usually calm and composed manager was clearly unhappy, his frustration boiling over as Leicester's carelessness gifted Arsenal their second goal.

In contrast, Arsène Wenger stood with his arms crossed, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He knew how crucial the second goal was, especially against a side as resilient as Leicester. His team's ability to capitalize on mistakes was proving decisive.

As the game restarted, Arsenal continued to press their advantage. The midfield trio of Coquelin, Cazorla, and Özil dictated the tempo, ensuring Leicester had little time or space to mount a meaningful response. On the flanks, Francesco and Walcott tormented the full-backs, their pace and skill causing constant headaches for Konchesky and Simpson.

The match surged forward with Arsenal smelling blood, their confidence skyrocketing after Walcott's goal. Leicester, reeling from the blow, scrambled to reorganize, but Arsenal's momentum was relentless. With halftime fast approaching, the Gunners sought to capitalize further on the cracks in Leicester's defense. Their attack turned ruthless, pushing Leicester's back line to its limits.

The Emirates crowd roared as Arsenal mounted yet another attack. This time, it was Alexis Sánchez, who had been relatively quiet so far, stepping into the spotlight. The play began with Özil, who danced past two Leicester midfielders before threading a clever pass into the feet of Sánchez just outside the penalty box.

Sánchez, a maestro of tight spaces, immediately came alive. With a burst of speed, he darted toward the edge of the box, evading a desperate sliding challenge from Danny Drinkwater. Now facing Robert Huth, Sánchez executed a dazzling double step-over, shifting the ball onto his right foot before cutting sharply to his left, leaving the towering center-back flat-footed.

With a clear sight of goal, Sánchez unleashed a venomous strike, aiming for the top-right corner. The ball rocketed off his boot, curling wickedly toward its target. Time seemed to slow as the Emirates held its breath, watching the ball's trajectory with anticipation.

But Huth wasn't done yet. Throwing his body in the way with a last-ditch effort, the defender managed to deflect the shot just enough to send it flying over the crossbar. The ball clipped the top of the netting, and the Arsenal fans collectively groaned, their excitement turning into applause for Sánchez's brilliance and Huth's heroic block.

"Unlucky, Alexis!" shouted Cazorla as he jogged over to take the corner. Sánchez gave a small nod, frustration flickering across his face before he refocused. It was close—so close—but Huth's intervention had kept Leicester in the game, at least for now.

The resulting corner came to nothing as Wes Morgan rose high to head it clear, and Leicester breathed a small sigh of relief. But their reprieve was short-lived as Arsenal continued to press, hunting for the third goal that would surely seal the game.

As the referee signaled two minutes of added time, Leicester desperately tried to hold on, hoping to regroup during the break. Arsenal, however, had no intention of letting them breathe. Their midfield trio, particularly Cazorla, controlled the tempo with effortless precision, ensuring Leicester remained pinned in their half.

In the dying seconds of the first half, it was Cazorla who decided to test his luck. After intercepting a wayward clearance from Simpson, the Spaniard found himself with acres of space in the middle of the pitch. A quick glance revealed no immediate passing options, and Cazorla, ever the opportunist, decided to take matters into his own hands.

With a deft touch to set himself, Cazorla unleashed a thunderous strike from 30 yards out. The ball swerved viciously in the air, dipping and curling as it hurtled toward the top-left corner. It was the kind of shot that could make highlight reels for years.

Mark Schwarzer, Leicester's veteran goalkeeper, reacted instantly, diving at full stretch. The Australian extended his left hand, his fingertips grazing the ball just enough to divert it wide of the post. The Emirates erupted in applause, appreciating both the audacity of Cazorla's effort and the brilliance of Schwarzer's save.

"Fantastic save, but what a strike!" the commentator exclaimed as the camera zoomed in on Schwarzer, who pounded the ground in frustration before rising to bark orders at his defense.

Cazorla raised his hands to his head, a wry smile on his face. "Almost had him," he muttered to Coquelin, who jogged over to pat him on the back. Wenger, on the sidelines, clapped in approval, pleased with his team's willingness to test the keeper from range.

The referee blew his whistle moments later, bringing an electrifying first half to an end. Arsenal jogged off the pitch to a standing ovation, their fans singing loudly in celebration of their dominant display. The scoreboard read Arsenal 2-0 Leicester City, but the home side could have easily been three or four goals ahead.

As the players headed into the tunnel, the contrast between the two teams was stark. Arsenal's players exuded confidence, exchanging smiles and words of encouragement. Francesco walked alongside Alexis and Theo, discussing the missed chances.

"You had him, Alexis," Francesco said with a grin. "That block from Huth was pure luck."

"Next one's going in," Sánchez replied, determination etched on his face. "We're not done yet."

Leicester, meanwhile, trudged off with their heads bowed. Huth and Morgan exchanged heated words, clearly frustrated by the defensive lapses. Pearson followed close behind, clapping his players on the back and urging them to stay focused. Despite the deficit, the England manager knew his team's resilience and ability to fight back.

The atmosphere in Arsenal's dressing room was buoyant but focused. Wenger stood in the center of the room, addressing his players with measured authority.

"Well done, everyone," he began, his gaze sweeping across the team. "We've controlled the game, and we've punished their mistakes. But two goals are not enough—we cannot afford to be complacent. Leicester is a dangerous team, and they will come at us with everything in the second half."

He turned to Sánchez and Walcott. "Keep stretching their defense. Francesco, your movement has been excellent—keep pulling their full-backs out of position. Santi, Mesut, control the midfield. And everyone, stay alert for counters. Leicester thrives on quick transitions."

The players nodded, their focus sharpening. Wenger's words carried weight; they knew the job wasn't finished.

As the second half loomed, Francesco laced up his boots with renewed determination. The first half had showcased Arsenal's attacking brilliance, but the young winger was hungry for more. His mind raced with possibilities, envisioning how he could exploit Leicester's vulnerabilities further.

"Let's finish this," he muttered to himself, a fierce glint in his eye.

In the away dressing room, Pearson's voice cut through the tension. "We've given them too much respect," he said firmly. "Yes, they're a strong team, but we're better than this. We've come back before, and we can do it again. Stay compact, hit them on the break, and believe in yourselves."

His words sparked a flicker of hope among his players. Despite the deficit, Leicester had shown time and time again that they could defy the odds. Ranieri's faith in his team was unwavering.

As the players returned to the pitch for the second half, the Emirates buzzed with anticipation. Arsenal were in control, but the game was far from over. With Leicester's reputation for resilience and Arsenal's hunger for more goals, the stage was set for an enthralling second act.

________________________________________________

Name : Francesco Lee

Age : 16 (2014)

Birthplace : London, England

Football Club : Arsenal First Team

Championship History : None

Match Played: 12

Goal: 18

Assist: 7

MOTM: 5