Sanchez's remarks hit a nerve with Tottenham supporters.
The Premier League trophy is always a sore spot for Spurs fans.
His Twitter feed was flooded within minutes. Abuse, threats, insults, none of it subtle. Instead of stepping back, he leaned in. He fired off reply after reply, drawing half of Arsenal's online following into the exchange.
It did not take long for Erik Lamela to join the fray. What began as sarcasm turned into open hostility. Soon it was Sanchez and a wave of Arsenal supporters on one side, Lamela and Tottenham fans on the other.
The argument spilled beyond screens and into pubs across North London. Several clashes broke out, forcing the Football Association to step in. Both clubs were fined. Sanchez and Lamela were sanctioned for inflaming tensions.
Sanchez, however, carried himself like a man who had just won a trophy. In the dressing room, he replayed the entire episode in detail, describing how he had led Arsenal supporters to what he called a decisive victory.
Le Kai listened and wondered if Sanchez had slept at all. Yet he never missed training. His energy seemed endless.
Eventually, both clubs intervened and ordered their players to stand down. Officially, the matter was settled. Unofficially, nothing had cooled.
"At one point we argued for five hours straight," Sanchez said, shaking his head with exaggerated regret. "They were backing off. Lamela was finished. Then the FA stepped in."
He let out a theatrical sigh.
Kai watched him in silence, a mix of disbelief and concern on his face.
"You look nervous," Sánchez said, catching the looks around the room.
Santi Cazorla rubbed his forehead, then gave Sánchez a light pat on the shoulder. "Our next match is away. White Hart Lane. You've just wound up their entire fan base. When we walk out there, it won't be quiet."
Sánchez hesitated. The weight of it seemed to register for a moment. Then he squared his shoulders.
"So what? If something happens, we handle it."
He glanced at Kai. "Captain, you're not going to leave me on my own if they come for me, right?"
Kai exhaled and shook his head. "Just concentrate on football."
The feud refused to fade. Lamela promised a heavy beatdown at White Hart Lane.
Sánchez responded within minutes.
"Great. Let the pitch decide it."
That reply reignited everything. Supporters flooded back in. The FA issued a final warning. One more incident, and suspensions would follow.
As the North London Derby approached, the tension only intensified.
On match day, the streets around White Hart Lane were sealed off. Lines of police separated supporters to prevent direct contact. Even so, minor clashes broke out at several junctions.
White Hart Lane stood barely four kilometers from Emirates Stadium. By bus, the journey took less than half an hour. The old ground, still awaiting renovation, showed its age in its structure and facilities. For Tottenham supporters, it remained sacred. For Arsenal fans, the sea of white felt hostile.
Arsenal's traveling supporters answered with red and white. Thousands followed the team across North London, determined to win the psychological battle as much as the match itself.
Officially, only two thousand away tickets were allocated. Unofficially, tens of thousands gathered outside the stadium, filling nearby streets and pubs, waiting to hear the roar that would signal a goal.
. . .
Inside the Tottenham dressing room, Mauricio Pochettino addressed his players.
His voice was sharp and audible, every sentence aimed at stirring something deeper. He spoke about pride, about territory, about what it meant to defend their home. Even some of the substitutes sat upright, visibly fired up, desperate for a chance to step onto the pitch and prove themselves.
Still, for many of them, the real battle was internal. Earning a starting place mattered just as much as beating Arsenal.
In the corner, Harry Kane sat quietly. At that stage, Emmanuel Adebayor remained Tottenham's first-choice striker. Kane listened, absorbing every word, knowing patience would be part of his path.
When Pochettino finished, the room carried a different energy. The players rose one by one and made their way toward the tunnel.
Near the entrance, they met Arsenal, led by Kai.
The Tottenham players walked with their chests lifted, eyes fixed ahead, their intent obvious. This was not just another fixture to them.
Kai barely glanced at them. Instead, his eyes shifted beyond the line of white shirts toward Pochettino.
The young Argentinian coach had already begun shaping his reputation. After gaining experience in Spain and at Southampton, he was starting to show his quality in North London.
Critics often pointed to his failure to win the Champions League with Tottenham, yet context mattered. With minimal investment across consecutive seasons, guiding Spurs to a Premier League second-place finish and a Champions League final was an achievement that demanded respect.
He had an eye for talent as well. Dele Alli flourished under him. Harry Kane developed into a leading striker. Son Heung-min became a decisive figure. Pochettino did more than build a team; he built a strong attacking foundation.
Even so, this Tottenham side was still evolving.
Kai believed they could be beaten.
Both teams lined up in the tunnel. The air felt heavy. No greetings were exchanged.
Except between two players.
Sánchez and Lamela locked eyes, neither willing to look away. The online hostility had clearly followed them onto the pitch. It was obvious their duel would not be quiet.
No one intervened. This was a derby.
Compared to an ordinary Premier League fixture, this contest carried a sharper edge. Physical battles were inevitable. Any hesitation would be punished.
Arsenal's midfield pairing remained Kai alongside N'Golo Kanté. It had become the base structure of the side this season.
Kanté had convinced Arsène Wenger through performance alone. His consistency earned him more minutes, then a regular role. It seemed only a matter of time before he was firmly established as Kai's long-term partner in defensive midfield.
Soon, the referee Herb Dean led both teams out into White Hart Lane.
The reaction was immediate. A wall of boos crashed down on the Arsenal players the moment they stepped into view.
They expected nothing less.
No one anticipated applause inside their rival's ground.
The hostility, however, was particularly focused on Sánchez. Tottenham supporters shouted abuse directly at him, far more personal now that he stood a few meters away instead of behind a screen.
For the first time all week, Sánchez looked unsettled. Online bravado felt different when replaced by forty thousand voices.
Kai did not step in. Sánchez had chosen his approach. He would have to manage it.
At the center circle, the captains met for the coin toss.
Kai stood opposite Hugo Lloris. There was no small talk. Even the exchange of pennants felt formal and restrained.
"Heads."
"Tails."
The coin spun, then dropped.
"Heads," the referee confirmed.
Kai did not hesitate. "We'll take possession."
Arsenal preferred to start with the ball. Control in midfield set the tone, especially in a match like this.
Lloris nodded and selected the left side.
Both teams moved into their halves. The noise intensified, rising with anticipation.
On Sky Sports, Martin Taylor's voice cut through the tension. "There's an edge to the atmosphere tonight. You can sense it in every corner of the ground."
Alan Smith responded calmly. "It's a derby in its purest form. Strong characters, strong emotions. The key will be who channels it better."
Back in Arsenal's half, Kanté clapped his hands lightly.
"We stay focus," he said, looking around at his teammates. "They push, they shout, they try make a problem. We play our game. We run more than them. We think faster. If they hit, we get up quick."
Kai gave a short nod.
Across the pitch, Pochettino stood near the technical area, arms folded, eyes sharp.
The referee checked his watch.
The North London Derby was ready to begin.
. . .
Please do leave a review and powerstones, which helps with the book's exposure.
Feel like joining a Patreon for free and subscribing to advanced chapters?
Visit the link:
[email protected]/GRANDMAESTA_30
Change @ to a