Chapter Summaries

After returning from international duty, Maël rejoined Arsenal for a crowded run of club fixtures. Arsenal fell two goals behind Schalke 04 but rallied in the second half, with Van Persie and Maël scoring to secure a 2–2 draw.

• Maël returned to Arsenal, reunited with Van Persie and Wenger, and set his sights on surpassing Henry and becoming football’s greatest player.
• Arsenal struggled against a fresher Schalke 04, and Afellay and Huntelaar scored before halftime to put the visitors 2–0 ahead.
• Wenger sent on Podolski and Gilbert at halftime, and Van Persie headed in Gilbert and Bale’s attack to make it 2–1 in the 62nd minute.
• Maël kept pressing despite his fatigue as Arsenal fought to equalize against Schalke 04.
• Maël struck a powerful long-range shot in the 83rd minute, making it 2–2 and rescuing a draw for Arsenal.

Arsenal beat Queens Park Rangers 4–1 with Maël coming off the bench to win and score a penalty, then defeated Reading 3–1 without him to reach the EFL Cup quarterfinals. Maël rested ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, confident that his skills would soon reach a new level.

• Arsenal fielded a heavily rotated side against Queens Park Rangers and took a 3–0 lead before Taarabt scored for the visitors.
• Maël replaced Podolski, won a penalty, and drew a second yellow card that sent Mbia off; he converted the penalty to make it 4–1.
• Arsenal remained level on 22 points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table, with their match at Stamford Bridge approaching.
• Wenger left Maël out of Arsenal’s EFL Cup squad against Reading so he could rest, and Maël told Gilbert he was tired but expected to be ready for Chelsea.
• Arsenal came from behind to beat Reading 3–1 through goals from Van Persie and Walcott and advanced to the EFL Cup quarterfinals.

Maël trained until Long Shot, Curled Shot, and Cross all reached level five, then looked forward to testing his new abilities against Chelsea. Before the match, Wenger appeared troubled and hinted that someone was trying to take something from him.

• Maël endured an exhausting training session and raised Curled Shot to level five as Extreme Arc Heavy Slash.
• Maël trained Long Passes and Crosses with José, then raised Cross to level five as Precise Guidance.
• Maël celebrated by asking José for a joke, and José spent the next two days telling jokes around the house.
• On October 31, Maël joked with Davis before heading to Stamford Bridge for Arsenal’s match against Chelsea.
• Maël, Ribery, and Fabregas gave pre-match interviews, while Wenger hinted at a private unpleasant matter and vowed Chelsea would not beat Arsenal.

Maël led Arsenal to a 3–0 first-half lead over Chelsea with two goals and an assist, showcasing his three lv5 skills in the top-of-the-table clash. As the match approached halftime, Wenger watched him with pride and relief, though an unresolved concern still weighed on him.

• Maël ignored Fabregas, Benzema, and Ribery during the pre-match handshakes before winning the coin toss for Arsenal.
• Fabregas struck the post with an early corner-kick shot, but Chelsea failed to take the lead.
• Maël sent a curling pass behind Chelsea's defense for Van Persie to score Arsenal's opening goal with a diving header.
• Maël scored from long range with a curling shot to put Arsenal 2–0 ahead, while Fabregas, Benzema, and Ribery argued among themselves.
• Bale crossed from the right, and Maël overpowered David Luiz to head in Arsenal's third goal before halftime.

At halftime against Chelsea, Wenger told Maël that Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore had pressured Arsenal to slow its winning streak to protect the league’s competitiveness, with threats of difficult scheduling, Financial Fair Play rules, and poor refereeing. Maël and Wenger agreed not to compromise and returned to the pitch determined to fight on, leaving Maël ready to answer the pressure with goals in the second half.

• Arsenal went into halftime three goals ahead, while Benitez decided his side had to strengthen its attack without substituting any of its divided front four.
• Maël noticed Wenger’s unease and followed him to a quiet corner, where Wenger revealed that Richard Scudamore had urged Kroenke to let Arsenal lose matches after surpassing the unbeaten record.
• Wenger explained that the Premier League might use fixture scheduling, Financial Fair Play regulations, or refereeing decisions to hinder Arsenal if the club refused to slow down.
• Maël rejected compromise and told Wenger that Arsenal should keep fighting, and Wenger said he needed Maël’s support to face the pressure.
• Maël and Wenger pledged to stand together and overturn the obstacles, then returned to the pitch as the second half approached.

Chelsea briefly revived their hopes when Ribery scored, but Arsenal overwhelmed them 6–2 at Stamford Bridge as Maël created five goals. Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 47 matches, while Abramovich erupted in fury and Richard Scudamore watched Maël with growing fear.

• Benitez brought Hazard on at halftime, and Chelsea attacked aggressively as Fabregas assisted Ribery to make it 1–3.
• Chelsea missed chances to score through Benzema and Fabregas, then Maël beat Ivanović and set up Bale to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead.
• Abramovich grew angry at Chelsea’s collapse and asked his assistant about Mourinho as fans began leaving Stamford Bridge.
• Bale crossed for Van Persie to score Arsenal’s fifth, and Abramovich stormed out and smashed items in his box.
• Chelsea scored a second goal, but Maël assisted Van Persie again in the 88th minute to make it 6–2.
• Arsenal won and reached 47 matches unbeaten, while Maël celebrated with a look of vindication and Richard Scudamore watched him with hesitation and fear.

Maël planned his November training as Arsenal continued its unbeaten run with a Champions League win over Schalke 04. Arsenal then survived a late Fulham comeback to draw 3–3 and reach 48 league matches unbeaten, leaving the team one match away from the legendary record.

• Maël chose to focus on Stamina after Sprint reached lv5, then added Volley and Ball Control to his training plan.
• Arsenal beat Schalke 04 4–1, with Maël scoring twice and drawing level with Messi at the top of the Champions League scoring list.
• Arsenal took a 3–0 lead against Fulham, and Wenger substituted Maël, Van Persie, and Arteta in the 54th minute.
• Berbatov scored twice and Kacaniklic added a late goal to bring Fulham level at 3–3.
• Szczęsny caught Berbatov’s stoppage-time shot, preserving the draw as Arsenal reached 48 league matches unbeaten.

Maël celebrated reaching 100 million followers, then joined Arsenal’s fan event, where he accepted a number 49 commemorative jersey from Henry as a sign of the club’s confidence before its match against Aston Villa. He left determined to win and complete the team’s unbeaten run.

• After recovery training, Maël agreed to attend Wenger’s fan event and accept a number 49 jersey to steady the team before the Aston Villa match.
• Maël’s family and staff celebrated as his Facebook followers passed 100 million, and Maël lit fireworks with them.
• On the way to Emirates Stadium, Maël asked the bus driver to stop for a Vietnamese fan who had run after the bus for about three kilometers.
• Maël invited the fan to the event, signed an autograph, and promised him special gifts for his persistence.
• Henry presented Maël with a number 49 commemorative jersey, and Maël told reporters he saw it as an inheritance and a declaration of victory against Villa.

Maël reunited with Arsenal Grandma Liu at a fan meeting and promised she would see Arsenal win the Champions League. At Villa Park, Arsenal moved toward the club’s forty-nine-match unbeaten record as Bale scored and Maël doubled their lead with a long-range strike.

• Maël and Henry discussed Henry’s legacy and Maël’s hopes of one day representing football itself.
• Maël signed autographs for fans, met Arsenal Grandma Liu, and promised she would see Arsenal win the Champions League and would perform her favorite celebration if he scored against Villa.
• Arsenal fans filled Villa Park as Arsenal began their match against Aston Villa, with Maël facing his former Sheffield United teammate Lotton.
• In the 27th minute, Maël broke through Villa’s defense and set up Bale, who scored to give Arsenal a 1–0 lead.
• In the 41st minute, Maël scored a long-range goal to put Arsenal 2–0 ahead, then celebrated with his side-to-side hop.

Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 3–0, putting them one minute from a 49-game unbeaten run before Maël was substituted. The final whistle confirmed the record, and Maël joined the celebrations on the pitch.

• Arsenal went into halftime with a 2–0 lead as Villa fans began leaving and their players showed little fight.
• Maël crossed for Giroud, whose header was saved, then Arteta chipped the ball to Maël, whose shot was blocked before Van Persie scored the rebound to make it 3–0.
• Arsenal defended their lead, and Van Persie and Thiago Silva were substituted before Maël came off in the 90th minute to a standing ovation.
• The referee blew the final whistle after one minute of added time, confirming Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run.
• Maël joined the jubilant fans and players on the pitch as the stadium celebrated Arsenal’s achievement.

Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-0 to reach 49 matches unbeaten, then thrashed Tottenham 7-1 in the North London Derby to set a new record of 50 unbeaten matches. Maël and Wenger looked ahead to an even bigger dream as Arsenal closed the chapter eight matches short of Milan's record and extended their lead at the top of the Premier League.

• Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 3-0, and Maël celebrated the team's 49-match unbeaten run with Wenger, who said he hoped they could complete an unbeaten season.
• Maël reminded Wenger of seeing him leave the gym two and a half years earlier, and they laughed together about dreaming even bigger.
• Tottenham took an early lead through Adebayor, but Maël equalized for Arsenal in the 11th minute.
• Adebayor was sent off in the 16th minute after fouling Maël, and Arsenal took control as Van Persie and Maël scored before halftime.
• Maël and Van Persie completed hat-tricks as Arsenal beat Tottenham 7-1, reaching 50 matches unbeaten and breaking the record.
• Maël told reporters to keep winning, and Chelsea's draw left Arsenal top of the table with a three-point lead.

Arsenal beat Montpellier 2–0 with goals from Gilbert and Podolski, then Maël reviewed Mendes’s plan to promote his Ballon d’Or campaign. Maël scored twice and assisted once in Arsenal’s 4–0 win over Everton, extending their unbeaten Premier League run to 51 matches and leaving Moyes furious.

• Gilbert scored the opener against Montpellier and later helped set up Podolski’s second goal as Arsenal won 2–0.
• Mendes presented Maël with a Ballon d’Or groundwork plan involving publicity, image-building, media contacts, and efforts to undermine rivals; Maël agreed to proceed.
• Mendes asked Maël to expand Football Record and his social media PR team to spread news about him, and Maël welcomed him to stay in London.
• Maël scored in the first half against Everton, then assisted Van Persie and watched Giroud score as Arsenal built a 3–0 lead.
• Maël scored again late in the match, completing Arsenal’s 4–0 win and extending their unbeaten Premier League run to 51 matches.
• Moyes’s post-match social media message showed his anger after Everton’s defeat.

Wenger prepared Arsenal for their Old Trafford match against Manchester United, and Arteta’s injury gave Gilbert a chance to start. The match began amid intense clashes, and after Rooney and Gilbert confronted each other, Maël intervened and received a yellow card alongside them.

• Wenger told Arsenal that Manchester United were declining and urged his players to treat them as another strong opponent.
• Arteta strained his thigh during training, so Gilbert took his place in Arsenal’s starting lineup against Manchester United.
• At Old Trafford, Wenger and Ferguson exchanged a respectful but bittersweet conversation before the match began.
• Maël beat Rafael with a Rainbow Flick and drove into the penalty area, while Gilbert helped stop Manchester United’s attack through his side.
• Rooney taunted Gilbert after a collision, and the two players shoved each other before Maël stepped in to defend Gilbert.
• The referee booked Rooney, Gilbert, and Maël, leaving Maël suspecting that the match would not be straightforward.

Maël battled a series of disputed calls as Manchester United took the lead, but he kept Arsenal focused and equalized with a free kick before halftime. The chapter ended with Maël celebrating defiantly after his goal stood, as a suited figure in the stands grew uneasy.

• The referee and linesman repeatedly awarded Manchester United possession, angering Maël and Arsenal's players.
• The referee awarded Manchester United a contentious corner, and Evra scored from it to put Manchester United ahead 1–0.
• Maël calmed Kyle Walker and helped Arsenal regain focus, but an assistant referee then called him offside on a promising break.
• Maël held Gilbert back from confronting the officials and continued playing, later drawing a foul near the edge of Manchester United's penalty area.
• Maël scored a curling free kick to equalize 1–1 and celebrated defiantly beside the referee.
• A suited figure in the stands adjusted his glasses and felt ominous premonitions after the equalizer.

Arsenal came from behind to lead Manchester United 2–1, but Gilbert was controversially sent off after the referee judged him to have dived. Reduced to ten men, Arsenal held on as Maël scored a late solo goal to secure a 3–1 win and keep their 58-match unbeaten pursuit alive.

• Maël equalized just before halftime, then Wenger told Arsenal to stay composed and promised the club would challenge the referee’s decisions after the match.
• Arsenal pressed Manchester United after the restart, and Van Persie scored a curling volley to give them a 2–1 lead.
• Evans collided with Gilbert in the penalty area, but the referee booked Gilbert for diving and sent him off for a second yellow card.
• Furious Arsenal players and supporters protested the decision, while Maël confronted the referee and Gilbert left the pitch in tears.
• Arsenal brought on Coquelin and defended with ten men as Manchester United searched for an equalizer.
• Maël broke through Manchester United’s defense on a late counterattack and scored a curled shot to seal Arsenal’s 3–1 victory.

Arsenal beat Manchester United 3–1 at Old Trafford despite playing with ten men, extending their unbeaten run to 52 matches as Maël starred. Controversial refereeing sparked a public outcry, prompting Daniel’s suspension and dismissal before the dispute temporarily subsided.

• Maël scored a solo goal to put Arsenal 3–1 ahead, and Wenger and the Arsenal players celebrated while Gilbert watched the delayed broadcast from the dressing room.
• Arsenal won the match, and Maël embraced Gilbert before Wenger praised Maël’s Ballon d’Or chances at the press conference and criticized the referee’s decisions.
• Fans and commentators condemned Daniel’s officiating online, while Richard Scudamore’s stiff smile and comments became targets of jokes and criticism.
• Richard Scudamore announced Daniel’s suspension pending investigation, and the Premier League Referees Association later dismissed Daniel and barred his reappointment for three years.
• The public accepted the officials’ response, and Arsenal turned their attention to their upcoming matches.

The Ballon d'Or candidate list named Maël alongside Messi and Ronaldo, while several Arsenal players also earned nominations. Maël then scored twice and assisted twice as Arsenal beat Swansea 5–0, leaving Arsenal top of the Premier League after 15 rounds.

• France Football released the 23-player Ballon d'Or candidate list, including Maël, Messi, Ronaldo, Van Persie, Koscielny, Sagna, and Drogba.
• Maël encouraged Van Persie, Koscielny, and Sagna to aim for greater success with Arsenal and joked that they might one day win seven trophies in a year.
• Arsenal hosted Swansea in Premier League Round 15, with Arsenal seeking their 53rd match in an unbeaten run.
• Giroud opened the scoring from Sagna's cross, and Maël headed in another Sagna delivery to put Arsenal 2–0 ahead.
• Bale scored twice from assists by Maël, then Maël added a long-range goal as Arsenal won 5–0.
• After 15 rounds, Maël led the league with 26 goals and 12 assists, while Arsenal topped the table with 41 points.

Maël’s Fancy Footwork reached lv4, and after Arsenal’s substitutes lost to Olympiacos in the Champions League, he continued training and finally unlocked the comprehensive Shooting and Shooting Technique skills. He ended the chapter confident that he could now focus on following his established training paths.

• Maël trained through his doubts about success and fame until Fancy Footwork reached lv4, clearing the last lv3 skill from his training queue.
• Arsenal’s substitutes took a first-half lead through Rosický but conceded two late goals to Olympiacos, suffering their first defeat of the season without ending their 58-match unbeaten run.
• Wenger and Maël urged the squad to learn from the loss and prepare for the coming knockout rounds.
• Maël practiced shooting and passing on December 7, then unlocked Shooting lv1 and the additional skill Shooting Technique lv1.
• Maël realized the new skills filled gaps in his training and resolved to keep pursuing the paths he had established.

Maël awakened the comprehensive Shooting ability and realized that mastering more level-five skills could unlock other comprehensive abilities. Arsenal beat West Brom, edged Wigan Athletic with Maël’s stoppage-time winner, and thrashed Reading 6–2 as Maël scored a hat-trick and Arsenal extended their unbeaten run.

• Maël concluded that two level-five skills might be needed to awaken a comprehensive ability, chose to focus on a passing skill, and sent José his training plan.
• Arsenal defeated West Brom 4–0, with Maël winning a penalty and scoring while Bale and Van Persie also contributed.
• Maël scored a ninety-first-minute Curled Shot to beat Wigan Athletic and give Arsenal their fifty-fifth consecutive unbeaten match.
• Chelsea dropped points against Queens Park Rangers, and Benitez was sacked as Mourinho’s possible return was reported.
• Arsenal beat Reading 6–2, and Maël scored a hat-trick to secure their fifty-sixth unbeaten match.

Arsenal's 6–2 win over Reading extended their unbeaten run to 56 matches, while Maël gained ground in the Ballon d'Or debate against Messi. Arsenal then suffered a shock EFL Cup exit to Bradford City, leaving Maël focused on the league record and the remaining trophies.

• Arsenal beat Reading 6–2, reached 50 points after 18 league rounds, and moved within two matches of the 58-game unbeaten record.
• Public figures increasingly backed Maël for the Ballon d'Or, while Messi's team worried that Arsenal's form would sway undecided voters.
• Messi faced pressure over the prospect of losing his fourth straight Ballon d'Or to nineteen-year-old Maël.
• Ronaldo admitted to Irina that he was disappointed Mendes had been absent, though he said their cooperation would continue.
• Arsenal drew 1–1 with Bradford City using a second-string lineup, then lost the penalty shootout 2–3 and exited the EFL Cup.
• Maël accepted the defeat and turned his attention to Arsenal's remaining competitions and the approaching unbeaten-run record.