Since Di Maria and the others had only just arrived at the training ground, they were put through what the coaches called a "simple" warm-up.
By the end of it, all three were soaked in sweat.
Their faces looked grim. This didn't feel like a warm-up at all—it felt like the opening phase of a high-intensity session.
Around them, the Arsenal players wore expressions that suggested quiet amusement.
They were already used to this.
In fact, when they had first gone through the same routine, they had worn the same tortured expressions. Watching the newcomers relive that experience now gave them a faint, guilty sense of satisfaction. It was the finest schadenfreude.
Not long after the warm-up, Arsène Wenger and the coaching staff arrived and immediately called for an internal training match.
Di Maria and the others hadn't even had time to sit down or take a proper drink before being waved onto the pitch.
At that moment, they began to truly understand what Arsenal's training culture was like.
Di Maria and the other two were placed on the substitute side.
The main team, meanwhile, also featured two new faces: goalkeeper Navas and midfielder N'Golo Kanté.
Kanté partnering Kai in midfield was a special decision personally approved by Wenger. A few players had their reservations, but no one dared voice them openly.
Since joining Arsenal, Kanté had worked hard, but he hadn't really been given the chance to show what he could do.
This match, then, was as much a test for him as it was for the newcomers.
"Don't be nervous," Kai said, walking over and giving Kanté a light pat on the back.
Kanté nodded quickly. "I… I watch you. I cover. You go."
Kai paused for a second, then smiled.
If it were anyone else, Kai might have hesitated. But with Kanté, there was a natural sense of trust due to knowing his exploits in his past life.
Still, Kai knew this match would tell him a lot about what kind of partner Kanté could really be.
Both teams took their positions, and with Pat Rice's whistle, the training match began.
Straight from kick-off, Suarez played the ball to Cazorla.
Cazorla returned it to Kai, who immediately switched play across to Kanté.
Kanté brought the ball under control and played a simple pass back to Koscielny.
Kai dropped deeper to receive again, then returned the ball to Kanté.
By then, Di Maria had already surged forward to press.
Kanté looked momentarily rushed, but he steadied himself and slipped the ball back to Kai.
Kai gave a small nod and one-touched it to Cazorla.
At the same time, he stepped forward.
As Kai advanced, Kanté subtly shifted inward, adjusting his position toward the center to balance the midfield.
From the sideline, Wenger watched the two closely, his gaze thoughtful.
This was the real test for Kanté.
Since joining Arsenal, Kai had usually held a deeper role. But today, his positioning was clearly higher—sometimes even level with Cazorla.
It eased the pressure on Cazorla and added another layer to Arsenal's attacking play.
Naturally, it also meant Kai would face more pressure from the defence.
But he didn't mind that at all.
No one enjoys being reactive forever.
For the past three seasons, squad limitations had forced Kai into a more defensive role. Now, he finally had the chance to push forward and dictate play.
With Kai and Cazorla controlling the midfield, the main team gradually took command of the match.
The substitute side, by contrast, looked disjointed.
A lack of cohesion—combined with Sanchez and Di Maria, two players who hadn't yet adapted to the system—left Wilshere visibly frustrated.
One kept charging forward relentlessly. The other kept dropping deep to demand the ball.
There was no rhythm, no clean passing sequences.
Ironically, the oldest man on the pitch, Rio Ferdinand, looked the most reliable.
He played calmly, didn't try to stand out, and brought a steady presence to the back line.
On the sidelines, the coaches took note.
"Rio Ferdinand's doing better than I expected," said First Team coach Neil Banfield.
Wenger nodded. "Very steady. Very professional."
The rest of the staff continued gathering data on the new signings, and so far, Rio Ferdinand stood out the most.
At the back, he organized the defense with composure, choosing his moments to step up or drop off, making it difficult even for Walcott and Rosicky to find space.
Compared to him, Di Maria and Sanchez looked like they were playing on instinct alone—constantly pushing forward without structure.
Rio noticed it, but he didn't interfere.
In a new team, there were only two ways to prove yourself.
First: integrate.
Second: dominate.
At his age, Rio knew he wasn't going to dominate games anymore. So he chose the safer path—fit in, be reliable, make fewer mistakes.
The returns might be modest, but the risks were minimal.
Sanchez and Di Maria, fueled by youth and confidence, chose the second path.
For now, though, Rio's approach was clearly paying off.
Of course, there was always the chance that Sanchez or Di Maria might suddenly produce something special.
But with Di Maria under Kai's watch, and Sanchez shadowed closely by Kanté…
That possibility looked increasingly slim.
...
Sanchez was visibly frustrated.
Every time he tried to break through, Kanté seemed to appear out of nowhere—slipping into his blind side and poking the ball away.
Sometimes it wasn't even a tackle. Just a perfectly timed interception that left Sanchez feeling completely unsettled.
If it had been Kai, he could have accepted it.
Kai's reputation spoke for itself.
But this guy?
Who are you supposed to be?
Thud.
Sanchez suddenly felt his balance go. The sensation was painfully familiar—he had felt it several times already in this match.
If nothing unexpected happened, the ball would be gone.
And sure enough, the very next second, N'Golo Kanté cleanly stole it from his feet.
Sanchez turned to chase, anger flashing across his face, but Kanté had already released the ball, playing it straight into Kai's path in the center.
No hesitation. No attempt to take credit.
Just one touch, and the tempo was set.
Kai received the ball and lifted his head.
Walcott read it instantly and burst forward.
With the outside of his foot, Kai bent a pass into space.
Walcott beat the full-back for pace, leapt, brought the ball down in stride, and cut inside.
At the same time, Suarez was already charging into the penalty area.
Walcott curled another ball across the box.
It floated over the center-back, and Suarez arrived on cue, tapping it into the net.
Clean. Direct. Ruthless.
From interception to goal, it took less than seven seconds.
The main team had scored.
Suarez celebrated with a wide grin, and Kai and the others exchanged satisfied looks.
The goal wasn't just about the finish—it confirmed that their rhythm and sharpness were still there.
And more than anything, it highlighted Kanté.
Kai turned and looked at him.
Kanté's tackling and anticipation were outstanding. He covered space effortlessly, filling the gap left when Kai pushed forward.
As long as Kanté kept playing like this, Kai could advance without hesitation.
And for opponents, defending against that midfield would be nothing short of miserable.
"He is that good?" someone on the coaching staff asked quietly, eyes fixed on the pitch.
If not for the difference in build and skin tone, they might have thought they were watching another version of Kai.
It wasn't a literal comparison—but defensively, Kanté was eye-catching.
Kai and Kanté defended in very different ways.
If Kai was a charging bulldozer, smashing straight through you, then Kanté was an assassin.
Silent. Precise.
You relax for half a second, and he strikes.
By the time you realize what happened, the ball is already gone.
On the touchline, Arsène Wenger smiled.
He was clearly pleased—not just with Kanté's performance, but with his attitude. His focus. His seriousness in training.
If Kanté developed properly, Arsenal would have two defensive pillars in midfield.
Two iron barriers that shut the door completely.
Of course, there was still a gap between Kanté and Kai.
Kanté, for now, was purely defensive, while Kai was evolving into a complete, all-around core.
But that was enough.
Wenger had brought Kanté in for a clear reason—to secure the space behind Kai when he moved forward.
If Arsenal's engine had felt restricted last season, then everything Wenger was doing now was about removing those limits.
And at the center of it all was Kai.
Only by fully unlocking Kai's attacking potential could Arsenal take another real step forward.
And encouragingly, the signs were already there.
. . .
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