After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

After the match against the Magpie Army.

Bellerin was already hospitalized in the corridor of St. Thomas' hospital.

He lay in a private hospital room, his right thigh wrapped in thick white bandages and a support brace. His face was somewhat pale, but his spirits were much better than when he was first injured.

Professor Wenger stood by the bedside, his face showing a gentle yet distressed expression.

"The test results are in, Coach." The team doctor nodded slightly to Wenger and showed him the results.

Wenger spoke only after reading it, his voice deliberately soft and gentle.

"Fortunately, it's just a second-degree muscle strain and a minor tear. There's no damage to the ligaments or tendons. With about four weeks of rest and physical therapy, he should be able to recover and return to the team."

Bellerin visibly relaxed upon hearing this, his furrowed brows unfurrowing somewhat, but a deep sense of disappointment and resentment still lingered in his eyes.

"Around... Coach... I..." His voice was a little hoarse.

Bellerin had only been out of serious ligament injury from last season for a little over a month and had just regained his form on the field when he unexpectedly had to lie in bed again. This feeling is too uncomfortable.

Bellerin somewhat hates his "glass" body.

"I know, Bellerin." Wenger gently placed his hand on Bellerin's uninjured shoulder, with a soothing touch.

"Of course I know how agonizing this is, but it's a good thing for you. It's a warning sign from your body. A muscle strain is much easier to treat than a serious injury."

"Listen, don't think about anything, just rest here. I'll have therapist Jones monitor your recovery plan one-on-one. I'm determined to make you 100% recovered!"

Of course, this was just a consolation; the professor knew Bellerin's physical attributes better than anyone else.

Then, Professor Wenger, with a very serious expression, spoke to Bellerin.

"What I want is for you to return to competition early, but for you to fully recover and have the best possible career, understand?"

Bellerin, seeing the undeniable concern in the professor's eyes, nodded vigorously.

"I understand, Professor. Thank you."

He understood the coach's good intentions.

The recurring injuries over the years have worn down his spirit and physical condition, and he is well aware that his fragile constitution is becoming increasingly worrying.

Just then, the ward door was pushed open a crack, and several heads cautiously peeked in.

Yan Yuan, Ramsey, and Aubameyang.

Immediately afterwards, the door was pushed open, and the Arsenal team came to visit Bellerin, bringing flowers, fruit, and a basket of greetings.

"Hey! Bro!" Zaka greeted him.

"How are you feeling, Bellerin?" Ramsey asked Bellerin with concern.

"I hope your injuries aren't too serious..."

The atmosphere in the ward immediately became lively.

Everyone chattered about the injury, joked, and reminisced about Bellerin's brilliant run down the wing before his injury during the match.

Bellerin finally smiled; his teammates' concern warmed his heart.

Yan Yuan and Ashraf stepped forward.

Bellerin looked at the two young men he had only teamed up with after his injury, his smile tinged with complexity:

"Guys, you two did a great job. You scored two goals in just a short time after I came off the field. That's really awesome!" He expressed his approval with his eyes.

Ashraf scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

Yan Yuan gently patted Bellerin's shoulder, looked at him earnestly, and said sincerely, "Bellein, get some rest. It's just a minor injury. You'll recover quickly. We're all waiting for you to come back. I'm even waiting for you to come with me to the right side!"

"Definitely!" Bellerin replied, grasping Yan Yuan's wrist.

After a brief and lively visit, Wenger gave a few more instructions before leaving the hospital with his teammates, leaving Bellerin to rest quietly.

Back in Colney's office, Wenger held a small meeting with his coaching staff and key management.

The atmosphere in the meeting room immediately shifted from the warmth of the ward to a professional seriousness.

Wenger, assistant coach Boulder, chief fitness coach Colbert, and sporting director Sanllehi sat together.

"Gentlemen, Bellerin's injury has been confirmed: four weeks." Wenger got straight to the point. "A minor tear, recovery shouldn't be difficult. What I'm really worried about right now isn't Bellerin's injury itself, but the frequency with which Bellerin keeps getting injured in this spot, and... Bellerin's body's recovery ability seems to be hitting its limit."

Wenger's tone was low and direct.

Boulder and Colbert nodded; they had detailed player physical reports on hand.

Strength and conditioning coach Colbert calmly added,

"Yes, from his training and match performances this season, we have seen a decline in his speed and explosiveness, especially after his serious injury last season, the recurring muscle injuries are the most obvious warning sign."

"The intensity of the Premier League, especially the demands modern football places on full-backs' ability to sprint back and forth," Wenger said, adjusting his glasses.

"Bellerin is already nearing the limit of his physical endurance. Forcing him to continue starting will only overwork him and disrupt the stability of our right flank."

Even if Bellerin recovers from his injury this time, his body will likely only be able to support him in a portion of high-intensity matches. Starting him frequently would be too risky.

Sanley tapped his fingers lightly on the table; he was the helmsman in charge of player recruitment and finances.

"So... what does the professor mean?"

"What I mean is looking to the future." A decisive glint flashed in Wenger's eyes.

"Bellerin remains an important member of Arsenal and a valuable product of our youth academy, but he can no longer be a guaranteed starter. I plan to make gradual adjustments, arranging for him to play as a rotation player or substitute, allowing him to contribute when his physical condition permits. This is beneficial for both him and the team. In this process, we need a long-term solution for a starting right-back."

His gaze drifted out the window towards the training field.

"Ashraf Hakimi".

The moment the name was uttered, the conference room fell silent. A glint flashed in Sanley's eyes.

Teaching assistant Boulder's lips curled up slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"That new Moroccan kid?" Sanley confirmed.

"Yes." Wenger said with certainty, "I have observed his performance in matches and training during this period: speed, explosiveness, stamina, attacking ability, adaptability... all of which highly overlap with Bellerin's peak. In some aspects, his impact and the potential for improvement brought by his youth are even more advantageous than Bellerin's."

Most importantly... his chemistry with Yan Yuan on the right wing is excellent," Wenger paused, emphasizing.

"The two lads have improved their understanding very quickly. This natural partnership is invaluable in matches. Their attacking combination is enough to become Arsenal's signature weapon for the next few years."

"So what is your decision...?" Sanley pressed.

"I believe the time is right," Wenger said calmly.

"When Real Madrid loaned him to us, they included a £1300 million option to buy. In the current market, that price is incredible for a young, talented defender like Achraf who has proven himself in the Premier League! I want to exercise that option early, paying Real Madrid the full £1300 million upfront to buy him outright. Sign him, establish Achraf as the regular starter, and have him and Yan Yuan permanently partner on our right flank!"

The professor's words resonated deeply.

After a brief silence, there was a silent exchange.

Assistant coach Boulder was the first to nod: "I have no objection. Ashraf's talent and potential are obvious to the naked eye. It is definitely worth it to tie him up now. His future value will be far higher than £1300 million."

Colbert nodded in agreement: "Given his physical condition and age, he is indeed a better long-term investment."

All eyes were on Arsenal's general manager, Sanllehi.

The chief steward pondered for a few seconds, then a shrewd and decisive smile appeared on his face.

"The professor is right. Buying him out now is a wise move. 1300 million is not a lot of money these days, and we have money now, so this amount is nothing."

Moreover, fully acquiring him would benefit both the team's stability and the player's confidence. Okay, gentlemen, I will contact Real Madrid immediately to arrange the payment process as soon as possible, ideally within the next few weeks, to finalize the purchase! I will follow up on any subsequent contract updates.

"It's settled then." Wenger slammed his hand on the table, his eyes showing a long-lost clarity and certainty about his future team-building strategy.

……

On a new day, the sun blazed down on the training field at Kearney Air Force Base.

The players are currently engaged in a scrimmage, and the intensity is quite high.

Yan Yuan received the ball on the right wing. Facing Ramsey who was providing cover, he deftly nutmegged him, instantly creating space!

The system gave a notification the moment the breakthrough was achieved.

[Player Ramsey's interaction level has reached 100%, and his copied skill, "Ghost Run," has a skill matching rate of 91%.]

[Skill Description: 'Ghostly Run' originates from Ramsey's signature off-the-ball runs during his prime. Possessing this skill enhances one's ability to seize opportunities during transitions from defense to attack or in stalemates during positional play. Once activated, this skill allows for keen perception of the rhythm of midfield forward passes and fleeting lapses in the opponent's defense, enabling the player to use excellent anticipation and off-the-ball movement to silently and stealthily move into the most dangerous open spaces, receiving passes or completing a shot.]

This is yet another positioning skill. Positioning skills are currently the most numerous skill in Yan Yuan's arsenal.

The skill description flowed into Yan Yuan's mind like a refreshing stream, instantly sharpening his perception of the space on the field.

He even subconsciously glanced at Ramsey, who had just trained with him, and Ramsey happened to be looking in his direction, grinning.

"That was a good breakthrough, Yan."

"You defended very well too, Ramsey," Yan Yuan replied with a smile, giving Ramsey a high five.

"That was a great shot!" came the cheers from the sidelines from the assistant coach.

Yan Yuan's through ball and subsequent pass accurately found his teammate making a run into the middle, and the contest continued.

Before long, it was Yan Yuan's turn to attack.

The ball was quickly moved to the left wing, where Saka received it and drew the defense.

At this moment, Yan Yuan did not stay on the wing waiting for the ball; he suddenly started moving!

After taking a few quick steps along the sideline, without any warning or fancy moves, he suddenly swerved towards the inside.

His explosive power at startup was already astonishing; during the acceleration, it was as if rocket boosters were installed under his feet!

The system prompted again.

[Player Aubameyang's interaction level has reached 100%, and the skill "Black Panther Rush" has been copied with a 90% skill matching rate.]

[Skill Description: The Black Panther Sprint is Aubameyang's signature terrifying acceleration and high-speed dribbling technique. Activating this skill grants the player peak explosiveness in the initial few steps of their acceleration. By utilizing powerful bursts of speed and combining explosiveness with excellent ball control when space is available or defenders are off-balance, the player can instantly create distance, making one-on-one breakthroughs or overwhelming runs more likely.]

Before Yan Yuan could even feel his surprise, the system gave him another prompt.

[The system detected that the host has recently focused on speed-specific training, and has achieved a breakthrough after combining this with newly acquired speed-related skills!]

[Player speed attribute level increased: A- → A]

Since the World Cup, Yan Yuan has been strengthening his speed training in his daily training. His best speed rating during his time at Hoffenheim was B+, which improved to A- during the World Cup.

But today it was promoted to A.

In an instant, Yan Yuan gained many insights into pushing off the ground, exerting force, and sprinting.

He tried running according to his own habits, combining it with the feeling brought by the skill.

In just a moment, the training teammate responsible for keeping an eye on him only saw a flash of red before his eyes. When he tried to chase after him, he had already been left two body lengths behind.

The burst of speed after activation was even faster than Yan Yuan's original speed!

"Holy shit!" Even the usually stern-faced Lacazette couldn't help but swear. "This kid's gotten even faster again?!"

After making a sprint down the wing, Yan Yuan delivered a precise cross to Aubameyang, who arrived in the middle, amidst the amazed gazes of the crowd. Aubameyang easily tapped the ball into the empty net.

"Great pass, bro!" Aubameyang ran over and high-fived Yan Yuan to celebrate the goal, a knowing smile in his eyes. "You were really fast today!"

"You taught me well, brother," Yan Yuan replied with a smile, bumping fists with Aubameyang.

"I taught you well? Did I ever teach you how to run?" Aubameyang was completely bewildered.

Wenger nodded in satisfaction on the sidelines, quickly jotting something down in his notebook.

Yan Yuan's performance in these two attacks, whether it was his offensive awareness or the speed he displayed, surprised him repeatedly.

The professor was increasingly pleased to see his beloved student's potential being refreshed every day.

However, the club's brief reunion was about to be interrupted by the national team match.

International match days are approaching.

It's September 2018 now, and the UEFA Nations League is about to start, so many European players will be returning to their national teams.

The club's training sessions can also be temporarily suspended.

"Alright, lads!" Wenger blew his whistle to gather the players. "This week's training is over. Thank you all for your hard work! Next up is the two-week international break."

The players began to disperse and organize their equipment, the air filled with a sense of relief and reluctance at the impending farewell.

"Pepe," Wenger called out the center-back's name, "go back to the Portuguese national team and keep up the good work. I'm eager to see what new miracles you can create."

"I understand, Coach!" Pepe smiled and patted her chest. "I'll go with 100%!"

"Cancelo," Wenger turned to the Portuguese full-back, "go back to the national team, protect yourself, stay healthy, and cooperate well with Pepe. Listen to your older brother."

"Yes, Coach!" Cancelo grinned and gave an OK sign.

Then Wenger's gaze fell on European players such as Yan Yuan (England), Ramsey (Welsh), and Odegaard (Norway).

"Yan, Ramsey, Odegaard... you also have a heavy responsibility. Remember, it is an honor to play for the national team, but please take good care of yourselves! There is still a long league season ahead, and we will rely on you in the Champions League knockout stages. Stay in touch with your national team teammates and contact us anytime if you have any questions."

"Understood, Coach!" Yan Yuan replied earnestly.

He looked at his teammates, who nodded in unison.

The national team has been ordered to assemble.

Ramsey walked over and gave Yan Yuan a tight hug:

"Keep fighting for the national team," he said, then lowered his voice, "Hopefully we won't run into each other."

Yan Yuan chuckled and lightly punched his chest: "You too, Ramsey, keep it up, we all need to play well."

Aubameyang also strolled over and whispered quickly in Yan Yuan's ear, "Hey, Yan, your speed was amazing today. Keep scoring goals for us when you get back to the club, just like you did today."

He made a running gesture towards Yan Yuan.

"Definitely, Pierre!" Yan Yuan replied with a smile.

Cancelo also readily bumped fists with Yan Yuan:

"Yan, see you at the European Union!"

Erdegaard also waved goodbye to Yan Yuan.

See you at the UEFA Nations League!

The coaching staff also shook hands with the national team players to say goodbye, their words full of blessings and advice.

On the grass of the training field, teammates hugged, high-fived, and joked with each other.

The brief separation was for the honor they each represented for their respective countries.

As Yan Yuan shouldered his bag and drove away from Kearney base, the weather in London was somewhat gloomy.

He checked the time and called his family to let them know before heading to Heathrow Airport.

I had just put my phone back in my pocket when it vibrated.

He took it out and saw that it was a detailed assembly notice from the England national team, which clearly stated the reporting time and location.

At the same time, a notification appeared on Imperial College London's online platform, reminding him that there were two submission deadlines for seminar reports next week.

He started the car, and the V8 engine roared to life.

The newly acquired skills were imprinted in Yan Yuan's mind, and the feeling of improved positioning and speed was incredibly clear.

National team, league, Champions League, studies...

New challenges are about to unfold.