CHAPTER 660: MATCHDAY 30

"Welcome to the second day of Matchday 30 in the Premier League," the host began, his tone bright but steady, the studio lights reflecting off the polished desk before him.

"Plenty of talking points across the league — title pressure, form, fatigue, and for some clubs... redemption."

He turned slightly, hands folded, gaze flicking toward his two guests seated across the panel.

"Joining me today, former England international and regular voice of reason, Craig Holloway — and opposite him, the ever-passionate, never-shy-of-a-hot-take Jerome Banner. Gents, good to have you."

Jerome grinned and gave a small nod. "Always a pleasure."

Craig leaned forward with a quiet smile. "Good to be back."

The host glanced at both gentlemen and then continued, tone warming into curiosity.

"We’re heading into the final stretch. Eight games to go. The question on everyone’s mind: are Arsenal cruising to the finish line, or are we in for one of those dramatic end-of-season collapses?"

He glanced first at Craig, whose arms were loosely crossed.

"I’m not calling it yet," Craig said, his voice calm, measured.

"They’ve shown maturity all year, but this next fortnight is huge. Madrid, Fulham, Everton and a cup semi — that’s not just physical, that’s mental, and the margin for error is razor-thin."

The host nodded and then turned towards the other hosts.

"Jerome?"

Jerome didn’t even pause.

"Look, I know people want to believe in the fairytale — but I’m telling you now, Arsenal haven’t sealed anything," he said, leaning forward with that trademark energy.

"You’ve got Liverpool sitting right there. They’ve also got the Carabao cup final to play in, but that is it. No Champions League distractions after that loss to PSG, out of the FA Cup thanks to Plymouth. They’re rested, motivated, and they’ll be hunting blood."

He jabbed the air for emphasis.

"Meanwhile, Arsenal are still in four tournaments. Four. That’s a recipe for burnout. You don’t survive that kind of calendar without something giving, and we’ve already seen something give with Saka and a few others like Partey getting injured."

Craig smirked slightly, not rising to the bait yet.

The host looked over.

"Strong words. Craig, you buying any of that?"

"No," Craig replied simply. "Not with Izan in that squad."

Jerome raised an eyebrow, sceptical.

Craig shrugged.

"You don’t hold a player of his calibre in your squad and fall apart in four competitions. I’m not saying they’ll sweep the board, but they won’t bottle it either. Not this side. Not now."

The host smiled at the clean contrast.

"Alright, two sides of the coin. Craig says Arsenal have the mental steel — Jerome says the pressure cooker’s just starting to boil."

He tapped the screen beside him, now showing live images of players jogging onto the pitch for warmups.

"Let’s bring it closer to today, then. Arsenal at home to Fulham — tricky little London derby with more weight than usual. Predictions, gentlemen?"

Craig went first.

"3–1 to Arsenal. I think Fulham might nick one, but this squad’s tuned in. They won’t slip here."

Jerome scratched his chin, shaking his head.

"You know what? I’ll go bold. 2–2. Fulham frustrate, Arsenal rotate a little too much ahead of Madrid, and we see that little drop-off start to creep in."

"Interesting," the host nodded.

"Well, we’ll see soon enough. Players wrapping up their warmups down there — the crowd’s filling in, and we’re heading for kickoff. Don’t go anywhere."

.......

The away dressing room at the Emirates didn’t carry the same polish as Arsenal’s, but it had its rhythm—kit bags under benches, the low murmur of players taping ankles, and that faint, sterile scent of liniment and ambition.

Marco Silva stood in front of the whiteboard, arms crossed, brow set, as his players gradually settled.

"We’re not fresh. We know that," he began, his voice steady but edged with fire.

"Some of you’ve played three matches in nine days. Some of you are one kick away from cramping. I know. I see it."

"But this isn’t about excuses," he went on. "Because let me be very clear: we are not here to hand them three points like we’re some polite little guests in their palace."

A few player stirred as they glanced up, looking at their manager.

"Everyone in this league—everyone—is handing Arsenal the crown already. ’Oh, it’s done.’ ’They’re too good.’ ’No one’s catching them.’"

He mimicked the pundits with a sneer.

"They’ve already written us off. Fans, analysts, and probably their bench. Hell, even our own fans too, and you know what I say to that?"

He looked around, eyes meeting his captain’s, then Willian’s, then Cuenca’s.

"Good. Let them."

"We’re not walking in here to get our backsides kicked for ninety minutes and then thank them after. I don’t care if you’ve got tired legs or half a tank. Today’s about pride. It’s about turning this match into a problem for them. I want them looking around the pitch ten minutes in and thinking, ’Wait... this isn’t what we expected.’

"

He jabbed a finger toward the diagram on the board.

"You press them. You close those channels. You don’t give Izan a free inch to run at you. You double up if you have to—I don’t care if you’re dizzy by minute forty. You make them earn it."

A small grin curved on his face then, the arrogance creeping in.

"They’ve got Izan. Fine. They’ve got all the flair and fans and fairytales. But you know what they don’t have?" He paused.

"They don’t have eleven players in front of them who are sick of being disrespected."

A hum moved through the room as he continued.

"You’re Fulham. You’ve played big games. You’ve taken hits and kept standing. So tonight—if they win, it won’t be because you lay down. It’ll be because they had to fight through every tackle, every block, every sprint. You take a piece out of them. That’s your job."

He turned one last time, gaze sweeping the room, steady.

"You give me that, and I don’t care what the scoreboard says at the end."

There was silence, then the sharp claps of palms slapping thighs and a few boots stomping on the floor.

This was a side ready to turn a coronation into a contest.

"Now let’s go out there and show them how hard things can be when they want to."

The players nodded and then began filtering out of the room.

Outside the dressing room, the rumble began low.

Then the tunnel lights washed across the players’ faces, and the noise surged.

Arsenal and Fulham emerged side by side, boots tapping firm against concrete with the roar of the Emirates engulfing them in a blanket of red and white thunder.

Fans rose to their feet, phones in hand, scarves waving in the blur of light and sound.

And then came the shouts.

"Izan!"

A wave of them.

"Izan!"

A chorus, rising from the East Stand and echoing through the rest of the ground.

Izan raised a hand to acknowledge the chants of the fans as he turned to face them.

There, the camera panned across the line of players now standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the crowd, kits spotless, faces sharp.

On the other side, the travelling Fulham fans stood in a single proud block of white and black, jeering and clapping with equal measure, throwing their support behind an eleven that had been written off everywhere but their hearts and from the gantry, the voice of the commentator echoed.

"Welcome to the Emirates on a breezy North London evening — the second day of Matchday 30 in the Premier League, and perhaps one of the most emotionally loaded in recent weeks. Arsenal, chasing history on all fronts, face a bruised but stubborn Fulham, who have made no secret of their intentions tonight: frustrate, disrupt, and if possible... spoil."

His co-commentator chimed in, eyes tracking the players lining up on the pitch.

"And if they’re going to do that, they’ll need to do it quickly. Because if you let Arsenal get comfortable at home, with the crowd like this, and Izan in the mood he’s been in... well, you’re asking for trouble."

Back on the pitch, the players were spreading out now, drifting into shape.

The ritual of pre-match positioning began.

The ball was placed at centre as the official checked his watch.

Marco Silva, Fulham’s coach, didn’t waste any time getting into the groove.

"Stay switched on!" he bellowed from the touchline, stalking the technical area like a man trying to physically grab the nerves out of his players.

"No sleeping! Watch the runs! STAY ACTIVE!"

His voice sliced through the noise, sharp and commanding.

Several of his players looked his way, some nodding, others already bouncing on their heels, getting blood into their legs.

On the other side, Izan had his hands on his hips, already facing the Fulham centre-backs like a man waiting for the gates to drop.

And then, for a moment, the stadium held its breath.

One final silence before the storm.

And then, FWEEEEE

A/N: Okay guys, I have no excuse. Have fun reading and I’ll see you in a bit