The King Of Arsenal

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Back on the pitch, the crowd remained electric, their energy fueling the players as they emerged for the second half. Arsenal had the lead, but they knew the battle was far from over. Stoke, bruised but not beaten, would come out swinging, and Arsenal had to be ready for the fight.

The second half began with an air of anticipation, but it quickly became evident that Stoke City had no intention of rolling over. Mark Hughes' side came out of the tunnel with renewed vigor, pressing Arsenal high up the pitch and throwing themselves into challenges with a ferocity that rattled even the composed Gunners.

In the opening ten minutes of the half, Stoke dominated possession, their midfield trio of Nzonzi, Adam, and Walters pushing Arsenal deep into their own half. The pressure was relentless. Bojan orchestrated Stoke's attack with deft touches and clever movement, while Crouch loomed as a constant aerial threat. Arsenal found themselves on the back foot, their passing game disrupted by Stoke's aggressive pressing.

"Stay compact! Hold your line!" Per Mertesacker bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise of the Emirates crowd. The veteran defender organized his backline with authority, his towering presence a steadying influence amidst Stoke's onslaught.

Ospina once again proved to be Arsenal's savior during this turbulent period. In the 50th minute, a long ball from Shawcross found Crouch at the edge of the box. The striker laid it off to Walters, whose first-time effort was low and powerful. Ospina, reading the shot perfectly, dived low to his left and palmed the ball away, earning another roar of approval from the fans.

Arsenal, meanwhile, struggled to break free from Stoke's stranglehold. Their attempts to counter were thwarted by the physicality of Shawcross and Wollscheid, who gave no quarter. The midfield, so fluid in the first half, seemed stifled, and the Gunners' usual intricate passing game was reduced to hurried clearances.

Despite the adversity, Arsenal held firm. Slowly, the Gunners began to claw their way back into the game. It started with the calming presence of Tomas Rosicky, whose composure on the ball helped Arsenal regain control. The Czech midfielder began dictating the tempo, finding pockets of space to distribute the ball and relieve pressure on his teammates.

By the 55th minute, Arsenal had weathered Stoke's storm. The tide was turning, and the Emirates crowd sensed it. The chants grew louder, urging their team to seize the momentum. And then, in the 57th minute, Arsenal delivered a moment of magic.

Rosicky, ever the maestro, received the ball in midfield and quickly scanned his options. Spotting Alexis Sanchez making a run down the left wing, Rosicky lofted a perfectly weighted long ball over Stoke's defense. The pass soared through the air, evading the desperate lunge of Philipp Wollscheid, and landed gracefully at Sanchez's feet.

Sanchez, with his trademark determination, controlled the ball effortlessly and surged forward. Shawcross, sensing the danger, rushed to close him down, but the Chilean was unstoppable. With a quick flick of his boot, Sanchez skipped past Shawcross, leaving the Stoke captain in his wake. Wollscheid attempted to recover, lunging in with a sliding tackle, but Sanchez anticipated it, cutting inside with a burst of acceleration.

Now inside the box, with only Begovic to beat, Sanchez steadied himself. He took one glance at the goal and unleashed a powerful right-footed strike. The ball flew past Begovic, who dived desperately but could only watch as it slammed into the back of the net.

The Emirates erupted. Fans leaped to their feet, their cheers echoing through the stadium as Sanchez raced toward the corner flag, his arms outstretched in celebration. His teammates rushed to join him, their faces alight with joy.

"Alexis Sanchez! Take a bow!" the commentator exclaimed. "What a sensational solo effort to extend Arsenal's lead to 3-0!"

Sanchez was mobbed by his teammates, Giroud lifting him off the ground in celebration. Rosicky jogged over, a smile on his face, and patted Sanchez on the back. "Brilliant run, Alexis," he said. "That's how we do it."

On the touchline, Wenger allowed himself a rare fist pump. The third goal was a testament to Arsenal's resilience and quality, and it gave them a commanding lead in a game that had threatened to slip from their grasp.

Stoke, deflated but not defeated, resumed their efforts. Bojan continued to probe, and Walters tested Arsenal's defense with his physicality. But Arsenal, buoyed by their third goal, played with renewed confidence. Coquelin and Rosicky controlled the midfield, while Mertesacker and Koscielny marshaled the backline with discipline.

Francesco, still brimming with energy, caused havoc on the right wing. His combination of speed and skill proved too much for Pieters, who struggled to contain him. In the 63rd minute, Francesco almost added a fourth. Receiving a pass from Bellerín, he weaved his way past two defenders and unleashed a curling shot from the edge of the box. Begovic, determined to keep the scoreline respectable, pulled off a spectacular save, tipping the ball over the bar.

The game settled into a rhythm, with Arsenal dictating play and Stoke chasing shadows. Sanchez, Francesco, and Giroud combined brilliantly in attack, their interplay drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd. The Gunners' defense remained resolute, snuffing out Stoke's attempts to claw their way back into the match.

As the clock ticked into the 66th minute, Arsenal's dominance became palpable. The Stoke players, weary from their earlier pressing, struggled to keep pace with the Gunners' fluid movement. Francesco, relentless on the right flank, continued to torment Erik Pieters. The young winger's confidence seemed to grow with every touch, his determination to make an impact evident in his every move.

It started with a quick one-two between Francesco and Bellerín deep in Arsenal's half. The Spaniard released Francesco down the right wing with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing him to sprint into space. Francesco's first touch was immaculate, taking the ball in stride as he left Pieters chasing shadows. The Emirates crowd roared, sensing another moment of brilliance.

As Francesco advanced, Ryan Shawcross came charging across to cover. The Stoke captain, frustrated by his team's inability to contain Arsenal's attack, lunged into a clumsy tackle just outside the box. Francesco, anticipating the contact, deftly flicked the ball past Shawcross but couldn't avoid the heavy challenge. He hit the ground hard, the referee immediately blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot for a free kick. The Emirates erupted in protest, many calling for a harsher punishment, but the referee deemed it just a foul, keeping his yellow card in his pocket.

Francesco, wincing slightly, got to his feet with the help of Giroud, who patted him on the back. "You're unstoppable today, mate," the Frenchman said with a grin.

From the sideline, Arsène Wenger gestured toward Sanchez and Francesco, clearly signaling that they were to take charge of the set piece. The duo exchanged a knowing look as they walked toward the ball. It was an ideal position—25 yards out, slightly to the right of the goal—perfect for a left-footer like Sanchez.

The Stoke players quickly assembled their wall, Begovic barking instructions as he positioned his defenders. The tension was palpable. Francesco stepped up to the ball first, carefully placing it on the grass and adjusting his stance. The sight of him lining up drew murmurs of excitement from the crowd, who wondered if the young prodigy was about to cap his already stellar performance with a spectacular free kick.

Sanchez, meanwhile, stood a few steps back, his eyes locked on the goal. He was calm, focused, and ready.

As the referee blew his whistle, Francesco began his run-up. The Stoke wall tensed, and Begovic adjusted his position, clearly expecting the young winger to strike. But at the last second, Francesco feinted, stepping over the ball and continuing his stride past it. The move froze the Stoke defense for just a moment—a moment long enough for Sanchez to unleash a thunderous left-footed shot.

The ball soared over the wall with pace and precision, curling slightly before dipping toward the top corner. Begovic, despite his best efforts, could only stretch in vain as the shot sailed past him and slammed into the back of the net. The Emirates erupted in sheer euphoria.

"Goal! What a strike from Alexis Sanchez!" the commentator exclaimed, his voice barely audible over the deafening cheers. "That was a free kick straight out of the top drawer, and it's 4-0 to Arsenal!"

Sanchez turned and sprinted toward the corner flag, sliding on his knees as his teammates rushed to celebrate. Francesco, the orchestrator of the ruse, was the first to reach him, grinning from ear to ear. "Perfect execution, Alexis!" he said, clapping him on the back.

"And brilliant distraction, Francesco!" Sanchez replied, his grin matching the young winger's.

From the sideline, Wenger applauded, his satisfaction evident. It was moments like these—moments of ingenuity and teamwork—that defined Arsenal at their best. The fans, too, showed their appreciation, chanting Sanchez's name alongside Francesco's in a resounding chorus.

For Stoke, the fourth goal was a crushing blow. The players' heads dropped, their earlier intensity fading as frustration set in. But Arsenal showed no signs of letting up. With a commanding 4-0 lead, they continued to push forward, determined to entertain their fans and perhaps add to their tally.

In the 70th minute, Francesco came close to scoring again. A swift counterattack saw him receive the ball in space on the right. With a burst of speed, he cut inside, weaving past two defenders before unleashing a curling shot aimed for the far corner. Begovic, desperate to salvage some pride, produced a spectacular save, tipping the ball wide.

"Unlucky, Francesco!" the commentator remarked. "The young man has been nothing short of sensational today."

The game settled into a more controlled rhythm as Arsenal managed their lead. Wenger made a few changes, bringing on Ramsey for Rosicky and Chamberlain for Giroud, shifting Sanchez into a more central role. The fresh legs injected new energy into Arsenal's attack, keeping the Stoke defense on high alert.

Despite their efforts, Stoke found no way back into the game. Every time they ventured forward, Arsenal's defense, marshaled by Mertesacker and Koscielny, stood firm. Coquelin, as tenacious as ever, broke up play with well-timed tackles, while Ospina remained a commanding presence in goal.

The match progressed into the 77th minute with Arsenal firmly in control. The Gunners were putting on a masterclass, their intricate passing and relentless attacking play leaving Stoke chasing shadows. Yet, Francesco wasn't done making his mark. His energy seemed boundless as he roamed the right flank, always ready to take on defenders with his fearless dribbling.

Pieters, who had been tormented by Francesco throughout the match, looked visibly fatigued. The Dutchman had endured a torrid evening, and as Francesco received the ball on the right, the Emirates crowd leaned forward in anticipation. The young winger took off, his first touch sending the ball just far enough ahead to build momentum. Pieters stepped forward to challenge, but Francesco's quick feet made it impossible to predict his next move.

With a sharp drop of his shoulder, Francesco darted to the right, then quickly cut back to the left, leaving Pieters off-balance. The crowd roared as Francesco surged forward, his pace and control unstoppable. Another defender approached, but a clever nutmeg sent the ball through his legs and allowed Francesco to continue his charge down the wing.

"Unbelievable skill from Francesco Lee!" the commentator exclaimed. "This young man is playing like a seasoned superstar!"

As Francesco reached the edge of the box, he looked up and spotted Giroud battling Shawcross in the center. The Frenchman was locked in a physical duel with the Stoke captain, both players jostling for position. Francesco adjusted his stride, setting himself up for the perfect cross. With a flick of his boot, he sent a pinpoint delivery curling into the penalty area.

The ball sailed through the air, its trajectory teasing both players and fans. Giroud, using his strength and clever positioning, managed to gain a slight advantage over Shawcross. Timing his leap perfectly, he rose above the Stoke defender and met the ball with a powerful header. The connection was clean, the ball hurtling toward the goal at an angle Begovic could do little about.

The net bulged, and for the fifth time that evening, the Emirates erupted in celebration.

"Goal! Olivier Giroud!" the commentator bellowed. "And what an assist from Francesco Lee! Arsenal lead 5-0, and they're putting on an absolute clinic!"

Giroud ran toward the corner flag, his arms outstretched in triumph. His teammates quickly surrounded him, celebrating another stunning goal. Francesco jogged over to join the huddle, his face lit with a wide smile. Giroud turned to him and extended a hand, pulling the younger player into a bear hug.

"That cross was perfect, Francesco," Giroud said, grinning. "Keep this up, and you'll be setting up goals for fun all season."

Francesco laughed, brushing his sweat-soaked hair away from his face. "Only if you keep scoring them like that, Olivier."

On the touchline, Arsène Wenger smiled, his arms crossed as he observed his team's performance. It was a display of everything he had worked to instill in Arsenal: technical brilliance, teamwork, and attacking flair. The fans chanted in unison, their joy and pride reverberating around the stadium.

For Stoke, the fifth goal was a hammer blow. Any remaining hope of salvaging pride was extinguished, and their players looked resigned to their fate. Shawcross, visibly frustrated, shook his head as he walked back to his position, while Begovic punched the turf in anger.

Arsenal, however, showed no signs of complacency. With over ten minutes left to play, they continued to press, looking for more opportunities to extend their lead. Ramsey and Chamberlain, both fresh from the bench, brought new energy to the midfield and wide areas, keeping Stoke on the back foot.

Francesco, undeterred by his already stellar performance, remained a constant threat. His pace and creativity kept the right flank alive, and the crowd cheered every time he touched the ball. In the 83rd minute, he came close to scoring again, picking up a loose ball at the edge of the box and firing a venomous shot that whistled just over the crossbar.

"Francesco Lee is on fire tonight," the commentator marveled. "What a talent this young man is turning out to be!"

As the game neared its conclusion, Wenger made his final substitution, bringing on Gabriel Paulista for Koscielny to give the Brazilian some minutes. The change allowed Arsenal to maintain their defensive solidity as they saw out the remaining minutes.

The final whistle blew to a standing ovation from the Emirates faithful. Arsenal had dismantled Stoke City with a breathtaking display of attacking football, and the 5-0 scoreline reflected their dominance.

As the players shook hands and exchanged jerseys, Francesco received special attention from his teammates and even some Stoke players, who acknowledged his incredible performance. Wenger walked onto the pitch to congratulate his players, taking a moment to pat Francesco on the shoulder.

"Well done, Francesco," Wenger said, his tone warm with approval. "You've shown today why we believe in you."

Francesco nodded, his cheeks flushing slightly with pride. "Thank you, boss. I'll keep working hard."

The night belonged to Arsenal, and as the players headed toward the tunnel, they were serenaded by chants of their names.

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Name : Francesco Lee

Age : 16 (2014)

Birthplace : London, England

Football Club : Arsenal First Team

Championship History : None

Match Played: 3

Goal: 13

Assist: 3

MOTM: 3