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And, perhaps most importantly, another night spent learning what this new Arsenal side could become.
The celebrations in Singapore eventually settled into the ordinary rhythm of a football tour.
There were handshakes, photographs, a few more jokes about the seven goals and the penalty shoot-out, and plenty of tired smiles as the Arsenal players made their way back toward the team hotel.
Nobody pretended the 4–3 victory over Atlético Madrid had been perfect.
Wenger certainly did not.
But it had been exactly what a first pre-season match was supposed to be: demanding, unpredictable, and useful.
By the time the squad returned to the hotel, the adrenaline had begun to disappear, leaving behind heavy legs and the familiar exhaustion that followed ninety minutes in Singapore's heat.
Francesco dropped onto the edge of his hotel bed and stared at the ceiling.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Leah.
Proud of you. ❤️
He smiled.
He replied with a simple heart before putting the phone down.
The next morning was deliberately quiet.
There was no football immediately after breakfast.
The players were given time to recover, with the medical and fitness staff checking on everyone and monitoring how they had responded to the match.
Some players spent part of the morning sleeping.
Others sat together in the hotel lounge, drinking coffee and talking about the previous evening.
Giroud was still teasing Raya about the penalty save.
"You know," Giroud said, "you could have made it less dramatic."
Raya looked at him.
"It was dramatic because you all wanted it to be."
"That is not an answer."
"It is the only answer."
Francesco laughed from across the room.
The following day, football returned.
Training was lighter at first.
Mobility work.
Recovery running.
Stretching.
Possession exercises at controlled intensity.
The coaching staff gradually increased the workload as the players loosened up.
The Atlético match had changed something.
There was now a sharper understanding of one another.
Runs were being made a fraction earlier.
Passes arrived with greater confidence.
Players were beginning to anticipate rather than simply react.
And Wenger noticed.
He stopped one possession exercise midway through.
"Again," he said.
The ball moved faster the second time.
"Better."
That single word was enough.
The next match was already approaching.
Paris Saint-Germain.
Another major European opponent.
Another chance to measure the squad.
This time, however, Arsenal looked considerably more comfortable with the demands of the tour.
The days passed quickly.
Training.
Recovery.
Meals.
Meetings.
Sleep.
Then another matchday arrived.
The atmosphere inside Singapore National Stadium was lively again.
Arsenal emerged knowing they had another opportunity to test themselves, and from the opening whistle the match had a completely different rhythm from the Atlético encounter.
PSG pressed high, attempting to disrupt Arsenal's build-up.
But Arsenal were prepared.
Kanté moved intelligently between the lines, winning loose balls and immediately turning them into attacks.
Cazorla and Özil found spaces between midfield and defence.
Saka continued to look increasingly confident whenever he received possession.
Alexis was constantly moving.
And Francesco was beginning to feel the difference in his own body.
At the beginning of pre-season, every sprint had required conscious effort.
Now it felt natural again.
His first real opportunity came after a quick exchange between Cazorla and Alexis.
Alexis received the ball near the left side of the area and drew two defenders toward him.
Instead of forcing the shot, he slipped it inside.
Francesco had already moved.
He met the pass with his first touch and finished low into the far corner.
1–0.
He turned immediately toward Alexis.
"You saw it."
Alexis grinned.
"I always see it."
The players celebrated briefly before returning to position.
PSG responded aggressively.
They pushed Arsenal backward for several minutes, forcing Raya to make a sharp save and testing Koscielny and Mustafi with quick movement around the penalty area.
But Arsenal survived the pressure.
Then Alexis struck again.
This time the attack began with Kanté winning possession deep in midfield.
He found Ramsey.
Ramsey carried the ball forward and released Saka down the flank.
Saka accelerated past his marker before cutting the ball back.
Alexis arrived perfectly.
One touch.
Finish.
2–0.
He ran toward the corner with his arms spread.
Francesco followed, laughing as the Chilean forward was surrounded by teammates.
PSG refused to disappear.
They eventually pulled one back, making it 2–1, and suddenly the match became uncomfortable again.
Wenger stood near the technical area, watching closely.
He did not look particularly interested in the score.
He was watching the reactions.
How Arsenal responded to conceding.
Whether the midfield stayed compact.
Whether the forwards continued pressing.
The answer came quickly.
Gnabry received the ball on the edge of the area after another fast Arsenal transition.
He shifted it onto his stronger foot and struck through the crowded defence.
The shot took a slight deflection before finding the corner.
3–1.
Gnabry's teammates immediately surrounded him.
He laughed as Saka grabbed him.
"Finally!"
"Finally?" Gnabry replied. "I've been waiting all tour."
Arsenal continued to attack.
PSG tried to respond, but the increasing confidence of Wenger's side was beginning to show.
Özil dictated the tempo.
Cazorla moved intelligently.
Giroud, after coming onto the pitch, provided a physical presence that PSG's defenders struggled to manage.
The fourth goal came from a patient Arsenal move.
Özil received the ball between the lines and waited.
Giroud made his run.
The German slid the pass into his path.
Giroud controlled it, held off his marker and finished calmly.
4–1.
The bench erupted.
Francesco stood and applauded.
Giroud pointed toward Özil.
"That one was yours!"
Özil smiled.
"No. Yours."
The final goal came late.
Alexis, chasing his hat-trick, instead found himself surrounded by defenders.
He turned away from pressure and slipped the ball toward a teammate.
The attack continued.
A low cross arrived in the area, and Arsenal finished the move decisively.
The scoreboard settled at 5–1.
The final whistle brought another round of applause from the supporters.
Five goals against PSG was an impressive result.
But Wenger's message afterward remained consistent.
"Good," he told the players. "But remember what we are doing here."
The players listened.
"Results are useful. Confidence is useful. But the purpose is to prepare us."
Francesco nodded.
He understood.
The scoreline mattered.
But the minutes mattered more.
The next stage of the tour began soon afterward.
Singapore disappeared behind them as Arsenal boarded their aircraft once again.
The routine was becoming familiar.
Bags.
Passports.
Headphones.
Seats.
Sleep.
Meals.
More sleep.
Another hotel.
Another pitch.
Another match.
The players were becoming accustomed to it.
Some slept through much of the flight.
Others watched films.
Francesco sat by the window for a while, staring down at the clouds.
The tour already felt like its own small world.
They had left London as a group still finding its rhythm.
Now they were moving together almost automatically.
After the flight, Arsenal arrived in Dublin, where the next stage of preparation began.
The change of surroundings was welcome.
Training resumed after recovery, and the staff carefully balanced workload with the accumulated fatigue of the previous matches and flights.
The players were tired.
There was no hiding that.
But they were also sharper.
The next fixture would bring another familiar opponent.
Chelsea.
This time the match would take place at Friends Arena.
The build-up carried a different feeling.
This was still pre-season, but facing another Premier League side made the contest feel familiar.
There were no mysteries about the physical demands.
Chelsea knew Arsenal.
Arsenal knew Chelsea.
When the match began, neither side looked interested in treating it like a casual friendly.
Chelsea pressed aggressively.
Arsenal were forced to defend early, with Raya organizing the back line and Koscielny repeatedly stepping forward to deal with balls into the area.
Then Arsenal found space.
Saka received possession on the right.
He hesitated for only a moment before attacking the full-back.
One touch.
Two.
Then a burst of acceleration.
He entered the area and finished across the goalkeeper.
1–0.
Saka stood still for half a second, almost surprised by his own composure.
Then his teammates reached him.
Francesco wrapped an arm around him.
"That's it."
Saka smiled.
"I told you I wasn't nervous."
Francesco laughed.
Chelsea responded immediately.
Their pressure intensified, and Arsenal were forced into several difficult defensive sequences.
Eventually Chelsea equalized.
1–1.
The match remained open.
Özil began taking control.
He drifted into space and started finding passes that others simply did not see.
One of them created Arsenal's second goal.
Özil collected the ball outside the area, drew a defender toward him and exchanged a quick pass with Giroud.
The return came perfectly.
Özil stepped inside.
Shot.
Goal.
2–1.
He raised both arms as his teammates ran toward him.
Wenger barely reacted.
He simply turned toward his staff and continued talking.
Chelsea continued to threaten.
Raya made another important save.
Monreal cleared a dangerous cross.
Koscielny blocked a shot.
And then, late in the match, the Arsenal captaincy experience of Koscielny became visible at the other end.
A corner was delivered into the box.
Koscielny attacked it.
His header found the net.
3–1.
The defender turned toward the Arsenal supporters with a grin.
His teammates chased after him.
Francesco was among the first to arrive.
"You scored!"
Koscielny laughed.
"Apparently."
Chelsea pushed until the final whistle, but Arsenal held firm.
Another victory.
Another useful match.
And another indication that the squad was becoming more cohesive.
There was little time to dwell on it.
After leaving the area around Friends Arena, the players returned to their travel routine and boarded another aircraft for the next stage in Ireland.
The constant movement was beginning to show.
Heads leaned against windows.
Eyes closed.
Phones were placed face down.
Some players slept almost immediately.
Yet nobody complained.
They knew the tour was temporary.
The next destination was Dublin again.
The next opponent was Lazio.
The match would be played at Aviva Stadium.
By now, Arsenal carried a growing confidence.
Atlético had tested them.
PSG had challenged them before Arsenal pulled away.
Chelsea had forced them to defend.
Lazio would provide another examination.
This time Arsenal looked more settled from the opening minute.
The passing was cleaner.
The movement was sharper.
The distances between the lines were better.
Smith Rowe, in particular, looked eager.
He had enjoyed his minutes against Atlético and now wanted to make another impression.
He got his chance.
Özil received the ball in midfield and opened the game with a precise pass.
Smith Rowe moved onto it.
He carried the ball toward the area, exchanged a quick pass with Iwobi and continued his run.
The return came.
Smith Rowe finished first time.
1–0.
He stood there for a moment before the smile appeared.
Then he was surrounded.
Francesco reached him and pulled him into a hug.
"That's two good appearances."
Smith Rowe laughed.
"I'm trying."
"Keep trying."
Lazio attempted to respond, but Arsenal controlled the game.
Kanté disrupted their midfield.
Koscielny and Mustafi dealt comfortably with most of the aerial threat.
Bellerín and Monreal provided width.
Alexis remained dangerous.
And eventually he doubled the advantage.
A quick transition caught Lazio with space behind their midfield.
Francesco drew a defender away.
Alexis moved into the opening.
The pass arrived.
Alexis took one touch and fired into the far corner.
2–0.
The celebrations were brief.
There was still work to do.
Lazio tried to push back, but Arsenal's defensive shape held.
As the second half progressed, Francesco became more involved.
He had been substituted earlier against Atlético and had watched much of the PSG and Chelsea matches from different stages of the bench.
Now he wanted to finish the tour strongly.
His opportunity came after another controlled Arsenal possession.
Cazorla found Özil.
Özil turned and slipped the ball through.
Francesco accelerated into the gap.
The defender chased.
Francesco reached the ball first.
One touch to settle.
One to finish.
3–0.
He turned toward the supporters.
His teammates came running.
Alexis was laughing as he grabbed Francesco around the shoulders.
"Now you're happy."
Francesco smiled.
"Very."
The final whistle arrived without the drama of Singapore.
Arsenal had won 3–0.
Smith Rowe had scored.
Alexis had added another.
And Francesco had completed the victory.
There was applause from the Arsenal supporters as the players walked around the pitch.
Wenger stood near the technical area, watching them.
The manager looked satisfied, though not carried away.
He had seen improvement.
That was what mattered.
The players themselves understood it.
They had arrived at the beginning of pre-season carrying different levels of fitness.
Now they were moving together.
The passes were becoming instinctive.
The defensive reactions were quicker.
The attackers were beginning to understand one another's movements.
And Francesco, in particular, could feel the difference.
His legs no longer felt heavy.
His acceleration was returning.
His finishing felt natural.
His confidence was growing with every match.
The tour had worked.
Not because Arsenal had won everything.
But because they had been tested.
The players gathered together before heading inside.
Giroud looked around.
"Anyone else tired?"
Walker raised his hand.
"Very."
Saka laughed.
Francesco shook his head.
"We're almost home."
That earned a few groans.
"Don't say that," Özil said. "There is still a flight."
Everyone laughed.
And there was, of course.
The final travel stage began after the Lazio match.
Bags were packed.
Equipment was collected.
The squad boarded the aircraft for the journey back to London.
This flight felt different.
Nobody was wondering what came next on the tour.
There was no next hotel.
No next opponent waiting in another country.
They were going home.
The accumulated fatigue finally caught up with them.
Some players slept almost immediately.
Others sat quietly, listening to music.
Francesco leaned back and closed his eyes.
The past weeks moved through his mind.
Singapore.
Atlético.
PSG.
Chelsea.
Lazio.
Training sessions.
Flights.
Hotels.
Recovery rooms.
Long conversations.
Short naps.
And countless hours spent around the same teammates.
When the aircraft finally landed in London, everyone seemed relieved.
The familiar surroundings made the journey feel complete.
Players collected their luggage and said their goodbyes before heading home.
Francesco returned to his house.
The first thing he noticed was how quiet it was.
No stadium.
No team meeting.
No bus waiting.
No training schedule.
Just home.
Cheddar greeted him with immediate enthusiasm.
Francesco laughed as the corgi jumped around his legs.
"Yeah, yeah. I missed you too."
Leah appeared a moment later.
"You look exhausted."
"I am."
She smiled.
"Good."
"Good?"
"You've finally admitted it."
Francesco laughed.
The following day was deliberately empty.
No training.
No football commitments.
No attempt to squeeze in another workout.
The players were given a full day to recover physically and mentally.
Francesco spent most of it quietly at home.
He stayed with Leah.
He played with Cheddar.
He ate properly.
He slept.
For once, football could wait.
There was no major conversation about the tour.
No need to analyze every match.
It was simply good to be home.
By the following morning, however, the routine returned.
London Colney was familiar again.
The same entrance.
The same pitches.
The same dressing room.
The same smell of freshly cut grass drifting across the training ground.
Francesco arrived and stepped out of his car.
A few teammates were already there.
"Morning," Giroud called.
"Morning."
Saka walked past carrying his boots.
"Ready?"
Francesco smiled.
"Always."
Inside, the squad slowly came together.
There were handshakes, tired jokes about the flights, comments about how good their own beds had felt, and brief conversations about the matches.
Then the mood changed.
The laughter gradually faded.
Training was about to begin.
Wenger and his coaching staff stood together near the pitch.
The overseas tour had provided them with several matches, different opponents, difficult conditions and valuable minutes.
Now the next phase could begin.
Francesco walked onto the grass.
He stretched his legs.
They felt good.
Much better than they had on the first morning of pre-season.
His fitness had improved.
His movement felt sharper.
His finishing had returned.
His confidence was stronger.
And his match rhythm was beginning to feel natural again.
Around him, the same was true of his teammates.
They had spent weeks together.
They had travelled together.
Won together.
Defended together.
Celebrated together.
Lost concentration together.
Recovered together.
And learned together.
Wenger called them in.
The players gathered around him.
"Good work on the tour," he said. "Now we continue."
There was no longer the uncertainty that had existed when they first returned from their holidays.
The season was getting closer, and the preparation was becoming serious.
The whistle sounded, and the players began to move.
What had felt like the end of the pre-season tour only a day earlier now felt like the beginning of something else.
There was a different edge to the morning at London Colney.
The overseas matches were finished.
The flights were behind them.
The hotels, unfamiliar dressing rooms and temporary training pitches had disappeared.
Now there was only Arsenal.
And the first competitive fixture of the new season was getting closer.
Manchester City.
The Community Shield.
Wenger gathered the players together before the first session.
There was no dramatic speech.
He did not need one.
He stood with his hands loosely behind his back, looking across the group.
"We are no longer preparing simply to become fit," he said. "We are preparing to play a competitive match."
The players listened.
"The details matter now."
He glanced toward his coaching staff.
"We will work with more structure. More intensity. More concentration."
Then he looked directly at the players.
"Manchester City will punish mistakes. If we lose our shape for five seconds, they can make us pay."
A few players nodded.
Wenger continued.
"So we prepare properly."
That was all.
The session began.
The first exercise involved possession inside a tight area, but there was nothing casual about it.
The coaches divided the players into groups and imposed strict limits on touches.
One touch where possible.
Two when necessary.
Immediate movement after passing.
If possession was lost, the nearest player pressed while the others closed the passing lanes.
The tempo quickly became uncomfortable.
"Faster!" one of the coaches shouted.
Francesco received the ball with a defender immediately on his back.
He protected it, laid it off to Cazorla and spun away.
Cazorla returned the pass.
Francesco moved again.
That was the point Wenger wanted.
Not simply passing.
Movement after passing.
Creating another option before the opposition could reorganize.
"Good," Wenger called.
The exercise continued.
Kanté seemed almost impossible to escape.
He anticipated passes before they were made, stepping in to intercept and immediately starting another attack.
Ramsey covered ground relentlessly.
Özil demanded the ball between the lines.
Alexis kept drifting into spaces that made defenders uncomfortable.
Saka was increasingly confident, receiving the ball without hesitation even when experienced teammates were closing him down.
Wenger stopped the drill.
"Freeze."
Everyone stopped.
He walked toward the midfield area.
"Look at the distances."
The players looked around.
"If this is Manchester City, what happens here?"
He pointed toward an empty channel.
"They play through us."
He moved another few steps.
"And if we push too far forward here?"
He shook his head.
"Space behind."
Francesco nodded.
Wenger looked at him.
"You see it?"
"Yes."
"Then make sure the others see it too."
Francesco turned toward the midfielders.
"Stay connected. If one goes, the rest move with him."
Kanté nodded.
"Exactly."
Wenger stepped away.
"Again."
The ball moved.
This time the shape was better.
The next exercise focused on pressing.
The attacking group had to build from the back while the defending team attempted to force them toward predetermined areas.
Wenger wanted the first line of pressure coordinated.
Francesco was at the front.
He knew that his job was not simply to run toward the ball.
He had to angle his movement.
Close one defender while preventing the obvious pass to another.
If the ball went wide, Alexis stepped forward.
Saka had to recover.
The midfield followed.
The whole team had to move together.
"Don't chase!" Wenger shouted.
Francesco slowed.
The defender played sideways.
Francesco adjusted his body.
The passing lane disappeared.
Kanté stepped in.
Turnover.
The attack began immediately.
"Better."
Francesco smiled briefly.
The intensity continued.
By the third day, the atmosphere at Colney had changed completely.
The players arrived earlier.
Conversations became shorter once they stepped onto the training pitch.
There were still jokes in the dressing room.
Giroud still found reasons to tease everyone.
Walker still had something to say about Francesco's finishing.
Alexis still laughed loudly when somebody made a mistake.
But once the session began, there was a clear understanding that the summer was over.
This was preparation for Manchester City.
Wenger began introducing specific tactical situations.
Arsenal worked on defending against quick switches of play.
They practiced dropping into a compact shape when possession was lost.
They rehearsed counter-attacks immediately after winning the ball.
The full-backs were instructed when to push forward and when to remain deeper.
Cazorla and Özil were asked to rotate intelligently.
Kanté was given responsibility for protecting the central spaces.
Ramsey was encouraged to make late runs.
Alexis and Saka practiced starting wide before moving inside.
And Francesco worked on holding his position before suddenly attacking the space behind the defensive line.
During one exercise, Wenger stopped the attack.
"Francesco."
He looked over.
"You are too early."
Francesco nodded.
"I thought the space was there."
"It will be there," Wenger replied. "But if you go now, they see you."
He pointed toward the defenders.
"Wait until the ball is ready."
Francesco took the instruction on board.
They restarted.
Cazorla received the ball.
This time Francesco waited.
A defender relaxed for half a second.
Cazorla played the pass.
Francesco exploded forward.
The timing was perfect.
He finished into the corner.
Wenger simply nodded.
"That's better."
Francesco jogged back.
Alexis smiled.
"He was waiting for you."
"I know."
"Good."
The following session was devoted heavily to set pieces.
Corners.
Free kicks.
Defensive positioning.
Second balls.
Wenger wanted everyone to know their responsibility.
Koscielny and Mustafi worked on attacking deliveries.
Giroud positioned himself in the crowded central area.
Francesco alternated between attacking the near post and waiting outside the box.
Özil and Cazorla discussed delivery.
At the other end, Raya organized the defence loudly.
"Laurent, closer!"
"Shkodran, watch behind!"
The goalkeeper's voice carried across the pitch.
Wenger observed.
Every detail seemed to matter now.
The sessions were becoming longer.
The competitive games inside training were becoming more intense.
One afternoon, the coaching staff divided the squad into two teams and allowed the match to run almost uninterrupted.
It became physical.
Not reckless.
But competitive.
Walker challenged Alexis.
Alexis immediately demanded the ball again.
Kanté intercepted Ramsey.
Ramsey chased him back.
Giroud won a header against Mustafi and celebrated as if it were a final.
"It's training!" Mustafi shouted.
Giroud pointed at him.
"Doesn't matter."
Francesco laughed.
"You're both ridiculous."
"Captain," Giroud replied, "you should support competition."
"I support not getting injured."
That earned laughter from the group.
Wenger watched for another minute before calling them back into shape.
"Enough."
The players settled.
"This is good," he said. "But control yourselves."
His eyes moved across the team.
"We need intensity. We do not need stupidity."
The players smiled.
Then the scrimmage restarted.
The closer the Community Shield became, the more attention the fixture received outside Colney.
Television programmes began dedicating entire segments to it.
Former players appeared in studios.
Newspapers ran photographs of Wenger and Guardiola side by side.
The questions were everywhere.
Could Manchester City finally beat Arsenal?
Was Wenger's quadruple-winning team capable of repeating its success?
Had Guardiola found a way to exploit Arsenal's weaknesses?
Could City's possession game overwhelm Arsenal's midfield?
Would Francesco's goalscoring continue immediately into the new season?
Would Arsenal's young players handle the pressure?
One television analyst argued that City's technical quality could expose Arsenal's defensive transitions.
Another disagreed.
"Arsenal have spent an entire season learning how to control these matches," he said. "They aren't going to suddenly forget how to defend because Manchester City are on the other side."
A former Arsenal player offered another perspective.
"The Community Shield isn't the Premier League. It isn't the Champions League. It isn't the FA Cup final. But try telling Wenger that he doesn't want to win it."
The studio laughed.
Then the former player smiled.
"That's the thing. Arsenal don't need this trophy to validate last season. They've already won everything. But if you're walking out at Wembley against Manchester City, you're not thinking, 'It's only a friendly.'"
That line spread quickly.
The players heard it.
Francesco saw the television coverage in the hotel lounge one evening.
Giroud sat beside him.
The programme was discussing whether Guardiola had finally discovered the formula to defeat Arsenal.
Giroud watched for a few seconds.
"They talk a lot."
Francesco smiled.
"They have to fill the programme."
"They should come train with us."
Francesco laughed.
Alexis walked past.
"What are they saying?"
"Apparently City are going to destroy us."
Alexis stopped.
"Really?"
Francesco nodded.
Alexis looked at the television.
Then he shrugged.
"Okay."
He walked away.
Francesco laughed.
Giroud shook his head.
"That is probably the best response."
The outside noise continued growing.
But inside Colney, Wenger remained calm.
At the next training session, he gathered the players before tactical work.
"You will hear many things this week."
Nobody moved.
"Some people will say we are favourites. Some will say Manchester City are favourites. Some will talk about last season. Some will talk about Guardiola and myself."
He paused.
"None of it helps you play."
His voice remained quiet.
"We prepare for the football."
He began walking slowly in front of them.
"They will have the ball at times. We must accept that."
He pointed toward the midfield.
"We must remain compact."
Then toward the attacking players.
"When we win it, we must attack with purpose."
Finally, he looked toward Francesco.
"And when we have opportunities, we must be decisive."
Francesco nodded.
Wenger turned back to the group.
"This is our first competitive match."
The words seemed to settle over everyone.
It was only the Community Shield.
Everyone knew that.
The trophy did not carry the weight of the Premier League.
It did not compare with the Champions League.
It was not the FA Cup final.
And after an extraordinary season in which Arsenal had conquered England and Europe and completed an unprecedented quadruple, nobody inside the dressing room believed that winning the Community Shield would define them.
But there was still silverware at the end of the match.
And nobody wanted to walk away from silverware.
Francesco understood that better than most.
He had spent the summer celebrating one of the greatest achievements of his career.
Now he was captain again.
Another season was beginning.
And Manchester City were waiting.
After training one afternoon, Francesco stayed on the pitch for a few extra minutes.
He worked through finishing with Alexis and Giroud.
One touch.
Shot.
Another ball.
Turn.
Finish.
Giroud watched Francesco place another attempt into the corner.
"You're sharp."
Francesco retrieved the ball.
"Getting there."
Alexis smiled.
"You've been sharp since Singapore."
"Not sharp enough."
Giroud shook his head.
"Captain, you always say that."
Francesco laughed.
"Because there's always something to improve."
Alexis looked toward the emptying training ground.
"That's why you're annoying."
Francesco grinned.
The following morning, the work became even more specific.
Wenger had the players rehearse their starting positions repeatedly.
They walked through scenarios before playing them at full speed.
A City attack.
Arsenal defending.
Turnover.
Counter.
Reset.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The coaches corrected small movements.
A midfielder stepping too far.
A defender dropping too late.
A winger failing to track.
A striker pressing from the wrong angle.
Nobody complained.
The players understood.
This was no longer about simply getting minutes into their legs.
This was about preparing to compete.
The final internal scrimmage before the match was perhaps the most intense of the entire week.
Francesco scored once.
Saka assisted another.
Özil produced a pass that made even the coaching staff stop and watch.
Kanté intercepted repeatedly.
Koscielny shouted instructions throughout.
Raya organized from behind.
When the final whistle came, everyone stood breathing heavily.
Wenger waited.
Then he nodded.
"Good."
He looked at them.
"Now recover."
A few players smiled.
They knew what that meant.
The Community Shield was almost here.
As the squad left the pitch, Francesco walked alongside Saka.
"You ready?"
Saka looked at him.
"For City?"
"Yes."
Saka thought for a moment.
"Yeah."
Francesco smiled.
"You've changed."
"How?"
"You don't answer that question like you did at the start of the tour."
Saka laughed.
"I told you I wasn't nervous then."
"And now?"
Saka shrugged.
"Maybe a little."
Francesco nodded.
"That's normal."
Saka looked at him.
"Are you nervous?"
Francesco considered the question.
"A little."
Saka smiled.
"Good."
They continued walking toward the dressing room.
Inside, the familiar noise returned.
Boots hitting the floor.
Showers running.
Music playing quietly.
Players talking about the weekend.
Giroud was already discussing food.
Walker was arguing with someone about a training challenge.
Alexis was laughing.
Özil sat quietly, checking his phone.
Kanté was packing his things.
Cazorla was speaking with one of the younger players.
It felt like Arsenal again.
But underneath the normality was something different.
Anticipation.
The first competitive match was no longer an abstract date on a calendar.
It was close.
Manchester City were coming.
Pep Guardiola would be standing on the opposite touchline.
Wenger would be in his technical area.
And Francesco would walk onto the pitch wearing the Arsenal armband once again.
The quadruple was already history.
Now there was a new season waiting to begin.
The Community Shield might not be the trophy Arsenal dreamed about lifting when they spoke of greatness.
It might never carry the same significance as the competitions they had conquered the previous year.
But if there was a medal waiting at the end of the afternoon, Arsenal intended to take it.
__________________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 19 (2017)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, FA Cup 2016/2017, 2016/2017 Champions League, 2017/2018 Carabao Cup, Premier League 2017/2018, FA Cup 2017/2018, Champions League 2017/2018, and 2018 World Cup.
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 0
Goal: 0
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 0
Goal: 0
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 59
Goal: 76
Assist: 6
MOTM: 7
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 11
Goal: 14
Assist: 1
MOTM: 7
Season 16/17 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 55
Goal: 87
Assist: 5
MOTM: 14
POTM: 1
England:
Match: 1
Goal: 1
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 15/16 stats:
Arsenal:
Match Played: 60
Goal: 82
Assist: 10
MOTM: 9
POTM: 1
England:
Match Played: 2
Goal: 4
Assist: 0
Euro 2016
Match Played: 6
Goal: 13
Assist: 4
MOTM: 6
Season 14/15 stats:
Match Played: 35
Goal: 45
Assist: 12
MOTM: 9