Chapter Summaries

Maël and Mendes discussed Maël’s Ballon d’Or prospects and watched Arsenal draw Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of sixteen. Arsenal then thrashed Newcastle to reach 57 league matches unbeaten, and Maël rallied the team before its 58th match against Southampton, with Milan’s record within reach.

• Mendes visited Maël, and they discussed his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or and European Golden Boot.
• Maël and Mendes watched Messi receive the previous season’s European Golden Boot before Arsenal drew Bayern Munich in the Champions League round-of-16 draw.
• Maël scored a hat trick as Arsenal defeated Newcastle 7–1, completing a 57-match cross-season unbeaten league run.
• Arsenal entered its 58th match of the season against Southampton, and Maël rallied his teammates before kickoff.

Arsenal crushed Southampton 5–0 at Emirates Stadium, with Maël scoring twice and assisting another goal to secure the club’s 58th consecutive unbeaten match and surpass AC Milan’s record. Maël celebrated with Wenger as the team’s historic run continued, while the commentators wondered who could finally stop them.

• Arsenal pressed Southampton from kickoff, and Maël repeatedly threatened their defense before scoring from Bale’s cross with a deft hook and finish.
• Maël celebrated Arsenal’s opening goal as Wenger roared from the touchline, and the team added goals from Bale and Sagna to build a 4–0 lead.
• Berlusconi watched with Barbara and Allegri, praised Arsenal and Maël, and toasted both teams’ achievements as Maël scored again to make it 5–0.
• Arsenal held their 5–0 lead through stoppage time, and the final whistle confirmed their 58th consecutive unbeaten match and a new record across the four major leagues.
• Wenger and the Arsenal players celebrated on the pitch as Maël leapt onto his manager, while commentators asked who would end Arsenal’s unbeaten run.

Arsenal celebrated extending their unbeaten run to 58 games as Maël finished 2012 with 91 goals and emerged as the public favorite for the Ballon d'Or. After Arsenal opened 2013 by beating Swansea 5–0 in the FA Cup third round, the story left Maël preparing for the 59-game record attempt and the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich.

• Media outlets praised Arsenal’s 58-game unbeaten run and Maël’s season, while France Football named him, Messi, and Ronaldo as the Ballon d’Or finalists.
• Van Persie showed Maël a public poll in which Maël led the voting, and Maël grew more confident about his chances of winning the award.
• Maël ended 2012 with 91 goals as Arsenal finished the year unbeaten in 58 matches, while Wenger discussed keeping the squad together and raising Maël’s salary.
• Arsenal began their FA Cup campaign against Swansea with a mix of starters and substitutes, and Gibbs, Giroud, Bale, and Ramsey scored in a 5–0 victory.
• Wenger encouraged the rotation players after the win, while Maël looked ahead to Arsenal’s 59-game unbeaten record attempt and his trip to Zurich.