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The night before the third round of the Champions League group stage, all eyes in London were firmly fixed on Dortmund.
The German side, nicknamed Die Schwarzgelben—or the Black and Yellows—have risen rapidly under Klopp's stewardship. Just months ago, they came agonizingly close to lifting Europe's biggest prize, only to be undone by Bayern Munich in an all-German final at Wembley.
Even in defeat, Dortmund's fearless pressing football left a mark across Europe. Their identity is clear, their football electrifying, and though Bayern stripped them of some talent in the summer, the core remains frighteningly strong. With Lewandowski, Reus, and Hummels still in their ranks, no one dares underestimate the Borrusians.
…
Meanwhile, at Arsenal's training base in Colney, Arsène Wenger was holding his final tactical session.
The Frenchman spoke quietly but firmly as his players gathered around. Kai and his teammates listened attentively. Everyone knew what awaited them tomorrow.
Klopp's approach is built around one principle: relentless pressing. Lose the ball, and within seconds Dortmund swarm to win it back. They chase, they harass, they smother from the front. For a side like Arsenal, who thrive on possession and rhythm, it's a dangerous prospect.
The message was simple: control the ball, or risk being suffocated. Should Arsenal lose composure in midfield, Dortmund would punish them instantly with a devastating counter.
Cazorla, Kai, and Arteta were expected to shoulder much of the burden. Wenger laid out a plan centred on Arteta's distribution, a system familiar to Arsenal's players. Yet, Kai couldn't shake his concern. Arteta, for all his elegance on the ball, had struggled when pressed aggressively before. Last season against Liverpool, he was harried into mistakes, unable to escape the pressure.
Kai had voiced such concerns privately before. Arteta wasn't the type to thrive in a high-pressing war. But Wenger, experienced as ever, surely had considered alternatives or adjustments. If Kai could see it, then so could the manager.
The meeting wrapped up, and Wenger dismissed his squad to rest ahead of the big night.
Kai returned to Barnett's villa, where he was still staying while his own arrangements were pending. Barnett had flown to the United States on business, leaving Kai in temporary residence. After a quick dinner, Kai sat at his desk, reviewing Dortmund's recent matches on his laptop. He studied their movements, their triggers for pressing, their weaknesses in transition. Only when the clock neared 9pm did he finally allow himself to sleep.
…
The next day, North London buzzed with anticipation.
The Emirates was the epicentre of excitement. Hours before kick-off, fans clad in red and white crowded around the stadium, voices rising in songs and chants. Scarves waved, flags fluttered, and the air was filled with the scent of street food and the chatter of predictions.
"Tonight, we've got to take three points," one supporter told Sky Sports cameras, his voice firm with belief. "Dortmund are good, but so are we. This Arsenal side can beat anyone on their day."
Confidence was high. The Gunners were enjoying a strong start to the season, and while Dortmund's reputation preceded them, supporters felt their team were ready to meet fire with fire.
It wasn't just the fans. Media from across Europe descended upon North London, recognising this as the group of death's defining fixture. Arsenal versus Dortmund wasn't merely a clash of players—it was a duel of philosophies. Wenger's passing game against Klopp's rock-and-roll football. Experience against energy. Tradition against momentum.
As Martin Taylor and Alan Smith prepared for broadcast duty, the conversation was animated.
"This is as big as it gets in the group stages," Taylor remarked. "Two footballing cultures colliding, and whichever side comes out on top tonight will make a huge statement."
Alan Smith nodded. "And don't forget, there's a real coaching subplot here as well—Wenger, the old master, against Klopp, the new wave. It's a fascinating dynamic. Arsenal have the technical ability, Dortmund have the pressing power. Whoever imposes their style early could tilt the match."
As the October sun began to dip, the sky over North London turned fiery red, clouds painted like flames. The Emirates Stadium glowed in the twilight, a coliseum ready for battle.
At precisely 6pm, a bus rolled quietly up to the west entrance of the ground. One by one, under the watchful eye of Jürgen Klopp, Dortmund's players stepped off. Tall, focused, clad in black and yellow tracksuits, they carried themselves with the air of a side unfazed by the hostile atmosphere awaiting them inside.
They didn't stop for the fans, not even a word for the cameras. The Dortmund players went straight through the tunnel and into the stadium, heads down, business only.
Barely two minutes later, noise erupted from the opposite end. From the east entrance came a different sound altogether—cheers, chants, songs. Arsenal had arrived.
The team bus rolled up to the gates, and immediately the atmosphere changed. Fans lined either side of the entrance, leaning over barriers, waving scarves, fists pumping into the cold evening air. Every Gunner stepping off the bus was greeted with roars.
"Go on, lads!" shouted one supporter, voice cracking with excitement.
"Cazorla! Keep weaving your magic!" another yelled.
"Arteta—hold it steady, boss the midfield!" came a call from further down.
One by one, the players filed past, each name accompanied by cheers, applause, and hopeful cries. And then, right at the end, came Kai and Vermaelen, side by side.
The noise went up another level—earth-shattering, deafening.
"Kai! Kai! Kai!" echoed across the forecourt.
"Vermaelen!" thundered from the other side.
Kai gave a wave, smiling slightly at the passion pouring down from the stands, before falling into step with Vermaelen, the captain, as they entered the ground together.
"The last time I heard a cheer like that," Vermaelen muttered with a trace of bitterness, "was when Van Persie was here."
He, the official captain, could feel the shadow of Kai, Arsenal's vice-captain, looming in the background. The affection of the fans seemed to lean toward the younger man.
Kai chuckled, brushing it off. "If I don't perform, they'll boo me just as loudly. Cheers don't last forever."
Vermaelen shrugged, half amused, half unconvinced, and together they made their way to the dressing room, where the squad was already unpacking boots and shirts, preparing to head out for warmups.
…
Inside the stadium bowl, both teams soon appeared on the pitch, jogging, stretching, knocking balls around in the crisp North London air.
Up in the gantry, Martin Taylor and Alan Smith settled into their rhythm as the Sky Sports broadcast built toward kickoff.
"Arsenal really must tread carefully tonight," Taylor said, his tone measured but firm. "Klopp's Dortmund are a different kind of opponent. Even after losing key players in the summer, their system makes them dangerous. They press relentlessly, they counter at speed, and they've already shown in Europe that they can unsettle any side."
The camera cut to the two managers—Wenger, tidy in his suit, hands folded behind his back, his expression composed; Klopp, all raw energy, unshaven, glasses perched on his nose as he barked instructions with his usual vigour.
Alan Smith took over: "Two very different characters, but both exceptional managers. Wenger's possession-based, technical Arsenal against Klopp's high-tempo, heavy-metal football. This is not just a game of players, but of philosophies. We'll see whose approach holds tonight."
As the build-up continued, the broadcast began highlighting the players to watch. Lewandowski, Reus, and Hummels for Dortmund; Cazorla, Arteta, and Fernando for Arsenal. The spotlight eventually found its way to Kai.
Close-up shots showed his short, neat hair, that sharp jawline, and a serious expression. Standing tall, shoulders squared, he carried himself with quiet authority. He looked leaner than last season, a touch less weight but sharper, stronger—muscle honed for battle.
"And of course," Martin Taylor added, "we'll be keeping a close eye on Kai. He's been superb in big fixtures—Manchester United, Bayern Munich—always stepping up when Arsenal needs him most. You get the sense he relishes nights like this."
The shot dropped down to his boots. Old, worn, the leather scuffed and patched. They weren't the flashy custom-made pair his sponsor had sent over.
Alan Smith chuckled. "Would you look at that—still the same boots! Anta gave him a brand-new pair, specially designed, but he insists on sticking with the old ones. Comfort over style."
It wasn't just the cameras or the fans focusing on him. Even Jürgen Klopp's eyes lingered.
For Klopp, Kai was the type of midfielder every coach dreamed of—a stabiliser, a shield, someone who could break the rhythm of opponents and dictate tempo at the same time. Mourinho had admired him; Klopp, too, couldn't help but covet a player like him.
In fact, during the summer window, Dortmund had even put in a tentative offer. Arsenal rejected it outright, but the interest was genuine. Klopp had wanted him badly.
When preparing tactics for this very game, Klopp had mapped scenarios where Kai wasn't an opponent, but one of his own—imagining how Dortmund's press might look with Kai at its base. The results had been mouth-watering. In simulations, pairing Kai with Reus created a balance of steel and creativity that made even Klopp grin at the possibilities.
But football isn't just about desire—it's about reality. And the reality was clear: Wenger would never let go of such a player. Not anymore. This was not the old Arsenal, vulnerable to big-money raids. The club's foundation was firmer now, their resolve stronger, and that all was backed by Russian money.
Klopp sighed, tearing his gaze away, his attention back on the warmups. Wanting a player was one thing; prying him away from Arsenal was another entirely.