Odegaard was first to react, lunging in and sweeping the ball clear before a Madrid boot could get there.
It spun out toward the top of the box, no real control on it, just begging to be claimed.
But it was there — just like so many times in Valencia colours — that Izan read the moment like a predator.
The ball skipped toward him, and in one smooth motion, he brought it under control, pivoting on his heel as the pitch opened up ahead.
One opponent was already lunging in, another was trying to track back, but Izan's first touch had already bought him the half-second he needed to burst into the counter.
"Well, here we go again, it's on now for Arsenal, and it is Izan with the loose ball-" Darren Fletcher's voice sharpened, cutting through the low murmur of the crowd. "— and, ohhh, he's decided to go."
The sound of the Emirates lifted as the teenager turned toward the Real Madrid half, nudging the ball into the middle of the pitch.
