God Of football - Chapter 367

Chapter 367: It Is Time [Golden Gacha, Pistacho031_3]
Sitting on the bench as the game kicked off, Izan glanced at his phone one last time before putting it away.

“Anything good?” Martinelli asked, leaning over.

“United fans think I begged Arteta not to play,” Izan smirked.

Martinelli snorted. “Yeah, because you seem like the type to not want to play.”

Izan just shook his head, leaning back as the game started under the lights of MetLife Stadium.

He wasn’t on the pitch yet, but he could feel it—it was only a matter of time before he made a mark.

……..

The roar of the crowd was deafening as Arsenal and Manchester United walked out onto the pitch under the floodlights of MetLife Stadium.

Though just a preseason match, the energy in the air made it feel like a title decider.

The stadium was packed, a sea of red and white mixed with United’s traveling support, each side eager to see their team get one over their rival.

Izan sat on the bench, arms crossed, watching as the players lined up.

He looked on as his teammates lined up on the pitch. His legs were crossed over, itching, calling for the ball but not yet.

…..

United started aggressively, pressing high and trying to unsettle Arsenal’s backline.

Alejandro Garnacho, full of confidence, tested Ben White early with a burst of pace down the left, forcing the right-back to concede a throw-in near the corner flag.

From the sideline, Erik ten Hag urged his players to keep pushing.

Arsenal’s response came swiftly. Gabriel Jesus, leading the line, dropped deep to receive the ball, dragging Lisandro Martínez out of position before flicking a pass into Leandro Trossard’s path.

The Belgian winger drove into space, skipping past Dalot before unleashing a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box.

Only a last-ditch clearance from Harry Maguire prevented a tap-in for Kai Havertz.

“Arsenal starting to find their rhythm here,” the commentator observed as the Gunners settled into possession.

The game quickly turned into a tactical chess match, with both sides probing for weaknesses.

United looked to exploit the flanks through Garnacho and Antony, while Arsenal controlled the midfield with quick passing sequences between Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard.

Then, in the 19th minute, United struck first.

A misplaced pass from Jorginho in midfield was pounced on by Bruno Fernandes, who immediately played in Marcus Rashford.

The forward accelerated past Kiwior with a sharp touch before firing a precise shot into the bottom corner.

David Raya dived, but the ball was already past him.

1-0 United.

The United fans erupted, waving their scarves and taunting the Arsenal bench.

The camera panned to Izan, who leaned forward slightly, studying the play.

Arsenal weren’t rattled, though. They responded by increasing their intensity, pushing United back, and forcing them to defend deeper.

Bukayo Saka, a constant menace on the right, began finding more space.

A quick one-two with Ødegaard saw him cut inside and curl an effort towards the far post, but Onana reacted quickly, tipping the ball over the bar.

Arsenal kept knocking. Jesus tested Onana again moments later, meeting a cross from Zinchenko with a well-placed header, only for the Cameroonian keeper to parry it away.

The pressure mounted and kept mounting until it happened. In the 31st minute, Arsenal found their equalizer.

A well-worked corner routine saw Ødegaard dummy a short pass, allowing Rice to whip a cross to the back post.

Gabriel Magalhães rose highest, towering over Martínez to nod the ball into the net.

1-1.

The Arsenal bench was on its feet. Izan clapped along with the rest, though his focus remained on the pitch.

The United-Arsenal rivalry extended beyond the players. In the stands, the American crowd was engaged in their own battle—over terminology.

“It’s football,” one Arsenal fan insisted, shaking his head.

“Nah, it’s soccer,” a United fan shot back, smirking.

“If it’s soccer, why’s your club called Manchester United Football Club?”

The argument escalated as fans from both sides joined in, gesturing wildly, some laughing, others fully committed.

They only stopped after the Camera panned to Izan who was warming up on the touchline.

Instantly, both fanbases turned their attention to the touchline.

Arsenal fans erupted in anticipation, eager to see their young star make an impact.

United fans? They smelled blood.

“Overrated LaLiga tax!” one shouted.

“He’s about to get pocketed,” another laughed.

Izan took in the scene with a smirk. He cracked his knuckles and adjusted his socks, ready to step into the chaos but he still had to wait.

….

The second half kicked off with a renewed intensity. The score remained locked at 1-1, and both Arsenal and Manchester United looked determined to break the deadlock.

Though it was a preseason match, neither side treated it as such. The tackles were sharp, the pressing relentless, and the duels fierce.

United had the first big chance after the break. Bruno Fernandes, always lurking, received the ball just outside the box and threaded a pass into the feet of Rashford.

The forward turned quickly and fired a low shot, but Raya reacted well, getting down quickly to push it away.

The rebound fell to Antony, but his attempt was wild, sailing into the stands.

Arsenal responded with a slick move of their own. Ødegaard orchestrated the play, drifting between the lines before slipping a pass to Jesus.

The Brazilian twisted and turned, dragging two defenders out of position before laying the ball off to Trossard, whose curling effort skimmed just past the post.

The pace of the match continued to rise, and in the 58th minute, United struck again.

It was a moment of brilliance from Garnacho. The young Argentine picked up the ball near the halfway line, drove at Ben White with blistering pace, then cut inside before smashing a rocket into the top corner. Raya could only watch as the net rippled.

2-1 United.

The United fans erupted, taunting Arsenal’s bench. Ten Hag clapped approvingly, while Arteta’s expression remained unreadable.

On the sidelines, Izan exhaled through his nose. He had seen Garnacho do things like that before, but watching it happen against his own team left a sour taste.

Arsenal pushed forward again, refusing to let United control the momentum.

Saka and Trossard switched flanks, trying to break through.

Havertz, now playing as an advanced midfielder, nearly found the equalizer in the 65th minute when he latched onto a through ball from Ødegaard, but his shot was smothered by Onana at close range.

As the clock ticked past 70 minutes, murmurs spread through the crowd.

“Where’s Izan?” an Arsenal fan asked.

“He’s just chilling on the bench, man,” a United fan mocked. “Told you, he’s scared.”

Social media was already buzzing. Some United fans ran with the narrative that Arteta was “protecting” Izan from facing a physical side like United.

Arsenal fans clapped back, saying he was being managed properly in preseason.

Then, in the 73rd minute, Arsenal found their equalizer.

It started with Ødegaard, who collected the ball near the center circle and danced through United’s midfield before sliding a perfectly timed pass to Saka.

The winger took one touch inside before rifling a shot past Onana at the near post.

2-2.

The Arsenal fans inside the stadium erupted, drowning out the United supporters for the first time all night.

And then the chants started.

“I-ZAN! I-ZAN! I-ZAN!”

It spread quickly, rolling through the stands like a wave. The Arsenal faithful wanted their young star on the pitch.

Even some United fans joined in—not in support, but out of curiosity. They wanted to see if the hype was real.

On the bench, Izan looked over at Arteta, who remained composed. Then, finally, the Spaniard nodded.

“Alright,” Arteta said, turning to him. “Time to go.”

Izan cracked his neck before getting up and heading toward the touchline. He peeled off his training bib, revealing the number 10 jersey beneath.

His boots—Adidas, red and white with a subtle Japanese design on the sides—gleamed under the stadium lights.

As he stood on the sideline, waiting for the next stoppage in play, the cameras zoomed in on him, stretching his legs and bouncing on the balls of his feet, the anticipation in the stadium reached a fever pitch.

Even the commentators couldn’t ignore it.

“And here he is,” one of them said. “The player Arsenal fans have been waiting for. Izan, their new number ten, getting ready to make his entrance.”

The fans near the touchline were already on their feet, phones raised to capture the moment.

Some United supporters were smirking, eager to see if the teenager could handle the pressure.

“Bet he flops,” one murmured.

“Nah, he’s got talent,” another admitted.

“But let’s see if he can do it against us.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans were hyped.

“Come on, lad! Show them why you wear that ten!”

Izan glanced toward Arteta one last time, who gave him a firm nod.

He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and stepped forward as the fourth official raised the board.

It was time.

A/n: Guess what happens in the chapter. I’ll read your comments. Have fun reading.