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

Wembley Stadium was bathed in the spring sunshine of April.

Today is the FA Cup semi-final.

For Arsenal, this is a crucial step toward the Wembley final.

For Yan Yuan, this afternoon held an even more special significance.

Today is his 19th birthday.

The atmosphere in the locker room was a little different than usual.

The red and white jerseys hung in their respective positions as the players made their final preparations, stretching, tying their shoelaces, and talking in hushed tones.

Yan Yuan sat in his seat, intently adjusting the bright red captain's armband on his left arm.

His movements remained meticulous, his eyes calm, as if today were just an ordinary match day.

Yan Yuan knew it was his birthday today, but he planned to think about it after the competition.

"Hey, Captain!" Aubameyang leaned in, grinning and showing his signature big white teeth. "How's it going today? How many goals are you planning to score?"

Yan Yuan looked up, smiled, revealing his white teeth: "Feeling good, Pierre. How many goals? Of course, the more the better; winning the match is the most important thing."

"Absolutely!" Saka interjected, his young face beaming with excitement. "It's the captain's birthday; we have to celebrate with a resounding victory!"

Peipei also came over and patted Yan Yuan on the shoulder.

"Relax, Yan, you're the star today, we'll get the ball to your feet."

Lacazette, Rodri, Ashraf, Martin... his teammates all cast smiling glances his way.

Yan Yuan could sense the unusual atmosphere flowing through the locker room.

He understood.

These guys are definitely planning something.

Yan Yuan smiled as he responded to everyone's blessings, a warm feeling welling up inside him, but he still maintained the composure of a team leader.

"Thanks, brothers, but let's focus on the game now. Beating Brighton would be the best birthday present!"

The players from both teams lined up and walked out of the players' tunnel.

As they stepped into Wembley Stadium, they were instantly engulfed by a deafening roar.

Arsenal fans in red and white made up half the stadium, waving flags and singing loudly.

Yan Yuan walked at the front of the group, his captain's armband gleaming in the sunlight.

He took a deep breath, feeling the firmness of the grass beneath his feet and the focus of tens of thousands of eyes.

19th birthday, FA Cup semi-final, captain's armband...

All of this combined made his heart beat faster than usual, his blood surge in his veins, and he was extremely excited.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Wembley Stadium! The FA Cup semi-final, Arsenal vs. Brighton, is about to begin!" The commentator's voice was full of passion.

"Today's match has a double significance for Arsenal's young captain Yan Yuan!"

Today is Yan's 19th birthday!

At 19, wearing the captain's armband for Arsenal and standing on the stage of the FA Cup semi-final is an incredible achievement in itself!

Let's see if this young birthday boy can give himself the best birthday present with a victory and a goal!

The match began amidst deafening cheers.

Brighton are no pushovers; they are tenacious, have a well-organized defense, and started the game by trying to cause trouble for Arsenal with aggressive pressing and quick counter-attacks.

However, today's Arsenal, especially their young captain, seems to be carrying an unstoppable momentum.

Yan Yuan was exceptionally active from the very first minute. Wearing the captain's armband, he played with the same intensity as always, covering the entire midfield and forward area.

He dropped back to receive the ball and link up the midfield; he broke through on the wings, tearing apart the defense; he penetrated the penalty area, looking for a killing opportunity.

In the 22nd minute, Arsenal patiently passed the ball around in the attacking third.

Lacazette drew the defense on the left flank and then passed the ball back to Odegaard in the middle.

Odegaard looked up and saw Yan Yuan making a high-speed diagonal run into the penalty area from the right flank!

Brighton's defense seemed hesitant and failed to anticipate Yan Yuan's runs.

Odegaard delivered a pinpoint through ball in an instant.

The ball passed precisely through the gap between the two Brighton defenders, as if it had eyes, rolling towards Yan Yuan's sprinting path.

Yan Yuan instantly shook off the defender who was marking him and caught up with the ball near the penalty spot.

Facing the onrushing goalkeeper Ryan, he calmly raised his right foot and used the instep to deliver a low, tricky shot.

The ball slid past Ryan's outstretched foot and precisely nestled into the bottom right corner of the goal!

"Goooooooooal! Yan Yuan! Arsenal captain! 1-0! He opened the scoring for the team on his 19th birthday! What a perfect birthday present! Odegaard's pass was perfect, and Yan Yuan's positioning and shot were calm and deadly! The Arsenal fans at Wembley Stadium are going wild!" The commentator's voice was full of praise.

After scoring, Yan Yuan rushed towards the corner flag, performed a beautiful sliding knee slide, patted the captain's armband on his left arm, and paid tribute to the sea of ​​Arsenal fans in the stands.

His teammates swarmed over and surrounded him.

Aubameyang laughed and ruffled his hair: "Happy birthday, Captain! The first present!" Rodri jumped excitedly onto his back: "That's awesome, Captain!"

Yan Yuan's face was filled with the joy of scoring a goal and the happiness of his birthday. He smiled and high-fived his teammates in celebration.

Arsenal's attacks were relentless and relentless.

In the 38th minute, Brighton's defense began to falter under Arsenal's sustained pressure.

Xhaka intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly passed it to Ashraf on the right wing.

The Moroccan winger dribbled forward at high speed, attracting the defense of Brighton's left-back. Instead of going down the wing, he passed the ball across to Yan Yuan, who was following up in the middle.

Yan Yuan received the ball just outside the edge of the penalty area.

At that moment, Brighton's center-back Dunk was intently watching him, trying to block his shooting angle.

After receiving the ball, Yan Yuan took a small step forward to adjust his footwork.

He took a shot from about 25 meters away from the goal.

boom!

A deep, resounding explosion!

Goalkeeper Ryan makes a diving save!

He missed the world-class shot fired by the birthday celebrant.

"Gooooooooal!!! World-class goal! Yan Yuan! A brace! 2-0! Arsenal captain! On his 19th birthday, he once again pierced Brighton's goal with a stunning long-range shot!"

This is his 86th goal in all competitions this season!

What terrifying data! What a perfect performance!

Happy birthday, my Captain Yan! Wembley Stadium is boiling over for him again! The commentator's voice was hoarse with excitement.

This goal completely ignited Wembley.

The cheers from Arsenal fans nearly lifted the roof off the stadium.

The shouts of "Yan! Captain Yan! Happy Birthday!" were unified and resounded through the sky!

This time, Yan Yuan did not rush towards the corner flag area. Instead, he stood still, opened his arms, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

He wanted to absorb all the overwhelming blessings and birthday joy into his very being.

His teammates once again engulfed him in a wave of red celebrations.

His face showed the composure after scoring a goal, the joy of his birthday, and a deep sense of satisfaction from being recognized and loved.

In the second half, Arsenal's attacking momentum remained strong.

Saka and Aubameyang each scored a goal, sealing the final score at 4-0! A resounding victory!

Arsenal have proudly advanced to the FA Cup final!

The moment the final whistle blew, the joy of victory and the celebration of a birthday intertwined.

The players hugged each other to celebrate their victory.

However, just as Yan Yuan was about to walk towards the players' tunnel with his teammates, an unexpected incident occurred.

Aubameyang and Lacazette suddenly grabbed Yan Yuan's arms from either side!

"Hey! What are you doing?" Yan Yuan asked, somewhat taken aback.

"Captain, don't rush off!" Erdgo laughed and gave him a push from behind.

"Yes! I'll show you something good!" Rodri joined in the "kidnapping."

Without a word, his teammates pushed and shoved, practically "kidnapping" Yan Yuan, and led him toward the South Stand where Arsenal fans were gathered.

Yan Yuan was completely confused, but looking at the mysterious and excited smiles on his teammates' faces, he vaguely guessed what was going on.

As they walked down to the South Stand, tens of thousands of Arsenal fans in the stands suddenly erupted in cheers and applause that were even more enthusiastic and unified than when the goal was scored.

Immediately afterwards, a huge TIFO slowly unfolded in the stands.

In the center of the picture is Yan Yuan.

He was wearing Arsenal's red and white number 7 jersey, with a prominent captain's armband on his left arm.

The footage captures his signature shot.

Leaning back, his right leg is drawn up like a strong bow, his eyes are sharp as an eagle's, full of power and determination to win!

Below TIFO was a huge banner.

"Happy 19th birthday, Captain Yan! Our King!"

This meticulously prepared TIFO, with its vibrant colors and magnificent presence, instantly ignited the entire Wembley.

Yan Yuan looked up at the huge portrait of himself, and at the deeply affectionate slogan, and he was completely stunned.

Overwhelmed by a surge of surprise and emotion, he stared wide-eyed, mouth agape, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

This is a birthday gift from the fans.

An incredibly precious and heartfelt gift.

Just then, something even more unexpected happened.

Arsenal staff pushed a huge food cart covered with a red and white Arsenal crest decoration out of the players' tunnel.

On the food cart was an exquisitely crafted multi-tiered cake, almost half a person's height.

The top layer of the cake is decorated with the number "19" made of whipped cream and chocolate, and is adorned with the Arsenal logo and football patterns.

Professor Wenger stood beside the food cart, a kind and gratified smile on his face.

All the Arsenal players, including those on the bench, quickly gathered around and stood behind Professor Wenger, facing Yan Yuan and the fans in the stands.

"Happy birthday to you..." Professor Wenger led the way, singing the first line of the birthday song.

Immediately afterwards, all the Arsenal players joined in.

"Happy birthday to you……"

Then there were tens of thousands of Arsenal fans in the stands.

They stopped cheering and, in the most unified and loudest voices, sang "Happy Birthday" to Yan Yuan together.

Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you...

Happy 19th birthday to Yan Yuan!!!

The chorus of tens of thousands of people converged into a warm and powerful wave of sound, echoing under the huge dome of Wembley Stadium.

The song drowned out all the noise, filled with sincere blessings and boundless love.

It's not just about celebrating Yan Yuan's birthday.

This is also the highest praise for this young captain.

Yan Yuan stood before the cake, among his teammates, amidst the heartfelt singing of tens of thousands of fans, looking up at the sea of ​​red that had unfolded for him, at the enormous, magnificent TIFO...

His eyes were too easily swayed; hot tears welled up uncontrollably, blurring his vision.

Yan Yuan bit his lower lip, trying to control his surging emotions, but tears still slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the grass at Wembley.

This time, they are tears of joy.

He never imagined that his 19th birthday would be spent in such a shocking and touching way.

At the FA Cup semi-final, at Wembley Stadium, amidst the songs of tens of thousands of fans and all teammates and coaches…

This friendship and honor deeply touched the softest part of his heart.

As the song ended, thunderous applause erupted.

Yan Yuan took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions.

He raised his hand and wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. Then, facing the sea of ​​red in the south stand and all the Arsenal fans, he bowed deeply, deeply.

Then, he turned around, faced his teammates, and bowed deeply to the kind Professor Wenger.

Yan Yuan took the microphone from his teammate and spoke.

"Thank you! Thank you everyone! Thank you!" His voice choked with emotion, yet it resonated clearly in everyone's hearts. "This is...the most unforgettable birthday of my life! Thank you all! I love you all! I love Arsenal!"

Yan Yuan's words once again drew thunderous applause and cheers.

The shouts of "Yan! Captain Yan!" echoed through the sky once again.

Professor Wenger stepped forward, smiled, patted Yan Yuan on the shoulder, and handed him a cake knife.

"Come on, Yan, our captain."

Surrounded by coach Wenger and his teammates, and watched by the fans, Yan Yuan cut the first slice of the cake.

The sweet aroma of cream filled the air, and the joy of victory and the sweetness of a birthday blended perfectly at this moment.

"What a touching scene!" The commentator's voice hadn't stopped yet; he was still describing this "birthday party."

"At Wembley Stadium, after their FA Cup semi-final victory, the entire Arsenal team and tens of thousands of fans gave their 19-year-old captain Yan Yuan a very special birthday gift."

A giant TIFO, a heartfelt birthday song, and the captain's armband symbolizing honor and responsibility...

All of this demonstrates Yan Yuan's irreplaceable position in the team and in the hearts of the fans; he deserves all of this!

Yan Yong's unparalleled performance and innate leadership qualities won over everyone!

Happy birthday, Yan Yuan! Arsenal's 19-year-old captain! This afternoon at Wembley will forever be etched in his memory, and in Arsenal's history!

The celebration lasted a long time.

Yan Yuan shared cake with his teammates, interacted with fans, and enjoyed this glorious moment that combined victory and birthday celebration.

As night fell and the lights of Wembley Stadium came on, they slowly walked toward the players' tunnel amidst the fans' reluctant singing.

Back in the locker room, the celebrations continued.

Champagne was sprayed, and songs rang out as the teammates celebrated their captain's birthday once again in their own way.

Yan Yuan was soaked to the bone by the champagne, but his face was beaming with happiness.

……

When Yan Yuan returned home, exhausted but overjoyed, it was already late at night.

As I opened the door, a warm and welcoming atmosphere greeted me.

The main lights in the living room weren't on; only the warm, orange wall lamps were lit.

On the dining table was an exquisite birthday cake with a candle bearing the number "19" on it, its flame flickering.

"Happy birthday, son (Yan Yuan)!" Yan's father, Yan's mother, and Lin Jianwei stood up from the sofa at the same time, their faces beaming with warm smiles.

"Dad, Mom, Weiwei!" Yan Yuan exclaimed in surprise, as if the fatigue of the day had vanished instantly.

He didn't expect that a heartwarming birthday ceremony awaited him at home.

"Quick, make a wish and blow out the candles!" Lin Jian smiled and pulled him to the dining table.

Yan Yuan closed his eyes and clasped his hands together.

After receiving blessings from tens of thousands of people at Wembley, in the warm haven of home, Yan Yuan's wish was simple and pure:

My family is safe and sound, the team is victorious, and I have lived up to my passion.

Yan Yuan opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and blew out the candle.

applause.

"Happy birthday!" the three of them said in unison again.

Next comes the gift-giving segment.

Mr. Yan took out a beautifully packaged square box, his expression solemn.

"Son, you're 19 now, a real man, and a team leader. I don't have anything expensive to give you, but I hope you like this."

He opened the box, and inside was a brand new Hermès custom belt, which looked exquisite.

"When you were little, you were always afraid I would whip you with my belt when you made mistakes. Now that you're all grown up, you have your own belt. If you have a son in the future, don't whip him like I whipped you, okay?"

Yan Yuan was amused by his father, happily accepted the gift, and quickly said...

"Hahahaha, no way, no way..."

Next, Yan's mother brought out a thick, handmade photo album, as well as a soccer ball that Yan Yuan had used.

The album cover features a photo of Yan Yuan wearing a little jersey for the first time when he was a child.

The football looked a bit old, and it had a lot of signatures on it.

"Son, do you remember this soccer ball? It's a participation prize you won when you were 11 years old participating in the Birmingham Community League. I remember you were so happy holding this soccer ball back then; it even has the signatures of your teammates from that time." Mom's eyes welled up with tears.

Yan Yuan took the football, his eyes also reddening.

This football is indeed of great significance.

This is the first football-related "reward" Yan Yuan has received since he started playing football at a young age.

"Mom... I remember we conceded that goal, didn't we? How come you..."

"It's not lost, it's not lost... When you went to Paris at 15, your mother found it while cleaning the basement. And this photo album, son, it contains all the important moments from your first day playing football until now."

There's sweat from training, cheers from victories, and tears from setbacks... Mom has kept them all for you, not a single one is missing.

You're 19 now, all grown up, and you've flown high, but don't forget to look back at the path you've traveled, and don't forget those who support you and love you.

Yan Yuan held a soccer ball in one hand and flipped through a photo album with the other. Page after page of yellowed photos recorded his growth, from naivety to maturity, from immaturity to perseverance.

His fingers gently brushed over the photograph, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

"Mom... thank you, these two gifts are so precious... they are really meaningful..." He stepped forward and hugged his mother tightly.

Finally, there's Lin Jianwei.

She took out a dark blue velvet box that looked very high-quality.

"Happy birthday, my great star, Captain Yan!" She winked playfully and opened the box.

Inside lay an exquisite Richard Mille watch.

The dial is engraved with a line of small characters: "To my beloved Yan Yuan, may you write your own legend on the football field."

"This watch was custom-made by a designer. I know your taste." Lin Jianwei's voice was gentle and earnest. "You're a big boy now, and you should have your own watch. Your responsibilities are getting bigger and bigger. You not only have to shoulder the responsibility of our whole family, but also the responsibility of this team. I will always be with you, no matter what."

Yan Yuan picked up the exquisite and meaningful watch, feeling its weight.

Looking into Lin Jianwei's bright eyes, he was filled with emotion and love.

"Weiwei... thank you. This gift... is so special, and I really like it. With it, I can feel you by my side." Yan Yuan hugged Lin Jianwei.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the warm smiles of the family members.

Looking at his parents' gratified eyes, his girlfriend's gentle smile, and feeling the warmth of the gift in his hand, Yan Yuan's heart was filled with immense happiness and satisfaction.

The thunderous roar of Wembley still echoes in his ears, a testament to the glory of football; while the tranquility and warmth of his home are now the most solid harbor and the warmest foundation of his life.

Yan Yuan blew out the last flickering candlelight on the cake.

After tonight, he will no longer be that inexperienced young genius.

He is Arsenal's captain, a leader who carries countless expectations.

He was also a son and lover deeply loved by his family and partner.

Yan Yuan had a wonderful birthday.