First Whistle

Jon Champion (Commentator):
"What a night here at the LDN Stadium. The atmosphere is electric as London Monarchs face Emirates Gunners. And the big story: Kevin Van Drake is back. Nearly a year since his last start, and yet you’d be hard-pressed to find a more complete midfielder anywhere in world football."

Jim Beglin (Co-Commentator):
"Absolutely, Jon. At his peak, Van Drake is untouchable. That passing range, the physical dominance…I genuinely believe if he had been fit last season, Monarchs would have lifted the Champions League. He’s that good."

Jon Champion:
"His return completes an already formidable midfield: Zion Adeyemi’s pace, Maddox Reeves’ tenacity, Santacruz’s strength and now Van Drake’s control. How do the Gunners cope with that?"

Jim Beglin:
"It’s a nightmare, Jon. But they’ve got Arsenic Phillip, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner. While Arsenic has been formidable at the top but he’s not a traditional number 9. Starting at that position today is the academy prospect Hugo Laurent. We’ll see what he can offer in just a moment.”

At the tunnel, the teams were lined up.

Arsenic glanced up the line. Van Drake stood tall—chin high, posture unshakable—radiating the calm command of a battlefield general.

“Been a long time Drake,” he spoke.

The Monarchs captain didn’t blink, a quiet force radiating strength.

“Too long, Phillip. Hope you’re ready, I’m about to make a big splash!”

Arsenic smirked. “Is that so?”

Behind him, Keyes bounced on his heels. He glanced at Arsenic venomously.

The referee blew the whistle and Van Drake kicked the ball backwards.

Jon Champion:
"And here we go! Matchday 7 is underway—London Monarchs in their deep navy and gold, Emirates Gunners in their classic red and white."

Van Drake received the ball back.

One touch. Pass. Another touch. Pivot.

In less than ten seconds, he had sprayed three passes—one to Roku, another to Zion, and a third diagonally across the pitch to Santacruz.

Jon Champion:
"That’s vintage Van Drake! He doesn’t just move the ball—he moves the whole team."

Arsenic cut the lanes with his body, forcing Monarchs to play back to their keeper. Since, Resurreccion wasn’t playing, he was captain tonight and he had to lead by example.

Jim Beglin:

"Arsenic’s pressing early. He looks like a man possessed. But Van Drake doesn’t panic—he absorbs, turns, and breaks the lines."

Van Drake (internal): ‘Trying to box us in early. Smart but predictable.’

He dropped to the right and received a pass from the centre back, Adrian Coyle. He immediately threaded a through pass in between Mendes and Sverre into the final third.

Jon Champion:
"And what a ball! Jadon Keyes is in there—"

Keyes trapped the ball and cut inside past Pryce but his shot was heroically blocked by Baxton sliding in.

Jim Beglin:
"What a block! The veteran centre back Baxton has been a rock these past few games. He might not get the headlines but is very crucial for the team.”

The ball deflected to Alain Andre who lofted it forward.

Arsenic chested it down and nutmegged Maddox then planted his left foot forward to throw Santacruz off balance and drove forward.

Jim Beglin:
"There he goes! Arsenic Phillip—still got that magic in his boots!"

Van Drake arrived in front of him but he had already chipped the ball to Sverre, who first-time flicked it with his left boot to Saka. Saka cut in and shot—

Jim Beglin:

“Saved! The shot goes low to the far post, but the Monarchs keeper stretches just enough.”

Jon Champion:
"End to end already! This is what we came to see."

11th Minute

Van Drake had the ball in midfield. He saw Keyes rain in behind but instead played it backwards, slowing the tempo down. He and Santacruz exchanged some quick passes, then to Maddox and Zion.

Calm and composed. He pointed, gestured and rearranged the midfield around him. Santacruz and Maddox dropped down in between the Centre backs. Roku and Zion came towards him following his instructions. Forming a triangle movement with the two of them, they pressed forward exchanging passes. Within mere seconds, there were in the final third.

Jim Beglin:
"And that’s the difference. Van Drake doesn’t just play football—he choreographs it."

13th Minute

About 28 yard from the goal, Zion was fouled by Pryce. Van Drake took the freekick and hit it straight towards the goal. Reyes couldn’t reach it. the ball flew towards the left and barely hit the outside post going out for a throw in on the right.

Gasps from Monarchs fans. Sighs of relief from the Gunners

15th Minute

The Gunners had the ball. They retreated, recycling possession between the defenders. They had to shift tactics now, their press on the Monarchs could not work with Van Drake in control.

Coach Rivera waved furiously on the touchline, barking instructions.

Jon Champion:
"And look at this! The Gunners are switching— Sverre and Mendes dropping deeper now. They’re trying to overload the middle, force Van Drake into wider spaces.”

Jim Beglin:
"They’re making him run. It’s clever…but will it work?”

Van Drake didn’t flinch. He glanced back to see where Arsenic was, then nodded to Santacruz. Sverre had the ball drifting past Zion and it was a one-on-one between him and Van Drake.

Van Drake (internally): ‘Nice skills. But I already know what you’re thinking.’

He feinted to the left to confuse Sverre and back to the right to intercept, but Sverre didn’t fall for it. Instead, he did a roulette to bring the ball to the left and passed the ball towards Arsenic.

The ball flew with high speed to the ground but a slide came in stopping the ball in its tracks. Santacruz stood with the ball at his feet and made a quick turn and passed to Van Drake.

Van Drake(internally): ‘Too close. I underestimated him. This will be more of a challenge than I thought.’

Then, in his own half, he spotted Jadon Keyes making a run behind the backline.

A single swing of the boot—and the ball sails 40 yards, curling perfectly over two defenders into Keyes’ path.

Jim Beglin:
"That pass should be illegal. That’s telepathy!"

Keyes controls with his thigh, shoots—

Jon Champion:
" —Off the post! Jadon Keyes inches away from the opener!"

The stadium was buzzing. Fans roaring. Fans waving.

And with it the tension rising.

Arsenic jogged to take a throw-in, breathing deeply.

A kid from the front stands leaned over the barrier, shouting: “Go on, Arsenic! You’re the King!”

Arsenic gave a small nod, then wiped sweat from his brow, with the ball held above his head.

Jon Champion:
"We’re twenty minutes in, and it’s already a chess match wrapped in a street fight. Two captains—two ideologies—fighting not just for points, but for dominance."

Jim Beglin:
"And we haven’t even seen the best of them yet. Who will break the deadlock next?"

Next: Something is gonna Break