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For the first time in several days, there was nothing left to prepare for as there only the journey back to home.
Then the aircraft touched down in England shortly after dawn.
Beyond the windows, London was still wrapped in the soft grey of an early morning, the city only beginning to wake as the England delegation made its way through the airport. The international break had come to an end, and the familiar rhythm of club football was already waiting.
Players collected their luggage and moved through the terminal with the tired efficiency that came after an away international trip.
There were no cameras waiting for Francesco at every step this time.
No supporters calling his name.
Just staff members, suitcases, tired players and the quiet understanding that everyone would soon be returning to their clubs.
Kane stopped beside him near the baggage area.
"Good trip."
Francesco nodded.
"Yeah. Two good wins."
Kane smiled.
"Not a bad way to come back."
Walker appeared behind them with his suitcase.
"Until Wenger gives us running tomorrow."
Francesco laughed.
"He probably will."
Walker looked at him.
"Why did you say that like you're happy about it?"
"I didn't."
"You sounded happy."
"I definitely wasn't."
Kane shook his head.
"You two are impossible."
They separated shortly afterward.
Francesco's car was waiting outside.
The drive toward Richmond was quiet.
He leaned against the window, watching familiar roads return one by one. The international shirt had been folded into his luggage. Soon enough, the England matches would become memories of Croatia and Seville, while Arsenal's red would take its place again.
When the car finally pulled into the driveway, Francesco saw Leah waiting near the entrance.
Cheddar was beside her.
The corgi spotted the car before Leah did.
The moment Francesco stepped out, Cheddar rushed toward him.
"All right, you."
Francesco crouched and caught him.
"You missed me?"
Cheddar immediately began licking his face.
Leah laughed.
"I think that's a yes."
Francesco stood, still holding the corgi.
"You missed me too?"
Leah smiled.
"A little."
"A little?"
"Don't push it."
He laughed and leaned down to kiss her.
The journey home had suddenly felt worth it.
For the rest of the day, Francesco did very little.
He ate.
He slept.
He spent time with Leah.
And, after several days of hotel rooms and airports, simply being home felt like recovery in itself.
But the break was ending.
Arsenal were waiting.
Two mornings later, Francesco was back at London Colney.
The first thing he noticed was how quickly the environment returned to normal.
Football boots lined the changing-room area.
Staff moved equipment across the training pitches.
Balls were already being arranged.
The smell of cut grass drifted through the open doors.
And then came the familiar voices.
"There he is."
Francesco turned.
Alexis was walking toward him.
"Welcome back."
Francesco smiled.
"Good to see you."
Alexis hugged him briefly.
"I saw the goal."
"Which one?"
"Both."
Francesco laughed.
"Not bad."
"Not bad?" Alexis shook his head. "You score against Croatia and Spain and say not bad?"
Before Francesco could answer, Giroud appeared.
"Leave him alone. He has become modest."
Francesco looked at him.
"You scored while I was gone."
"Of course."
"Still got it?"
Giroud placed a hand against his chest.
"Always."
Nearby, Gnabry and Saka were talking about something on a phone.
Saka looked up.
"Captain!"
Francesco walked over.
"How are you?"
"Good."
Gnabry smiled.
"England treating you well?"
"Very."
"Bring us anything?"
Francesco looked at him.
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Something expensive."
Saka laughed.
"You're asking the wrong person."
The changing room filled with familiar noise.
Özil arrived shortly afterward, greeting Francesco with a quiet handshake and a smile.
"Good to have you back."
"Good to be back."
Kanté came through next.
Xhaka followed.
Ramsey was already discussing something with the medical staff.
For a few minutes, international football seemed distant.
This was Arsenal again.
Wenger allowed the players some time to reconnect before beginning the session.
Then he called them onto the pitch.
The first training block was deliberately controlled.
Recovery runs.
Mobility.
Light conditioning.
Players who had remained at Colney during the international break completed more demanding work, while those returning from international duty were monitored carefully.
Francesco completed his work under the watchful eye of the fitness staff.
Wenger did not want the international matches forgotten, but neither did he want them dominating the players' minds.
After the physical work came possession.
Then positional drills.
Then pressing.
The familiar Arsenal patterns gradually returned.
At the end of the session, Wenger gathered the squad.
"You have all had different experiences over the last two weeks," he said.
His gaze moved across the players.
"Some of you played for your countries. Some remained here. Some travelled more than others."
He paused.
"Now we are together again."
Francesco listened carefully.
"Our responsibility has not changed."
Wenger pointed toward the training pitch.
"International success is something to be proud of. But it does not win our next Premier League match."
A few players nodded.
"We start again."
That became the theme of the week.
Start again.
Arsenal had enjoyed a remarkable run of success, but Wenger refused to let the standards soften.
The next opponent was Leicester City.
The match would be at the Emirates.
During tactical preparation, Wenger showed the players Leicester's defensive structure.
"They will not simply stand and watch us play," he explained.
He highlighted the spaces between midfield and defence.
"We must move them first."
The coaching staff worked on attacking patterns designed to create those openings.
Özil practiced receiving between the lines.
Gnabry worked on attacking the full-back from different angles.
Alexis alternated between staying wide and drifting centrally.
Francesco practiced diagonal runs behind the centre-backs.
Kanté and Xhaka focused on maintaining control if the ball was lost.
Defensive transition was equally important.
Leicester were dangerous when given space to counter.
Wenger repeatedly reminded the midfielders to think about what happened immediately after possession changed.
By Friday, the starting XI had become clearer.
On matchday, the Emirates gradually filled.
Supporters arrived early, scarves hanging around their necks and shirts visible beneath coats.
Inside the dressing room, everything had been prepared.
Shirts.
Shorts.
Socks.
Boots.
Water.
Medical supplies.
Francesco sat quietly while staff made their final checks.
He pulled on the Arsenal shirt.
The red fabric felt familiar.
Across the room, Özil adjusted his boots.
Gnabry was already ready.
Kanté sat quietly.
Wenger entered for the final meeting.
"Intensity from the beginning."
He looked at the players.
"Do not give Leicester time to settle."
The players headed toward the tunnel.
The Emirates was loud.
When Arsenal emerged, the roar rolled down from the stands.
The referee checked his watch.
Kickoff.
Leicester defended compactly from the opening minute.
Arsenal moved the ball patiently.
Kanté controlled the central area.
Xhaka switched play.
Özil found pockets.
Francesco constantly moved across the defensive line.
The breakthrough came after Arsenal forced Leicester backward.
Robertson received wide and played inside to Özil.
Özil turned and waited.
Francesco moved toward the near side.
That movement dragged a defender away.
Gnabry suddenly attacked the space created on the opposite side.
Özil found him.
Gnabry took one touch.
Then another.
He opened his body and curled the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
One-nil.
The Emirates erupted.
Gnabry sprinted toward the corner.
Saka, Alexis and Francesco followed.
"That was beautiful," Francesco said.
Gnabry laughed.
"I'll take it."
Leicester responded by pushing higher.
That gave Arsenal more room.
Francesco began dropping toward midfield before suddenly turning behind the defence.
Kanté recognized the movement and played forward.
Francesco reached the ball inside the box.
The goalkeeper came out.
Francesco kept his composure.
He took the ball around him and finished into the empty net.
Two-nil.
The supporters roared again.
Francesco turned toward the stands and raised one hand.
Alexis embraced him.
"Captain."
Francesco smiled.
"Good ball."
The second half began with Leicester attempting to regain control.
Arsenal remained organized.
Özil continued creating openings, but Wenger began considering the workload.
Around the hour mark, he turned toward the bench.
"Emile."
Smith Rowe stood immediately.
Özil looked toward the manager.
Wenger nodded.
"You've done enough."
Özil came off.
Smith Rowe entered.
Francesco moved toward the young midfielder.
"Enjoy it."
Smith Rowe smiled.
"I will."
The change altered the rhythm slightly.
Smith Rowe played with energy, finding spaces quickly.
His first major contribution came only minutes later.
Kanté recovered possession and found Xhaka.
Xhaka played forward.
Smith Rowe received between two Leicester players.
He turned.
Francesco dragged a defender away with a diagonal run.
Smith Rowe saw the opening.
Instead of passing, he carried the ball toward the edge of the box.
One defender stepped forward.
Smith Rowe shifted onto his right foot.
Shot.
Three-nil.
The Emirates erupted.
Smith Rowe stood for a moment, stunned by the noise.
Then Gnabry reached him.
Francesco arrived next.
"You waited long enough."
Smith Rowe laughed.
"I thought I should shoot."
"Good decision."
The final half hour was controlled.
Leicester searched for a consolation goal, but Arsenal's defensive structure remained intact.
Van Dijk won aerial challenges.
Koscielny organized.
Walker recovered quickly whenever Leicester attempted to counter.
Čech dealt comfortably with the few dangerous efforts that reached him.
When the whistle finally came, Arsenal had won 3–0.
Another league victory.
The players applauded the supporters before returning inside.
Wenger was satisfied.
"Professional."
He looked toward Smith Rowe.
"Good impact."
Then Gnabry.
"Good finish."
Finally Francesco.
"And we managed the match properly."
Francesco nodded.
There was no extended celebration.
Another fixture waited.
A few days of recovery and training followed at London Colney.
Then came Crystal Palace.
Selhurst Park was different.
The stadium was tighter.
The noise felt closer.
There was less space between the pitch and the stands, and Palace supporters were already making themselves heard when Arsenal arrived.
Wenger had warned the players.
"Expect physical football."
The tactical session focused on second balls, set pieces and transition defence.
Palace were dangerous when they won possession and attacked quickly.
Milivojević's delivery from dead-ball situations received particular attention.
"Do not give away cheap fouls," Wenger said.
The message was clear.
At Selhurst Park, Arsenal would have to earn every moment.
Matchday arrived.
The bus entered the stadium through the secure access point.
Players changed quietly.
Francesco sat tying his boots while Alexis adjusted his shirt.
Kanté looked across.
"Ready?"
Francesco nodded.
"Always."
The warm-up took place beneath the noise of Selhurst Park.
Palace supporters were already singing.
The Arsenal section answered them.
Inside the dressing room, Wenger gave his final instructions.
"Stay patient."
He looked toward midfield.
"Do not let them turn."
Then toward the forwards.
"Use the spaces when they appear."
The teams entered the tunnel.
Handshakes.
Final checks.
Then the whistle.
Palace started aggressively.
They pressed Arsenal's first passes and challenged every loose ball.
Arsenal eventually settled.
Kanté began finding space.
Özil received between the lines.
Alexis moved inside.
Francesco drifted toward the left centre-back.
The breakthrough came after Arsenal patiently worked the ball across midfield.
Xhaka found Özil.
Özil played into Francesco.
Francesco turned under pressure.
He exchanged a quick pass with Alexis.
Then Francesco accelerated into the box.
Alexis returned the ball.
Francesco finished first time.
One-nil Arsenal.
The travelling supporters celebrated.
Francesco pointed toward Alexis.
"Good one."
Alexis grinned.
But Palace responded quickly.
A foul just outside the Arsenal area gave them a dangerous opportunity.
Milivojević stepped over the ball.
The wall formed.
Čech positioned himself.
The Palace midfielder struck it cleanly.
The ball curled over the wall and into the corner.
One-one.
Selhurst Park erupted.
Arsenal restarted.
The game became increasingly physical.
Palace pressed.
Arsenal tried to control.
Neither side managed to establish sustained dominance.
After the interval, Palace found another opening.
A quick transition pulled Arsenal's midfield apart.
The ball reached Milivojević outside the area.
He took a touch.
Then struck through traffic.
The shot deflected slightly before finding the corner.
Two-one Palace.
Francesco looked toward his teammates.
"Come on."
Arsenal pushed forward.
Wenger changed the shape slightly, instructing Alexis to remain higher and asking the midfield to move the ball more quickly.
The response came.
Kanté won possession.
He found Xhaka.
Xhaka switched to Robertson.
The left-back advanced and crossed.
Alexis attacked the near side.
He reached it first.
Header.
Two-two.
Alexis turned toward the travelling supporters, fists clenched.
Francesco reached him.
"That's it."
The final twenty minutes became a battle of territory.
Arsenal created chances.
Palace threatened on counters.
Čech saved one low effort.
The Palace goalkeeper denied Giroud after Wenger introduced him late.
Francesco came close again when his shot from the edge of the area flew just wide.
The clock continued.
Neither side found the winner.
When the referee finally ended the contest, the scoreboard read 2–2.
Francesco stood with his hands on his hips.
He was disappointed.
Not devastated.
Just frustrated.
Arsenal had fought their way back twice, but they had wanted all three points.
The players walked toward the supporters before heading inside.
The dressing room was quieter than after the Leicester victory.
No one needed to explain the feeling.
Wenger entered.
"We dropped points."
He allowed the words to sit for a moment.
"But we do not need to turn that into something bigger than it is."
The players listened.
"We made mistakes. We responded. We fought."
His gaze moved across the room.
"Now we learn."
Francesco nodded.
As captain, he spoke briefly.
"We cannot change it now."
He looked at his teammates.
"Take what we need from it and move forward."
There were nods around the room.
The next competition was already approaching.
The Carabao Cup.
Wenger decided to rotate heavily.
Francesco would not be required to carry another match.
The opportunity instead went to players who had spent more time waiting for their chances.
David Raya started in goal.
Nacho Monreal, Mustafi, Holding and Bellerín formed the defence.
Ramsey, Tielemans and Guendouzi were selected in midfield.
Iwobi operated in an advanced role.
Saka and Giroud led the attack.
Francesco watched from outside the main action, dressed for the evening but relieved to have a chance to recover.
Before kickoff, Wenger gathered the players.
"This is not a lesser match."
He looked around.
"You have an opportunity."
Ramsey nodded.
Iwobi looked focused.
Saka bounced lightly on his toes.
The Emirates had a different atmosphere for the cup tie.
There were fewer supporters than for a major Premier League fixture, but the noise remained strong.
Blackpool arrived determined to make the evening difficult.
Arsenal controlled possession from the beginning.
The rotated midfield moved the ball confidently.
Tielemans repeatedly found Ramsey.
Guendouzi covered ground.
Iwobi drifted between positions.
The first goal came after a patient sequence.
Bellerín advanced down the right and played inside to Tielemans.
Tielemans found Ramsey.
Ramsey turned and spotted Iwobi moving into the area.
The pass arrived.
Iwobi took one touch.
Then finished low across the goalkeeper.
One-nil.
The Arsenal bench applauded.
Francesco stood.
"Good goal!"
Iwobi looked toward him and smiled.
The match remained competitive.
Blackpool defended deeply and attempted to counter.
Raya dealt with their best effort before Arsenal regained control.
The second half became more open.
Wenger encouraged the players to keep circulating rather than forcing the final pass.
Eventually, Ramsey found the second.
Guendouzi won the ball in midfield and played toward Tielemans.
Tielemans carried forward before finding Saka.
Saka cut inside.
His shot was blocked.
The ball rebounded toward Ramsey.
He arrived late.
First time.
Goal.
Two-nil.
Ramsey turned toward the bench, smiling as his teammates chased him.
Francesco applauded from the side.
"That's more like it!"
Ramsey pointed toward him.
"Still watching?"
"Always."
The remainder of the match was managed intelligently.
Blackpool continued trying to create something, but Arsenal's defence held firm.
Raya collected crosses.
Holding won his challenges.
Mustafi remained composed.
Monreal and Bellerín controlled the wide areas.
The final whistle confirmed a 2–0 Arsenal victory.
The rotation players gathered near the centre circle.
They had done their job.
Wenger shook hands with each of them as they returned.
"Professional," he told them.
"Exactly what we needed."
Iwobi received congratulations from teammates.
Ramsey was pulled into a brief embrace by Saka.
Francesco eventually came over.
"Good work."
Iwobi smiled.
"Thanks."
Ramsey added, "You watched the whole thing?"
"Of course."
"Then you saw the goal."
"I did."
"Good."
Francesco laughed.
The squad eventually made its way back into the dressing room.
The victory mattered, but perhaps more importantly, Wenger had given the squad another reminder that Arsenal's depth had a purpose.
They could not rely on eleven players throughout a season that demanded Premier League consistency, Champions League travel, international football and domestic cups.
The international break had ended.
The Premier League had resumed.
Leicester had been beaten.
Palace had taken two points away.
Blackpool had been dispatched in the cup.
And now the Arsenal players were once again preparing for whatever waited beyond the next morning.
Francesco changed out of his training clothes and collected his bag.
As he walked through the corridor, he could hear teammates still talking about the goals.
He smiled.
There would be another training session.
Another tactical meeting.
Another match.
The schedule was becoming relentless, but that was the price of competing on every front.
Arsenal had no intention of stepping away from any of them.
Then the next several days passed quickly.
The 2–0 victory over Blackpool was already being filed away as Arsenal's attention shifted back toward Europe. At London Colney, the mood remained positive, but there was little time to dwell on the result. The Champions League demanded a different kind of preparation, particularly with Arsenal travelling to Ukraine for their third Group F fixture.
The squad returned to work in stages.
Those who had played heavily against Blackpool were given recovery-focused schedules, while the regular starters gradually returned to more substantial work. Francesco was among those whose workload was carefully monitored. The season had already accumulated international football, Premier League matches, Champions League fixtures and domestic cup commitments, and Wenger's staff were conscious that fatigue could appear long before a player actually complained about it.
The first session was therefore restrained.
Mobility exercises came before the football. Recovery runs followed, then short passing patterns that allowed the players to get their rhythm back without immediately demanding maximum intensity.
By the second day, the pace changed.
The training ground became louder.
Balls moved faster.
The coaching staff began introducing sharper positional exercises, with midfielders required to receive under pressure and forwards instructed to make their runs earlier. Pressing drills followed, then defensive transition work in which possession could change hands several times within a few seconds.
Francesco moved through the exercises alongside Alexis, Gnabry and Saka, occasionally dropping deeper before accelerating into the space behind the defensive line.
During one finishing exercise, Giroud watched from nearby as Francesco sent another effort into the corner.
"You're supposed to be tired," Giroud called.
Francesco turned.
"I am."
"You don't look tired."
"That is because I'm pretending."
Giroud laughed.
"Good. Keep pretending."
A few metres away, Özil was working with Xhaka and Kanté on a possession exercise. Kanté intercepted a pass, immediately returned it to Xhaka, and moved again before the ball had even reached its destination.
"Again," the coach called.
Özil smiled faintly.
"He never stops."
Xhaka glanced toward Kanté.
"We've accepted it."
Kanté simply shrugged and continued.
The atmosphere was familiar, but Wenger gradually increased the demands.
One afternoon, the players gathered around the tactical board as the coaching staff presented Shakhtar Donetsk.
Wenger stood with his arms folded.
"They are comfortable with the ball," he said. "Very comfortable."
Several clips played on the screen.
Shakhtar circulated possession through midfield, moved their attacking players into different channels and looked for moments when opponents became disconnected.
"If we allow them to attack freely," Wenger continued, "we will make the match unnecessarily difficult."
He pointed toward the central areas.
"Compactness matters. When we lose the ball, our reaction must be immediate."
The session that followed was built around those principles.
Arsenal practiced cutting passing lanes without becoming stretched. Kanté and Xhaka worked on controlling the space in front of the defence. Özil, Alexis and Gnabry were asked to recognize when to press and when to conserve energy.
At the other end, Van Dijk and Koscielny worked with Walker and Robertson on defending transitions.
"Do not chase the ball," Wenger reminded them. "Control where the ball can go."
Francesco listened closely.
The Champions League was different from the domestic schedule. Small lapses could become long periods of pressure, particularly away from home.
At the end of one session, Francesco walked beside Van Dijk toward the changing room.
"Long trip."
Van Dijk nodded.
"Worth it if we bring three points back."
Walker, walking behind them, heard the comment.
"And preferably without making the flight home miserable."
Francesco glanced back.
"You're the one who complains about every flight."
"I complain about bad seats."
"You have a good seat."
"Exactly. That's why I complain when someone takes it."
The laughter that followed carried into the changing room.
It was the kind of ordinary conversation that made the approaching European fixture feel manageable.
The football itself was serious.
The people inside it were still the same teammates.
By the end of the week, Wenger was satisfied with the preparation.
The squad travelled to the airport with the usual mixture of concentration and relaxed conversation.
Equipment staff had already been working for hours.
Large cases containing training equipment, medical supplies, match balls and tactical materials were loaded separately, while the players' luggage moved through the terminal with the assistance of club personnel.
Francesco carried his own small bag as he walked with Alexis.
Alexis looked toward the equipment cases.
"They brought everything."
Francesco smiled.
"They always do."
"They could bring the whole training ground."
"Don't give them ideas."
The journey through the airport was efficient. There were security checks, passport control and the familiar waiting period before boarding.
Once inside the aircraft, the atmosphere changed.
The immediate pressure disappeared.
Some players settled into their seats and closed their eyes almost immediately. Others put on headphones and selected films. A few remained awake, talking quietly across the rows.
Özil spent part of the flight reviewing tactical notes.
Xhaka had a tablet open with match footage.
Kanté slept.
Saka watched a film until Gnabry leaned across the aisle and asked what he was watching.
"Something you wouldn't understand."
Gnabry stared at him.
"That's rude."
Saka smiled.
"Then don't ask."
Francesco spent some time looking through the tactical material before putting it away.
He leaned back and looked through the window.
The journey ahead was another European night, another stadium, another opponent standing between Arsenal and three more points.
He closed his eyes for a while.
By the time the aircraft descended toward Donetsk, evening had begun settling over the city.
The weather felt noticeably different from London. The air outside looked cooler, the sky carrying a sharper autumn character as the aircraft approached the airport.
The doors opened after the aircraft came to a complete stop.
Players gathered their belongings while staff began coordinating the disembarkation.
Equipment personnel checked the larger cases before they were transferred toward the waiting vehicles. Security staff guided the delegation through the airport, keeping the group together as they moved toward the exit.
Outside, the Arsenal team bus was waiting.
Players climbed aboard carrying their smaller bags.
Francesco took a seat near the middle.
Walker dropped into the seat across the aisle.
"Hotel first."
"Then food," Francesco replied.
"Now you're thinking properly."
The bus pulled away from the airport.
Through the windows, Francesco watched the unfamiliar surroundings pass by. The journey felt quieter than the noise surrounding a major Premier League fixture, but there was a different anticipation attached to it.
This was European football.
Arsenal were away from home.
And the next two days would be devoted entirely to Shakhtar.
At the hotel, the players checked into their rooms and were given time to settle.
Dinner followed.
The medical staff monitored the players as usual, particularly those who had accumulated significant minutes.
Afterward, most of the squad kept the evening quiet.
There was little reason to do anything else.
The following morning, Arsenal travelled to the FK Olimpik training ground.
The surroundings were unfamiliar, but the pitch had been carefully prepared for them. Arsenal's coaching staff arrived ahead of the players, arranging cones, mannequins, balls and tactical equipment.
Once the squad stepped onto the grass, the work began.
The opening portion focused on possession.
Arsenal were required to keep the ball under pressure while maintaining their distances. Wenger repeatedly stopped the exercise when players became too narrow.
"Use the entire pitch."
The ball moved again.
Then came pressing triggers.
One misplaced pass.
One poor body position.
One receiver facing his own goal.
Those moments became signals.
Arsenal's nearest players pressed while the rest compressed the space behind them.
Defensive transition followed.
Then finishing.
Then set pieces.
Wenger wanted the players comfortable with both attacking and defending the details that could decide an away Champions League match.
At one point, Giroud and Francesco stood together while waiting for the next attacking pattern.
Giroud looked across the pitch.
"Cold enough for you?"
Francesco smiled.
"I've played in worse."
"Good answer."
"I thought you'd say that."
The final session before the match was shorter.
The emphasis was sharpness rather than exhaustion.
The players rehearsed their attacking movements one final time, then worked through set-piece responsibilities.
Wenger gathered them afterward.
"Tomorrow, concentration from the first minute."
His voice remained calm.
"They will have periods where they keep the ball. That is normal. We must remain compact and patient."
He looked around the group.
"When we have the opportunity, we must attack with purpose."
Nobody needed further explanation.
The next day was matchday.
The Arsenal delegation left the hotel under security escort and travelled toward the Metalist Oblast Sport Complex, also known as Metalist Stadium.
The stadium grew larger as the bus approached.
Supporters were already beginning to gather around the surrounding areas, while security personnel managed entrances and vehicle access.
Inside, the Arsenal players entered their dressing room.
Their match kits had been arranged in individual places.
Red shirts.
White shorts.
Socks.
Boots positioned beneath benches.
Water bottles stood ready.
The medical staff completed their final checks while the coaches prepared the tactical boards.
Francesco sat quietly as his boots were checked.
Around him, the regular starting players were settling into their routines.
Özil adjusted his shirt.
Alexis stretched beside his locker.
Xhaka and Kanté exchanged a few words.
Van Dijk and Koscielny discussed defensive positioning.
Walker was already ready.
Wenger entered for the final briefing.
The lineup was the familiar one.
Čech in goal.
Robertson, Van Dijk, Koscielny and Walker across the defence.
Kanté and Xhaka in midfield.
Özil ahead of them.
Alexis and Gnabry supporting Francesco.
The captain looked around the room.
This was the side Wenger trusted for the biggest matches.
There would be no easing into the evening.
The warm-up took place beneath a growing atmosphere.
The pitch looked immaculate under the stadium lights.
Arsenal's players worked through passing patterns, acceleration exercises and finishing drills.
Francesco tested a few shots.
Alexis exchanged quick passes with Özil.
Gnabry worked on his first touch.
Čech organized the defensive group behind them.
Eventually, the teams disappeared back toward the tunnel.
The Champions League ceremony followed.
The anthem echoed around Metalist Stadium.
Players lined up.
Handshakes were completed.
The final checks were made.
Then the referee signalled.
Kickoff.
Shakhtar immediately showed why Wenger had spent the week warning them about their possession.
They moved the ball quickly.
Their midfielders changed positions intelligently, while their attacking players looked for spaces between Arsenal's lines.
For several minutes, Arsenal were forced to defend without the ball.
Kanté remained disciplined.
Xhaka stayed close enough to provide support.
Özil tracked passing lanes rather than chasing.
Van Dijk and Koscielny communicated constantly behind them.
Francesco occasionally dropped deeper to help Arsenal connect their first attacks.
The match settled into a tense rhythm.
Neither side wanted to give the other an easy opening.
Arsenal gradually began winning more second balls.
Robertson advanced.
Walker pushed higher on the opposite side.
Alexis started drifting into central areas.
The breakthrough finally came after Arsenal recovered possession in midfield.
Kanté intercepted a pass and immediately found Özil.
Özil turned before Shakhtar could close him down.
Francesco had already begun moving between the centre-backs.
Özil played forward.
Francesco received just outside the area with a defender tight behind him.
He held the ball for a moment, then laid it back toward Xhaka.
The midfielder returned it first time.
Francesco spun away from his marker.
He entered the box.
The goalkeeper stepped forward.
Francesco opened his body and placed the shot into the far corner.
One-nil.
The Arsenal supporters behind the goal erupted.
Francesco turned toward them, briefly raising both arms before Alexis reached him.
"That is how you do it."
Francesco smiled.
"Good work from the midfield."
Arsenal had the lead, but Shakhtar did not retreat.
They continued to move the ball and created several dangerous moments before halftime.
Čech made one important save low to his right.
Van Dijk cleared another threatening cross.
Koscielny stepped in front of a forward at the crucial moment.
The interval arrived with Arsenal still ahead.
Wenger was measured in the dressing room.
"We are in front, but they are still comfortable when we give them time."
He looked at Kanté and Xhaka.
"Keep the midfield compact."
Then toward the forwards.
"When we recover the ball, move it quickly."
The second half began differently.
Arsenal pressed higher.
The midfield moved closer to Shakhtar's first line of build-up.
The change forced the hosts into longer passes, which allowed Van Dijk and Koscielny to compete for aerial balls instead of defending repeated combinations.
The pressure eventually produced another opening.
Walker won possession near the right touchline and played inside to Özil.
Özil immediately found Alexis.
Alexis drove forward.
Gnabry made a run toward the far side, dragging a defender with him.
That created a narrow channel.
Alexis used it.
He shifted onto his right foot and struck from the edge of the box.
The shot flew beyond the goalkeeper.
Two-nil.
Alexis turned and spread his arms as his teammates approached.
Gnabry reached him first.
Francesco followed.
"That's better."
Alexis laughed.
"Much better."
Shakhtar attempted to respond.
Wenger noticed the increasing spaces behind their midfield and began considering his substitutions.
Francesco had worked relentlessly throughout the match.
With the lead established and another domestic fixture approaching, Wenger decided the captain's evening had reached its useful limit.
He called Giroud.
Then he turned toward Francesco.
"Good work. Olivier is coming on."
Francesco nodded.
As he approached the sideline, Giroud met him.
"Rest."
"Finish the job."
Giroud smiled.
"I'll try."
The substitution was made.
Francesco removed the captain's armband and handed it across before leaving the pitch.
The applause from the Arsenal supporters followed him toward the bench.
He sat down, took a drink and watched closely.
Giroud immediately provided Arsenal with a different presence.
Shakhtar's defenders now had to deal with a forward who could hold the ball with his back to goal and compete for crosses.
Arsenal continued controlling possession.
Kanté intercepted another loose pass.
Xhaka moved the ball wide.
Robertson advanced.
The left-back delivered a measured cross toward the penalty area.
Giroud had already positioned himself between two defenders.
He rose.
His header was firm and downward.
The goalkeeper got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
Three-nil.
Giroud turned toward the Arsenal bench, punching the air once.
Francesco stood immediately.
"Yes!"
The substitutes applauded as Giroud's teammates surrounded him.
Giroud pointed toward the bench.
"Still got it!"
Francesco laughed.
"You said that earlier."
"And I proved it."
The final stages were controlled intelligently.
Wenger instructed the midfield to slow the tempo whenever necessary.
Arsenal no longer needed to chase another goal.
They needed to protect what they had.
Kanté covered enormous amounts of ground without losing his positional discipline.
Xhaka helped Arsenal switch play and maintain possession.
The defenders remained concentrated.
Walker tracked runners.
Robertson stayed disciplined.
Van Dijk and Koscielny dealt with crosses and long balls.
Čech collected the final dangerous delivery comfortably.
The referee eventually raised his whistle.
Three-nil.
Arsenal had won in Donetsk.
The players gathered briefly on the pitch before turning toward the travelling supporters.
Francesco, now wearing a training top, walked out from the bench and applauded with the rest of the squad.
Alexis was still smiling.
Giroud received congratulations from several teammates.
Wenger remained composed.
He shook hands with his coaching staff before joining the players.
In the dressing room, the mood was pleased but controlled.
Wenger waited until everyone had settled.
"Very good."
He paused.
"We showed patience when the match was difficult."
His eyes moved around the room.
"And in the second half, we improved our control."
He nodded toward the defence.
"Clean sheet."
Then the midfield.
"Good discipline."
Finally, toward the forwards.
"Three goals."
A few smiles appeared.
"But remember," Wenger added, "the group is not finished."
The message was understood.
Three points were valuable.
The work was not complete.
After the post-match interviews and required media duties, the players returned to the changing room.
Medical staff carried out their checks.
Equipment personnel gathered boots, kits and training materials.
The larger cases were sealed and moved toward the transport vehicles.
By the time Arsenal left Metalist Stadium, the stadium had begun to empty.
The bus carried the delegation back toward the airport.
The players were quieter now.
The intensity of the match had drained away.
Some rested their heads against the windows.
Others talked softly about the goals.
Giroud sat nearby with a satisfied expression.
Alexis was still in a good mood.
Francesco leaned back in his seat.
Three goals.
Three points.
Another clean sheet.
The group was moving in the right direction.
At the airport, the process began again.
Security.
Luggage.
Equipment.
Boarding.
Once everyone was aboard the aircraft, the mood finally loosened.
The flight home was calmer than the journey out.
Several players slept almost immediately.
Others watched films.
Giroud stretched his legs and spoke quietly with Ramsey.
Francesco remained awake for a while, looking through the darkness outside the aircraft window.
He thought about the season.
International football.
The Premier League.
The Carabao Cup.
Now another Champions League victory.
There was still a long way to go.
But Arsenal had collected another three points without conceding.
That mattered.
Eventually, Francesco closed his eyes.
The aircraft returned to London during the night.
By morning, the intensity of Donetsk already felt distant.
Francesco had been given the day off.
No training.
No tactical meeting.
No recovery session at London Colney.
Just home.
When he finally came downstairs at the Richmond mansion, Leah was already in the living room.
Cheddar was stretched across part of the sofa.
Francesco stopped.
"You've taken my seat."
The corgi looked at him.
Leah glanced over.
"He was here first."
"That's not fair."
"You're the professional footballer. Find another seat."
Francesco laughed.
He sat beside her anyway.
Cheddar immediately shifted closer and rested against his leg.
Francesco looked down.
"You've been replaced."
Leah smiled.
"Completely."
The television played quietly in the background.
There was no tactical board.
No stadium noise.
No travelling supporters.
No opponent waiting to press Arsenal's first pass.
Francesco leaned back.
Leah rested her head against his shoulder.
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired."
"Good tired?"
He thought about it.
"Yeah. Good tired."
Cheddar lifted his head.
Francesco scratched behind his ears.
"You watched the match?"
"Of course."
"Did you like my goal?"
Leah looked at him.
"I liked the one you scored."
"Only one?"
"You scored one."
Francesco laughed.
"Fair."
"And Giroud's?"
"Very good."
"Alexis's?"
"Also very good."
Leah smiled.
"You sound like Wenger."
Francesco shook his head.
"That's dangerous."
Cheddar suddenly climbed farther onto the sofa, forcing himself between them.
Leah looked down.
"Apparently he wants the middle."
Francesco sighed.
"Of course he does."
The three of them settled there anyway.
For once, Francesco did not think about the next opponent.
He did not think about training schedules or flights or Champions League groups.
He simply watched television, listened to Leah's quiet conversation and occasionally felt Cheddar's weight against his leg.
Outside, London continued with its ordinary morning.
Inside, there was nowhere else Francesco needed to be.
After the relentless sequence of fixtures, travel and international duty, the simplest part of the season had become the most welcome.
A sofa.
A quiet television.
Leah beside him.
Cheddar refusing to move.
Francesco smiled and finally let himself rest as for one day, football could wait.
__________________________________________________
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, 2018 World Cup, and 2018/2019 Community Shield.
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 14
Goal: 17
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 2
Goal: 2
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