[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foresight":3,"chapter-foresight-foresight-chapter-35":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","FORESIGHT",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1847433,2452,"Chapter 35 35: The Fire Beneath","foresight-chapter-35",35,"\u003Cp>February 26, 2012\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Oak Bar, Woolwich, London\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur- Matchday 26.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right! Just smash them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't let those Spurs lot get too cocky!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Push forward!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beautiful from Arteta!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Song—steal it! Ah, damn it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bar was in chaos. Arsenal fans were on their feet, drinks in hand, shouting, swearing, and cheering like mad. The atmosphere was electric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Billy was in the thick of it, more worked up than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Kai sat quietly at the bar, sipping his juice and chatting with Kelvin Meadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We've got this in the bag,\" Kai said after taking a sip. \"Played a solid game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows nodded, frowning slightly. \"We're closing the gap, but bloody hell—Spurs are ten points ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai didn't say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal had taken a hit in recent weeks. But they were able to bounce back with some wins to place themselves in fourth place. After 25 rounds, the Spurs sat third with 53 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>43, but they were not out of the woods yet. Chelsea was with 43 but sat in fifth due the head to the head-to-head stat since both teams had the same goal difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This match was crucial. A loss would mean falling even further behind, and no Gooner could accept that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai thought about it and fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal fans had a certain resilience. They didn't cling to setbacks. They moved on. One week later, it was like nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai couldn't quite decide how he felt about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wenger hasn't given you another chance yet?\" Meadows asked, resting his chin on his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai shook his head. \"Doesn't seem like the boss is in any rush to bring me back in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows chuckled. \"He's focused on Champions League qualification. Not the time to experiment with new personnel. Once things settle, your chance will come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai raised an eyebrow. \"You sound pretty sure of that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows smirked. \"You don't sound convinced.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai shrugged. \"Do I?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were excellent on your debut,\" Meadows said. \"Really solid. If Henry hadn't stolen the spotlight, you'd have been man of the match. Hell of a way to start—if that doesn't earn you minutes, then Arsenal might as well change their name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai didn't reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth was, he didn't feel much about that game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Meadows had said, it was a debut destined to be forgotten. The headlines the next day all screamed Henry's Return. His performance was barely a footnote.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No media coverage. No fan buzz the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't expected heaps of praise, but a little recognition wouldn't have hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger had his eyes on Europe. This wasn't the time to nurture young players, even if Kai had made a promising start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger needed stability. Points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Kai, a kid with just one appearance, wasn't part of that core plan. Not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sighing, Kai turned to Meadows. \"How was I, really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As I said before, you were great,\" Meadows said without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai leaned in. \"You coming to watch my next match?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows blinked, then grinned. \"Not yet. If you have to ask, you haven't done enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai rolled his eyes. \"So what is enough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows shot back, \"Why do you want me there so badly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai paused. \"I guess… It's just good to know someone's watching. Someone I know and care about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows gave a soft chuckle and shook his head. \"When I think you've earned it, I'll be there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai groaned. \"What, you want me to score a hat-trick? I'm a midfielder!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. \"I've got my standards, lad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai let it go. This guy wasn't going to give him a straight answer. Probably didn't want to admit Wenger might've been right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The game ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the 2011\u002F12 season, Arsenal beat Spurs 5–2. North London bragging rights secured, although Arsenal lost away at White Hart Lane 2-1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like payback for the first half of the season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fans were buzzing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Billy was humming tunes on the walk home, practically skipping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai was at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They'd lost out on the title, been knocked out of the Champions League—and yet one derby win brought all the joy back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe that's just how Arsenal fans were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so many years without silverware, they'd learned to find happiness wherever they could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, with the derby behind them, the team turned its focus to chasing a Champions League spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core players played every match. No rotation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No minutes for the bench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai included.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chamberlain had it even worse—he was desperate. Training like a man possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger noticed. He was pleased with the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chamberlain's been excellent lately,\" Pat Rice commented, glancing sideways at Van Persie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger gave him a sharp look. \"Don't go there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat pursed his lips. He didn't look convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors had been swirling. Van Persie's contract had a year left. The club tried to extend, but he kept dodging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few failed attempts, the writing was on the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Fabregas, the club had grown wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now the media was speculating—was Van Persie's agent shopping him around?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat hoped it was all nonsense. Just media noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the signs weren't good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, it was calm on the surface. Everyone was still pushing for Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But beneath that, things were uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat Rice headed out to the pitch and called to Kai, \"Let's go—medical check.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai left the training game, grabbed his towel, and followed Pat silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither said a word on the way to the infirmary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Arsenal now—outwardly solid, inwardly unsettled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the infirmary, the team doctor, Levin, motioned for Kai to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai stripped off his shirt. Gary pinched the skin under his shoulder blades with calipers and repeated the test three times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're putting on weight again,\" he muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai now weighed 83 kilos—a 6-kilo jump from the start of the season. The added fat was starting to show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat gave a nod and waved Kai off. Then he turned to Gary for the full report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cardiovascular assessment, musculoskeletal assessment, and body composition—all documented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After checking the data, Pat nodded. \"Looks good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gary chuckled. \"Trying to turn him into a tank?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat shook his head. \"He can't be a tank.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gary O'Driscoll raised a brow. \"You've got high hopes for him, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat looked up. \"What makes you say that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You weren't this invested in Cesc. You think Kai's more talented?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mention of Fabregas darkened Pat's face. \"Don't bring up that name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still felt betrayed by the star he'd helped shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gary raised his hands. \"Alright, alright. No need to revisit old wounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused. \"So? You didn't answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rice was quiet for a moment. \"Yeah… I do have high hopes for him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gary smiled. \"You want him to be the next Fabregas?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat scoffed. \"No. He'll be the next Vieira.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gary fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, carefully, he asked, \"Are you sure that's the right path?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat's voice was steady. \"Whether it is or not, you know as well as I do—my vision's always been different from Arsène's.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He believes in the system. In structure. Tactics above all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But we know there's more to football than that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat clenched his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spirit. Confidence. Will to win. Trust in your teammates. These things—they decide games. Players aren't robots. They've got fire. Emotion. And when that fire catches, it changes everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We've ignored that for too long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's time we changed direction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW AND SOME STONES.\u003C\u002Fp>",1247,"2026-06-09T07:00:21.211Z",1,"novelbin.me","f6a44a3aca722c616b3021ed3e829b5680f837df2bac179076902119de3e43db","foresight-chapter-36","foresight-chapter-34",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fforesight-cover.jpg"]