The Myth and Legend

The dressing room buzzed with a tense silence. Players sat slumped, sweat dripping, frustration written across their faces. Rivera stood in front, arms crossed, jaw clenched.

Resurreccion stood too, limping slightly as he paced in front of the whiteboard. His voice broke the silence.

“What are we doing out there?” he began. “We’re losing every fifty-fifty balls out. Come on guys, we need to wake up. Stop reacting and make actions.”

Coach Rivera pointed to the magnetic pieces on the board representing the two teams.

“Hakimi, you’re fast—probably the only one on this pitch who can match Leon Bexler’s pace.,” he said switching out two sides of the fullback position. “Switch flanks with Costa. Rafael, focus on supporting Arsenic and overlapping—push Bexler back, force him to defend.”

He paused stepping away from the board and pulled a chair and the players surrounded him.

“And listen... They’re suffocating us with their press. Mendes, Pryce—start rotating quicker. One-touch football. Don’t hold on to the ball too much. Sverre… I need magic from you. Start pulling their midfield apart. We can still win but we need possession.”

He then looked at Arsenic.

“And Phillip. It’s your armband tonight. You’re the leader, act like it.!”

Arsenic met his gaze, nodded once.

Coach Rivera returned to the pitch, leaving the players in the dressing room. Resurreccion took center stage. He limped forward, pulling them into a tight huddle.

“Coach is right,” he said, voice low but firm. “We’re second to everything out there. But I know we can make a comeback. They are a well organized team, so we need to be more aggressive to open them up. We need to play as a unit.”

He looked each of them in the eye.

“And for God’s sake, communicate. Talk. You see someone under pressure? Make yourself available. Be a teammate.”

Second Half – Kick-Off

They tried their best but the team was still falling short.

They struggled to maintain possession. Mendes gave a few loose passes that almost resulted in goals but the keeper Reyes was stopping the shots like a madman. Bavarians were still pressing high, winning duels and creating open chances.

51'

The first chance of the second half came.

Baxton lunged in, dispossessing Koman Jr. with a crunching tackle. The ball rolled to Mendes.

Peter Drury: “Oh that’s a strong challenge from the veteran defender.”

The midfield trio snapped into motion. Mendes received the ball, flicked it quickly to Pryce who touched it and moved diagonally, drawing a defender. Sverre found the gap.

Ally McCoist: That’s nifty from the young Norwegian. Sverre with eyes in the back of his head—he threads one through!”

Laurent surged forward, the ball at his feet. He cut across the last defender and unleashed a curling shot with his left.

Saved!

Neurmann stretched wide to parry the ball but it fell directly into the path of Arsenic.

First time. Lethal.

GOAL!!!

1-2 – Arsenic Phillip (52’)

Peter Drury: “PHILLIP STRIKES! Like a lion roused from slumber! The Gunners are on the board!”

Ally McCoist: “That’s why they call him the prince of North London! Right place, right time and…. perfect finish.”

The Emirates erupted. Rivera pumped his fists. Resurreccion clapped, nodding.

58’

Bavarians tried to reassert control. Hakim Malik, now on the right, mirrored Bexler’s runs relentlessly. No longer was the left-back allowed to run rampant. Hakim slid, blocked, raced—every touch from Bexler was now contested.

Peter Drury: “It’s like chasing a mirror—Hakim Malik has matched him sprint for sprint. Incredible effort from the fulllback.”

60’

The substitutions were made.

Peter Drury: Both teams make substitutes Bavarian bring in another winger Julius Andoh in place of Koman Jr. the Gunners sub in the 17 year-old Miguel Diaz for Saka, who just couldn’t fully get into the match.”

Ally McCoist: Just wasn’t his day today. He looked a bit rough and when he had the ball, he got possessed quick. But what do you think Peter? Is this a smart choice for the Gunners?”

Peter Drury: Well, obviously, Rivera has always had a plan B and as we saw in the other game when he subbed in Sverre who became a star overnight. Miguel Diaz has about 30 minutes to make an impact.”

The game was going smoothly now. The Gunners had managed to regain possession and had more of the ball. But Bavarians were compact and stayed back.

64'’

Rivera made two more changes, substituting Mendes and Baxton for Jason Nwosu and Oscar Linhart. With these two changes, the formation also changed to a back three with Linhart and Nwosu making a four-man midfield with Pryce and Sverre.

Mendes stomped to the bench, kicking a water bottle in frustration.

Ally McCoist: Ooof! He doesn’t seem happy about the substitution. The Gunners have shifted to a 3-4-3 formation. Will Rivera’s gamble pay off?”

With four at midfield, the possession was theirs again. They had more energy and belief they could get one more goal.

The Gunners were emboldened now. Nwosu won a duel in midfield, his footwork sharp. He released it to Sverre, who again worked it forward, but this time out wide to Costa. The left-back, free from defensive overload, swung in a high cross.

Laurent leapt—but was beaten in the air.

It fell outside the box. Pryce struck it first time—deflected! The ball bobbled in the air.

Arsenic brought it down. Defender on his back. He made a sharp turn. A flick.

He laid it off.

Peter Drury: SVERRE!

Ally McCoist: GOAL!!! GOAL!!!

2-2 – Sverre Odegaard (68’)

Peter Drury: “And from two down… it’s LEVEL! Sverre with a screamer! The Norwegian dagger has found its mark!”

Ally McCoist: “It’s been coming, Peter. The Bavarians have been rocked. That’s the Gunners of Rivera—free-flowing, fearless, fighting.”

The stadium was in delirium.

74’

A Bavarian corner nearly turned the game again. Oleesay’s cross found Kane Porter unmarked—but he mistimed his header, sending it wide. The Bavarians made more substitutions changing into a 4-5-1 formation.

76’

Andoh’s pace turned the tide again for the Bavarians.

He sprinted down the flank, keeping the ball from going out. He combined with Kaiser pulling Costa and Kaminski towards him. That created space in the middle. Kaiser found the angle and passed short to Oleesay who let it roll across his body and passed it into Porter.

One-on-one with Hakim. He faked left, went right, sent the defender the wrong way.

Cut inside. Swung his leg.

GOAL!!!

2-3 – Kane Porter (76’)

Ally McCoist: Oh Gosh! The Emirates has sunk! Kane Porter has sinked his teeth into the Gunners’ pie and demolished it. What a shot! What a team play.”

The whole stadium went silent as fans held their hands over their mouth. Despair was all around except for the Bavarians fans who were rocking and jumping on the opposite side of the stadium. Kane Porter celebrated with the away fans who showered him with praise.

85’

Reyes stepped up and launched a deep goal kick. The ball skyward, clearing the halfway line with ease.

The ball bounced in the middle missing Bexler who could not control it. Rather than waiting for it to come down, Nwosu jumped high and headed it toward the right. Miguel ran as fast as he could and carried the ball forward. He slipped past a defender then cut inside with his right.

Bexler caught up quickly and made a sliding tackle which Miguel avoided. He then passed the ball to Sverre who played a one-two with Pryce, then Sverre crossed it toward the box. Nwosu rose higher than everybody and headed it towards the right. Miguel slid and tiptoed the ball into the box.

GOAL!!!

3-3 – Miguel Diaz (88’)

Miguel picked up the ball and celebrated with Sverre and Nwosu and brought the ball to the starting point. There was no time for celebrations, now. They had to win this. Get one more goal back.

Peter Drury: “He’s 17 and fearless! Miguel Diaz has just written his name into Gunners folklore!”

The game was intense. Much more than earlier. Each side playing for the win.

Bavarian got a chance in the 90’ minute with Kaiser who got danced through the midfield effortlessly and shot with his weaker left foot. The ball soared and past by Reyes.

Peter Drury: “GOAA….Oh No! Blocked from the line by Pryce.”

Ally McCoist: “That was a close call. Gunners are still in this. Two minutes have added on. Its now or never.”

The ball from Pryce flew high landing on the perfect person.

Arsenic turned around and moved with the ball. The clock ticking drastically. This could be his last shot. their last shot of the game. A point was not bad for them after a wonderful comeback.

Still, Arsenic wasn’t looking for a half-ass draw. He wanted a win.

He drove past Oleesay who came to cover, then Jamal and Andoh double-teamed him. he stood in front of them, he feinted left, Andoh shifted so he faked going in that direction and as Kaiser followed, he shifted the ball to the right and pushed it forward passing in between them falling on each other.

Hakim sprinted to his right. He thought about passing but he could see it, a gap. One defender chased after Hakimi to cover and Arsenic used him as a decoy and drove in to the box. Even Porter had managed to track back now and was in front of him but it wasn’t enough.

Arsenic did an elastico – pulling the ball inward and instantly flicked it out with the same foot, creating a sudden directional shift – nutmegging Porter.

Only two defenders left but they were already too late. He let the shot fly with his left cutting in between the two defenders legs as they attempted to block. The ball flew low with speed. Neurmann saw it late but he managed to palm it slightly. The ball landing where it was needed. The net.

GOAL!!!

4-3 – Arsenic Phillip (90 + 2’)

Peter Drury: “OH MY WORD! The Emirates has erupted! Arsenic with a dagger dipped in gold! The Gunners have turned it around!”

Ally McCoist: “From two down to four-three up—this lad’s got fire in his boots tonight! What a response! What a goal! The two-time Ballon D’or Englishman has done once again.”

Rivera hugged Resurreccion on the touchline. The assistant-captain grinned.

“LET’S GO!!!!!.”

The Bavarians tried to respond—Kaiser danced through midfield again, but this time Kaminski was ready for him. The defence was solid now, every man tracking, focused.

Reyes punched away a last-minute free-kick by Kaiser.

The whistle blew.

FULL TIME: Arsenal Gunners 4 – 3 Bavarians München

Peter Drury: “From despair to triumph. From silence to song. The Gunners rise, and under the lights of the Emirates, North London dreams once more. A game worthy of Champions.”

Ally McCoist: “Arsenic Phillip—take a bow. Sverre—what a maestro. And the team—tactically brave, mentally tough. A Champions League night to remember. It’s a shame for the Bavarians who were the best team by far but were just done in by the majestic, brilliance of Arsenic Phillip.”

Peter Drury: Right, you are McCoist. They came in and got the job done against fierce opponents. Great shift from the young lads. Miguel and Nwosu, brilliant cameos. They’ll be important for the team going forward. But tonight the headlines will be all about one man – the myth, the legend, Arsenic Phillip.”