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Chapter 207: Champions League Quarterfinals, Second Leg End
🕑 Added 2025-10-22 12:41:33 +0000 UTC“The second one! The second one! Arsenal again! Kai!!! Oh my word! They’ve gone absolutely mad!”
George Adams' voice was trembling with excitement as the Emirates erupted.
Arsenal’s performance was nothing short of stunning.
Two goals in the first half, and Borussia Dortmund were already in disarray.
Especially Kai’s second goal — that thunderbolt didn’t just shake the net, it shattered Dortmund’s spirit.
One by one, the Dortmund players stood motionless, hands on their hips, shaking their heads in disbelief. Their faces were a mix of exhaustion and confusion — even they began to question what they were still fighting for.
In stark contrast, the Arsenal players were elated.
After scoring, Kai sprinted straight toward the East Stand.
He stopped, clenched his fists, and threw three powerful punches in the air.
“ARSENAL!!! ARSENAL!!! ARSENAL!!!”
It was meant to be three short roars — but the fans turned it into one long, deafening scream that shook the stadium.
Those in the front rows leaned dangerously over the railings, desperate to reach him.
And Kai stepped forward, diving straight into their embrace.
“God, Kai! That was incredible!”
“I love you, Kai! We adore you!”
“You’re the best!”
“Win it! Bring it home!”
“Victory belongs to Arsenal!”
Fans patted him on the back, shouted into his ear, and poured every ounce of affection they had into that moment.
The Emirates was on fire.
2–0!
Three goals up on aggregate — Borussia Dortmund looked finished.
.
On the touchline, Wenger took a long breath, adjusted his glasses, and offered a calm round of applause.
A beautiful long-range strike, and at the perfect time.
Kai had just crushed Dortmund’s momentum in one sweeping motion.
Pat Rice turned to him, still wide-eyed. “Kai’s performance has been unbelievable — one assist and one goal! Are we sure he’s still a midfielder?”
Wenger chuckled. “Some players are built for big nights. They take the pressure, absorb it, and turn it into energy. Tonight, Kai’s been absolutely flawless.”
A full-pitch press. One assist. One goal.
It was domination in its purest form — Kai alone had torn Borussia Dortmund apart.
On the opposite bench, Klopp stood frozen.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Players have bursts of form, sure — but why did it have to happen against us?
Now trailing by two on the night and three overall, his players looked broken. Heads down. Voices gone.
Even Klopp, for the first time, wondered — are we really going out?
Miracle nights do happen in football… but not often.
And certainly not when you’re away, drowning in noise and momentum.
.
Kai finally pulled himself free from the sea of celebrating fans — only to be tackled by his own teammates.
“Mate, that was unreal!”
“What a hit!”
“We’ve got this! Semi-finals, here we come!”
“Two goals ahead, baby!”
They laughed, cheered, and wrapped their arms around him — pure, unfiltered joy.
For every Arsenal player, this was more than just a lead. It was a statement.
Kai grinned — genuinely, freely.
Everything had gone according to plan.
Step by step, they were climbing higher.
And Kai was beginning to love this feeling — the rhythm of control, the calm before victory.
Before long, the referee waved to signal an end to the celebration — they’d overdone it.
By the time play resumed, the clock had already reached forty-five minutes, slipping into added time.
Borussia Dortmund barely looked alive. Their movements were slow, their faces blank.
Arsenal, on the other hand, were calm and composed — two goals to the good, three up on aggregate.
Even before the halftime whistle, you could feel it.
This tie was all but over.
..
Both managers were trying to lift their players’ spirits — but compared to Wenger, Klopp’s task was far tougher.
Inside the Borussia Dortmund dressing room, apart from Klopp’s voice echoing off the walls, there was silence.
He shouted, encouraged, pleaded — but nothing stirred them. Some of his players already looked like their minds were elsewhere.
The team that had once swept Europe with fearless, youthful energy was now staring down the threat of collapse.
And Klopp knew there was no easy fix.
In truth, this decline had been brewing for a while. Tonight’s match merely sped it up.
He could only shake his head and hope — hope for some kind of miracle.
But football, cruel as ever, offered no surprises this time.
When the second half began, Arsenal switched into a measured 4-3-3 setup, content to sit back and control.
Even with Dortmund’s morale on the floor, they didn’t take unnecessary risks.
Every player was disciplined, focused, and relentless.
Kai, especially, was everywhere — tackling, intercepting, and directing play, determined to carry Arsenal into the Champions League semi-finals.
And his teammates followed suit.
Everyone ran hard. Everyone fought.
They moved as one, a single heartbeat driving toward a shared goal.
For honor. For the crest. For the promise of a brighter future.
The Champions League’s pull was irresistible — a dream every professional chased, yet few ever touched.
Arsenal’s players knew how steep the climb was.
But tonight, together, they had taken another massive step up that mountain.
Ninety minutes flew by.
When the referee finally blew for full time, the Emirates erupted — players dropped to their knees, fists in the air, faces lit with disbelief and joy.
Across the pitch, Borussia Dortmund’s players stood still, hollow-eyed, beaten in both body and spirit.
“Congratulations to Arsenal!” George Adams' voice rang out. “After two intense legs, they’ve beaten a strong Borussia Dortmund side to reach the Champions League semi-final! This is the fifth time in the club’s history — the first in ten long years!”
Lee Dixon added warmly, “Ten years of waiting, and finally, the Gunners have their sunshine again.”
He paused briefly as the camera panned across the sea of celebrating fans.
“It’s been a long, dark road,” he said softly. “But at last, the dawn has broken over the Emirates.”
George smiled. “Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott, Flamini, Sagna, Koscielny, Mustafi, Szczęsny… and the two captains — Vermaelen and Kai. Every single one of them has played their part. This is their night.”
“Well done, Arsenal,” Dixon concluded. “You’ve brought pride back to North London.”
In the stands, fans roared out each player’s name, one after another, their voices shaking the rafters.
After ten years, Arsenal were back in the Champions League semi-finals.
Every supporter, every player, every staff member — they were living a shared dream.
On the pitch, the players embraced, laughed, and celebrated like children. Soon, the substitutes and coaches joined them, flooding the field in a blur of red and white.
Wenger, as always, remained composed. He didn’t rush to join the pile of celebrations. Instead, he walked calmly toward the Dortmund bench and extended his hand.
Klopp looked deflated but managed a weary smile.
“Congratulations,” he said quietly.
“Thank you,” Wenger replied, smiling gently. “It was a fine match.”
Klopp shook his head. “Not from us. We were miles off it.”
Wenger gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. “You’re a great coach, Jürgen. You’ll be back.”
