Chapter Summaries

Maël overwhelmed Bayern Munich with a stunning counterattack, won and scored a penalty, and helped Arsenal beat Bayern 5–4 in a goal-fest. His performance made him a sensation among Arsenal fans, while the chapter ended with domestic supporters celebrating his breakthrough and anticipating the new season.

• Maël repeatedly beat Alaba on the flank, prompting Heynckes to consider moving Lahm into his position.
• After Arsenal cleared Bayern’s corner, Maël sprinted forward and evaded Lahm and Robben before Neuer’s slide took down Robben and Maël, earning a penalty.
• Maël scored the penalty down the middle, celebrated before the crowd, and was substituted two minutes later after recording two goals and two assists.
• Arshavin scored Arsenal’s fifth goal, while Nils Petersen scored Bayern’s fourth, ending the match 5–4.
• Lin Youliang and Zhou Yi saw Maël’s performance flood their Arsenal forum with praise and predictions about his future role.

After Arsenal’s warm-up win over Bayern made Maël a sensation, fans debated his Golden Boot chances and several placed bets on him. Maël finished pre-season in China, returned to London, and trained Rhythm to lv3 just before the Premier League began.

• European media praised Maël’s two goals, two assists, and blistering dribbling against Bayern, while Arsenal fans discussed his potential and Jones bet £2,300 on him to win the Golden Boot.
• Arsenal beat Boca Juniors 2–0 in their final pre-season match, and Maël swapped shirts with Paredes after the game.
• Maël returned to London, where Safina told him that she and Harry planned to bet £3,000 each on him for the Golden Boot.
• Maël resumed intensive training and raised his Rhythm skill to lv3 on August 12, two days before the Premier League began.

Maël prepared for Arsenal’s new season, reconnected with former coach Hans, and traveled to Newcastle as Wenger named him in the starting lineup for his Premier League debut. The chapter ended with the opening whistle at St James’ Park.

• Wenger told Arsenal to prioritize their Champions League play-off and announced Maël was in the squad for the season opener.
• Gilbert called Maël to say he was returning to Sheffield United and hoped to earn a future place at Arsenal.
• Maël visited Hans, thanked him for lending him boots when he was struggling, and celebrated their friendship with Hans’s family and friends.
• Van Persie discussed Maël’s pending contract renewal and urged him to meet the team’s expectations in the Premier League.
• Wenger named Maël in Arsenal’s starting lineup against Newcastle United, and Maël made his Premier League debut as the match began at St James’ Park.

Maël scored Arsenal’s opening goal of the 11-12 Premier League season with a solo run and curled shot against Newcastle United. He celebrated with Arsenal’s supporters and silenced Newcastle’s hostile fans, while Wenger traded gestures with Alan Pardew on the touchline.

• Newcastle pressed Arsenal early, and Ameobi headed Barton’s cross over the goal.
• Arsenal worked the ball forward, and Maël tested Krul with a powerful shot that the goalkeeper pushed out for a corner.
• Maël beat Danny Simpson on the flank, cut inside past the covering defenders, and curled the ball into the net for his first Premier League goal.
• Maël celebrated with Arsenal’s fans and teammates, while Wenger taunted Pardew and the two managers’ dispute drew the fourth official’s attention.
• Maël returned to his position and made a shut-up gesture toward Newcastle’s jeering supporters.

Arsenal endured Newcastle United’s rough play and hostile crowd before Maël scored his second goal of the match just before halftime, extending the lead to 2–0. Maël and Wenger celebrated by taunting Newcastle, while Wenger wondered whether Maël could complete a debut hat-trick.

• Maël beat Danny Simpson and crossed for Gervinho, then Arsenal created another chance through Gervinho and Ramsey, but neither attack produced a goal.
• Alan Pardew urged Newcastle to play more physically, argued with Wenger, and helped fuel the hostile atmosphere as fans directed racist abuse at Alexandre Song.
• Alexandre Song and Barton received yellow cards after a confrontation, while Gervinho and Barton repeatedly clashed and the match became increasingly scrappy.
• Newcastle threatened through Demba Ba, but Szczęsny and Vermaelen helped Arsenal survive the attack.
• In stoppage time, Maël launched a counterattack with a through ball for Van Persie, then followed up the goalkeeper’s save and headed in the rebound for Arsenal’s second goal.
• Maël taunted the Newcastle fans after celebrating, and Wenger punched the air toward Alan Pardew’s coaching area as he celebrated the 2–0 lead.

Maël scored a hat-trick on his Arsenal Premier League debut as Arsenal overwhelmed Newcastle United 5–0. After the final whistle, he and Wenger shared a high-five and promised to leave something behind together.

• Arsenal led Newcastle United 2–0 at halftime, and Maël told his teammates he would pursue a hat-trick while Wenger praised his first-half performance.
• Van Persie scored Arsenal’s third goal early in the second half from Alexandre Song’s long pass.
• Maël drew a second yellow card for Barton, sending the Newcastle player off, and Koscielny headed Arsenal’s fourth goal from Ramsey’s free kick.
• Maël scored his third goal in the 89th minute with a powerful left-footed shot, making the score 5–0 and celebrating in front of the silent Newcastle fans.
• After the final whistle, Maël rushed to Wenger, and the two high-fived as Maël promised to leave something behind with him.

Maël celebrated scoring a hat-trick on his Premier League debut for Arsenal, winning Man of the Match and earning an enthusiastic welcome from the club’s fans. His performance also drew the attention of Chelsea’s Abramovich and Manchester United’s Ferguson, who considered making new offers for him.

• Maël accepted his first Premier League Man of the Match trophy and told reporters he hoped to score ten goals soon.
• Sagna led Arsenal’s players in a dressing-room celebration, where Wenger promised to learn a dance if the team won a Championship Trophy.
• Maël saw his social-media following rise and read praise from Arsenal and Sheffield United fans after his three-goal debut.
• Arsenal fans gathered near Colney Training Base to welcome the team and cheer Maël, while Wenger smiled on the bus.
• After Chelsea drew with Stoke City, Abramovich told Boas he wanted to make one last, larger offer for Maël as a possible successor to Drogba.
• After hearing about Maël’s perfect hat-trick, Ferguson regretted Manchester United’s failure to sign him and suggested making another offer to tease Wenger.

After Maël’s Premier League debut, his rising value and transfer interest confirmed his status as a Golden Boy contender, while Arsenal prepared for their Champions League play-off against Udinese. Maël assisted Gervinho for the opening goal at Emirates Stadium, leaving Arsenal ahead early in the first leg.

• Maël celebrated his debut with his team, added his Best Player trophy and commemorative ball to his honor shelf, and resumed training on his day off.
• The German Transfer Window raised Maël’s value to thirty million euros, tying him with Götze among Golden Boy contenders, and Arsenal received offers from Chelsea, Paris, and Manchester United.
• Wenger rejected Chelsea’s offer, ordered a mocking one-euro increase to Manchester United’s previous bid, and prepared for renewed contract talks with Mendes.
• Arsenal started their Champions League play-off at Emirates Stadium against Udinese, with Rosický replacing Frimpong in the lineup.
• Udinese threatened Arsenal through Badu, Asamoah, and Di Natale, but Szczęsny punched away Di Natale’s shot.
• Maël beat Danilo with a cut inside and crossed for Gervinho, whose header gave Arsenal the opening goal.

Arsenal beat Udinese 3–0 in the Champions League play-off first leg, with Maël scoring his first goal at Emirates Stadium late in the match. Afterward, Mendes discussed endorsement offers and a possible contract extension, and Maël agreed he would sign a new deal with Arsenal.

• Udinese changed to more attacking formations and nearly scored, but Pinzi volleyed over after Szczęsny parried Di Natale’s header.
• Walcott replaced Van Persie and scored from Rosický’s through ball to make it 2–0, then celebrated with Maël.
• Maël scored a long-range goal in the 88th minute, giving Arsenal a 3–0 win and celebrating with the Emirates Stadium crowd.
• Mendes told Maël companies were seeking endorsements and proposed a starting rate of £800,000 a year.
• Mendes discussed Arsenal’s likely offer of improved wages, a signing fee, and a longer contract, and Maël agreed to sign if the club made the offer.

Maël trained to improve his weak foot, signed a lucrative five-year contract with Arsenal, and prepared to face Liverpool in a major Premier League clash. The chapter ended as the referee started the match at Emirates Stadium.

• José reviewed footage of Maël's weak-foot technique, and Maël corrected his flaws as his proficiency neared a level increase.
• Maël met Arteta, who arrived to join Arsenal, and Mendes told him his new contract offered £105,000 a week and a £3.5 million signing fee.
• Wenger and Maël signed the new contract at Emirates Stadium, where Maël promised reporters he would bring honor to the club.
• Philip analyzed Liverpool ahead of the match, and Maël vowed to turn his marker Martin Kelly into a weakness.
• Dalglish dismissed Maël's threat at a press conference, while Maël said he was ready to test Liverpool's defense.
• The Arsenal and Liverpool supporters filled Emirates Stadium with chants and displays, and the referee blew the opening whistle.

Maël won a physical duel with Martin Kelly and set up Van Persie for Arsenal’s opening goal against Liverpool. After Liverpool mounted a dangerous response, Maël’s former Arsenal U18 teammates celebrated his assist, and young Saka proudly revealed Maël’s autograph.

• Maël waited on Arsenal’s left flank as Liverpool pressed forward, while the Arsenal academy players and coaches cheered him from the stands.
• In the sixth minute, Szczęsny saved Downing’s shot and launched a counterattack through Jenkinson, who passed toward Maël under pressure.
• Maël held off Martin Kelly and curled a pass behind Liverpool’s defense for Van Persie, who lobbed Reina to put Arsenal ahead.
• Maël and Van Persie celebrated their first Premier League connection, while the Arsenal U18 players cheered and Saka showed off his signed Maël shirt.
• Liverpool attacked in numbers, but Vermaelen blocked a shot and Andy Carroll sent another effort over the goal.

Arsenal and Liverpool traded goals in a high-tempo match, with Maël assisting Van Persie to make it 2–2 after Suárez had put Liverpool ahead. The chapter ended with Arsenal launching a promising counterattack through Maël as both teams pressed for a late winner.

• Liverpool repeatedly targeted Jenkinson's side, and Ramsey accidentally turned Downing's cross into Arsenal's net to make it 1–1 before halftime.
• Wenger instructed Arsenal's midfielders to defend deeper and assigned Gervinho, Maël, and Van Persie their defensive roles.
• Suárez scored a spectacular volley in the 49th minute after Maël chased back during Liverpool's counterattack, giving Liverpool a 2–1 lead.
• Maël beat Martin Kelly and Carragher before delivering a cross to Van Persie, whose volley equalized for Arsenal in the 71st minute.
• Vermaelen cleared Suárez's attempt after Liverpool's kickoff attack, and Arsenal countered quickly through Ramsey, Gervinho, Van Persie, and Vermaelen to send the ball out to Maël.

Maël helped Arsenal beat Liverpool 3–2 with two assists, and the victory strengthened the team’s cohesion. After celebrating, he made a photo wall at home to mark his early goals and assists and set a new combined-stat target for the season.

• Maël drove Arsenal’s counterattack and passed to Gervinho, whose cutback set up Vermaelen to score the winning goal against Liverpool.
• Arsenal celebrated together, and Maël joined Van Persie and his teammates in chanting about their revival and a Northern Expedition.
• Wenger substituted Maël and Gervinho, and Arsenal held on through Liverpool’s late pressure to win 3–2.
• Maël and Suárez exchanged shirts after the match, and Vermaelen received the Man of the Match award.
• Maël developed photos of his goals and assists and arranged them on a photo wall at home.
• Maël set a target of more than thirty combined goals and assists across all competitions, promising gifts to his team if he reached it.

Maël helped welcome Arsenal’s new signings, watched the team advance past Udinese into the Champions League, and upgraded his Weak Foot to Lv4 just before the away match against Manchester United. He left with the squad for Manchester, newly confident in his left-footed control ahead of the looming Big Six clash.

• Maël realized the upcoming Manchester United match might be the infamous 8–2 defeat and worried that he could be part of the loss.
• Maël and Van Persie showed Arteta, Mertesacker, Chamberlain, and André Santos around London, then invited them to Maël’s villa for dinner.
• Arsenal rotated its lineup against Udinese, and Arteta assisted Walcott’s equalizer before Walcott scored again to secure a 2–1 win and a 5–1 aggregate advance into the Champions League proper.
• Maël spent two days training his Weak Foot and upgraded Strong Side Foot to lv4 shortly before the team’s departure for Manchester.
• Maël bet Arteta 1,000 pounds that he could hit the crossbar four times out of ten with his left foot, succeeded, and left with his match gear.

Arsenal faced Manchester United at Old Trafford in a tense Premier League clash, with Maël preparing to challenge Phil Jones’s tight marking. The match began with fierce midfield battles and chances at both ends, and Manchester United were pressing Arsenal when Ashley Young unleashed a long-range shot in the 23rd minute.

• Manchester United fans gathered outside Arsenal’s hotel and Old Trafford as Maël and his teammates prepared for the match.
• Wenger and Ferguson gave their teams final tactical instructions, with Ferguson assigning Phil Jones to closely mark Maël.
• Maël and his teammates entered the packed Old Trafford, and the match kicked off at 3:30 p.m.
• Arteta and Ramsey helped Arsenal build attacks, but Manchester United repeatedly disrupted their play with fouls and tight marking.
• Ashley Young set up Welbeck for a chance in the 7th minute, but Welbeck’s shot missed the target.
• Van Persie tested De Gea with a shot in the 14th minute, and in the 23rd minute Ashley Young cut inside and struck a curled shot from nearly 30 meters out.

Manchester United and Arsenal traded goals in a high-scoring first half at Old Trafford, with Maël winning a penalty and scoring the rebound before Wayne Rooney struck twice. Arsenal pulled one back just before halftime through Robin van Persie’s bicycle kick, leaving Manchester United ahead 3-2.

• Ashley Young scored a curling long-range goal to put Manchester United ahead 1-0.
• Maël dribbled past Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, won a penalty, and scored after David de Gea saved Robin van Persie’s kick.
• Szczęsny saved Danny Welbeck’s volley, and Theo Walcott struck the post after Van Persie sent him through.
• Wayne Rooney curled a direct free kick past Szczęsny to restore Manchester United’s lead at 2-1.
• Rooney lobbed Szczęsny to make it 3-1 shortly before halftime.
• Maël sent Walcott down the right, and Walcott set up Van Persie for a bicycle-kick goal that made it 3-2.

Maël scored a spectacular left-footed goal to bring Arsenal back within one, then Walcott equalized against Manchester United in the 87th minute. The match stood at 4–4 as Maël collapsed with cramp, and Arsenal had turned a likely defeat into a fight for points.

• Maël and Van Persie combined for Arsenal’s third goal just before halftime, making it 3–2 after Maël assisted Van Persie’s bicycle kick.
• Walcott conceded a penalty in the 74th minute, and Rooney scored to give Manchester United a 4–2 lead.
• Maël beat Phil Jones, set up Walcott, then collected the cleared ball and scored a left-footed shot to cut the deficit to 4–3.
• Ferguson brought Ferdinand on to strengthen Manchester United’s defense as Arsenal pressed for an equalizer.
• Walcott dispossessed Ashley Young, beat Evans, and scored through De Gea’s legs to make it 4–4.
• Maël collapsed with cramp after the equalizer as his teammates celebrated around him.

After Arsenal drew 4-4 with Manchester United at Old Trafford, Maël declared his ambitions for individual honors and team trophies as his goals and assist totals fueled growing attention and Golden Boot bets. Back at home, he finished setting up his trophy room and resolved to train a new shooting skill during the break.

• Maël left the pitch to cheers as Arsenal made defensive substitutions, and the match ended 4-4 despite Manchester United’s late attacking changes.
• Wenger praised Arsenal’s strong August, while Maël described the Premier League’s challenges and said he hoped to score 30 or more goals and help the team win one or two trophies.
• Ferguson criticized Manchester United’s defense and angrily confronted a reporter who asked about Maël, leaving the press conference with Giggs.
• Maël’s five goals and two assists against strong opponents drew widespread attention, and fans’ betting pushed his Golden Boot odds down from 56-to-1 to 15.5-to-1.
• Götze learned that his injury would sideline him for only one or two weeks, then vowed to pursue the Golden Boy Award and ask his club for a raise.
• Maël had custom honor cabinets installed, added photos to his wall, and decided to use the match-free period to train a new shooting skill.

Maël planned training for Volley Shot and Outside of the Foot Shot, then scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Swansea. He and Mendes met Puma to discuss a generous endorsement deal as Maël looked ahead to the Champions League.

• Maël chose Volley Shot and Outside of the Foot Shot as his next skills and asked José and Davis to plan his training.
• Blanc and his assistant discussed contacting Maël about joining the France National Team.
• Maël trained the new skills and learned Arsenal had been drawn with Dortmund, Marseille, and Olympiacos in the Champions League.
• Maël scored Arsenal’s opening goal against Swansea, and Walcott added a second in the 2-0 victory.
• Mendes explained Puma’s superimposed bonus clause to Maël, and they entered the General Manager’s Office to hear the contract details.

Maël signed a lucrative Puma endorsement deal with superimposed and tiered bonuses, then scored as Arsenal drew 3–3 away at Blackburn. As he prepared for Arsenal’s Champions League match against Dortmund, he focused on adapting to his new boots and competing with Götze for the Golden Boy Award.

• Orto explained Puma’s individual-honor bonuses and tiered seasonal payouts, and Maël agreed to the endorsement terms, including wearing Puma gear and doing promotional work.
• Maël asked about developing his own Puma collaboration shoes, chose four pairs of boots and other equipment, and formally signed the contract with Orto.
• Arsenal took the lead against Blackburn through Gervinho and Arteta, but Yakubu’s goals and an own goal by Alexandre Song put Blackburn ahead before Maël equalized with a curled shot.
• Maël finished with a goal, an assist, and three key passes in the 3–3 draw, then told reporters Arsenal had been the stronger side but Blackburn had earned the result.
• Maël read reports linking him to Puma and the Golden Boy Award, anticipated facing Götze in the Champions League, and eased his training to recover for the Dortmund match.