Arsenal kept the run going. Four straight wins now, and the noise around the league kept getting louder. Every pundit asked the same question. Who can actually stop them?
Chelsea sat at the top of that short list. They also came in with four consecutive victories, and on paper, they looked like a real test.
After the match, Arsenal headed back to London overnight. The squad had to rest at the training base for a bit, then prepare to travel to Germany for the opening round of the Champions League group stage.
At the training base, Arsène Wenger took roll call once again.
. . .
Wilshere was still absent. He had been missing for some time, and no one knew what he was up to.
From Wenger's dark expression, the mood was clear. He was not pleased.
Holding his frustration in check, Wenger began the post-match summary. He spoke at length, covered the details, and then dismissed the players about an hour later.
As the evening settled in, the Manchester City versus Arsenal match dominated the airwaves. Every major outlet ran with the story.
Arsenal's performance stunned a lot of people.
The second half, in particular, drew heavy praise. Kai and N'Golo Kanté tore through City's midfield together. British media quickly labeled them the bulldozing duo. Wherever they pressed, possession collapsed.
The numbers backed it up.
Kai finished the match with 13 steals and 9 interceptions.
Kanté recorded 7 steals and 6 interceptions in the first half alone.
Together, they totaled 20 steals and 15 interceptions. That level of efficiency turned heads across the league.
Kai's defensive reputation needed no selling. Early this season, several outlets had already called him the Premier League's best defensive midfielder. Kanté, however, came out of nowhere.
Many wondered how Wenger had uncovered a midfielder who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Kai.
In this match, Kanté outperformed most established starters on the pitch.
With Kai guiding him, Kanté's level rose sharply. At times, it looked explosive.
That said, consistency remained an issue. They have yet to see Kanté produce this output every match. Only time will tell.
The media did not dwell on that. All evening, coverage focused on him.
One game was enough to double Kanté's market value.
He became a headline overnight.
Alongside the on-field talk, Arsenal released a short statement. The club confirmed that Laurent, head of human resources, had been dismissed over the earlier contract leak issue. The explanation cited negligence, with no further details.
Reporters tried to uncover how Arsenal identified the leak. No clear answers emerged.
Kai knew part of the truth. The club never found the real source. In the end, they removed someone influential enough to close the matter.
Rumors followed. Some claimed a wider purge was coming at the board level.
Kai did not care. His job stayed simple. Play good football.
The next day, Kai arrived at the training base and immediately saw Wilshere in the locker room.
Wilshere looked worse than before. He seemed drained, his face pale, his palm wrapped in gauze, likely from an injury.
He noticed Kai but said nothing, walking straight out.
Once Wilshere left, Chamberlain stood up and leaned closer, lowering his voice. "I heard there was a fight in the bar district last night."
He pointed toward the door, tapped his own palm, then spread his hands.
Kai frowned. "Can you stop gossiping?"
"I'm not gossiping," Chamberlain replied. "I heard it from someone."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Who told you that? You go to bars now?"
Chamberlain froze for a second. "I didn't go. A friend told me."
"Which friend?"
Chamberlain waved it off. "Anyway, it's not a player."
Le Kai shook his head and walked towards the locker.
Chamberlain followed suit.
"The news about Wilshere's transfer has leaked again."
Kai looked up, clearly surprised. "Again?"
Chamberlain shrugged. "I've got a feeling the club did this on purpose."
"Why?" Kai asked.
"Hard to say," Chamberlain replied. "If they wanted to raise his value, they should keep this kind of thing quiet and give him more training chances. That's how it worked with Song back then."
Kai rolled his eyes, pulled a jersey from his locker, and glanced over. "What about you? Any plans to move?"
"Huh?" Chamberlain stiffened for a second, then laughed it off. "Why would I transfer? I'm just heading to the bathroom."
With that, he took off.
Kai raised an eyebrow as he watched him go.
Definitely suspicious.
During training, Kai kept an eye on both Wilshere and Chamberlain, though his focus stayed on the latter.
Chamberlain trained with real intensity, like someone who had found new motivation. Before, he followed the program properly, but never pushed himself this hard. Now, after several shuttle runs, he jogged back to the start and added two extra laps on his own.
In contact drills, simulated breakthroughs, and balance work, he threw himself into everything. It was impossible not to read something into it.
After a while, Kai shook his head and sighed.
Maybe it really is better if they leave.
Kai and Chamberlain were close. They had become friends back when Kai first arrived at Arsenal, and Kai genuinely hoped Chamberlain could stay. Still, this was never something Kai could decide.
Chamberlain had lost three years at the club. At first, Kai could encourage him and help him push through. Now, even Kai felt uncertain.
Keeping Chamberlain as a bench option at Arsenal made less sense than letting him choose his own path.
Last season, Chamberlain had already thought about leaving, and Kai had talked him out of it. Looking back, Kai could no longer tell if that advice had been right.
This season, Chamberlain still failed to lock down a starting spot. The competition in midfield only grew fiercer, and his confidence had clearly taken a hit.
"He should go," Kai muttered.
Instead of wasting time here, he should find a team that truly suits him. Wherever Chamberlain ended up, Kai could only wish him well.
After training, Arsène Wenger called everyone together.
"Be at the training base at nine tomorrow morning. We fly to Germany," he said calmly. "After one day of rest in Dortmund, we prepare for the first Champions League group match."
Then his gaze hardened. "I will not tolerate anyone breaking our training agreement again. Remember this. It is my final warning."
The squad fell silent, heads lowered.
Everyone knew the warning was aimed at Wilshere, but an angry Wenger was intimidating, no matter who you were.
When the meeting ended, Wenger asked Kai to stay behind.
Once inside the office, Wenger spoke again. "Wilshere is giving up the number ten shirt. Who do you think should take it?"
Kai thought for a moment. "Cazorla."
He continued, "His salary sits in the upper middle range at the club, but it doesn't really match his performances. I don't know what the board is thinking. If they can't reward him financially, then give him the number ten."
Kai shrugged. "We need Cazorla. I don't want him feeling slighted by the club and eventually leaving because of it."
Wenger nodded slowly. "That is a reasonable way to look at it."
Kai suddenly smiled. "Of course, you could give it to me as well."
Wenger laughed. "At Arsenal, number four matters more than number ten. Yours is perfect."
Kai shrugged again. "I'm joking. Right now, my skill set has nothing to do with a number ten anyway."
. . .
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