Chapter 404 404: Red Night In London

The moment the final whistle blew, the Emirates Stadium erupted in an overwhelming wave of emotion. Every Arsenal supporter rose as one, their faces alight with pure ecstasy. Arms waved wildly, voices screamed in disbelief and joy. After ten long years, Arsenal had finally returned to the Champions League final.

Alan Smith (voice cracking with excitement): "They've done it! Arsenal have done it! After ninety minutes of absolute battle, they have defeated Bayern Munich and booked their place in the Champions League final!"

Martin Tyler: "What a night at the Emirates Stadium. Ten years after 2006, the Gunners are back on the greatest stage in club football. Tonight, London belongs to Arsenal!"

. . .

Mrs. Winter Shop

The glow of the television illuminated Mrs. Winter's face. A warm, heartfelt smile spread across her wrinkled features as she watched the celebrations.

She glanced at the portrait of her late husband on the wall — the stubborn old man still proudly wearing his Arsenal jersey.

"If only Bruce were here," she whispered. "He would be dancing like a child."

With a chuckle, she removed her coat, revealing a brand-new Arsenal Number 4 jersey she had bought the day before. She stood up, straightened her back as best she could, and threw three enthusiastic punches toward the screen.

"Kai! Kai! Kai!"

"This boy is something special!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with pride and joy. Even the man in the portrait seemed to smile more brightly in the flickering light.

. . .

At Mr. Wilson's barbershop, the old man was on his feet, waving his arms vigorously. He was going to Berlin. Nothing — not his age, not his health — would stop him from watching Arsenal in the final. A contented smile crossed his face as he gazed at the collection of jerseys on the wall, his eyes resting longest on the Number 4 shirt.

Arsenal had planted a seed of hope, and now it was flourishing.

. . .

Across the world, in homes, bars, and public spaces in China and beyond, Arsenal fans erupted in wild celebration. Cheers echoed through the night, shattering the quiet. No one could call them Top Four specialists or meme material anymore. They had defeated Bayern Munich and reached the Champions League final — a true statement of strength.

London itself shook with joy. Though a city of many clubs, Arsenal possessed the largest and loudest support. On this night, they were undisputed Kings of London — and they were now chasing the title of Kings of Europe.

. . .

Inside the Emirates Stadium, the atmosphere descended into glorious chaos. Overjoyed fans surged forward, overwhelming security and spilling onto the pitch in a tidal wave of red and white. Players were quickly surrounded.

In moments, jerseys, shorts, socks, and boots began disappearing as supporters celebrated in their own unrestrained fashion.

Kai and Cazorla were among the first to be engulfed. In a matter of seconds, Le Kai found himself stripped down to torn remnants of his shorts, desperately trying to maintain some dignity while laughing in disbelief. Cazorla fared little better.

Even the substitutes were not spared.

As the wild celebration continued, the fans' attention slowly turned toward the technical area… and the unmistakable figure of Arsène Wenger.

"Are you going to strip the old man's clothes too? That's going too far!"

Kai laughed, waving his arms frantically. "Protect Wenger!"

The Arsenal players immediately rushed over and formed a protective circle around Arsène Wenger. With the help of security personnel, they managed to escort him safely back into the locker room.

. . .

Inside the dressing room, the players stood in various states of undress — most wearing nothing but their underwear. Under normal circumstances, this would have been an embarrassing sight. Yet on this night, every face was lit with broad, irrepressible smiles.

"Professor, you really should give us a raise," one player called out, "otherwise you might have ended up like us!"

Wenger, whose usually impeccable appearance was somewhat dishevelled — tie missing, collar open, and one shoe lost during the escape — looked momentarily embarrassed.

"Hurry up and get dressed," he said, trying to regain some authority.

"What clothes?" Pat Rice suddenly appeared, camera in hand, grinning mischievously. "Grab him, lads! Let's take a group photo!"

Le Kai laughed and immediately stepped forward. "Come on, Professor!"

With their captain leading the way, the players lifted a protesting Wenger into the air.

"What are you doing? I'll deduct your salaries!" Wenger shouted in mock horror.

"We'll take the photo even if you deduct them!" Le Kai replied cheerfully.

Pat Rice gave a thumbs-up. "Ready?"

Click!

The resulting image captured Wenger suspended in mid-air with a look of pure terror on his face, surrounded by a group of nearly naked, laughing Arsenal players.

Though highly unconventional for a club known for its discipline and elegance, the photograph would later become a beloved classic among Arsenal supporters — a symbol of the unbreakable bond and joy of that historic night.

That evening, London erupted in celebration. Fireworks lit up the sky while red flares filled the streets with thick crimson smoke. The city glowed red as excited fans partied without restraint. London police had a busy night managing the joyous chaos, but for Arsenal supporters, it was a moment of pure, long-awaited release.

. . .

The following day, European media were dominated by Arsenal's victory. After two thrilling legs, the Gunners had earned first place in the 2015 Champions League final.

One particular comment from an online user known as Football Guru_78 gained widespread attention and praise:

"Many people believe Arsenal's strength lies in their midfield, but those who truly understand this team know it runs deeper than that.

In this Arsenal squad, only Di María has previously won the Champions League. For everyone else, this will be their first final.

This is a team of relative newcomers, yet they have overcome mighty Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final.

We must applaud Arsène Wenger's vision in building this side, and even more so, his ability to mould them into a genuine force.

Is this Arsenal strong? Yes — very strong.

Their strength does not come from one or two star individuals, but from their remarkable collective spirit and cohesion.

This semi-final proved exactly that.

Santi Cazorla, our Man of the Match, delivered an outstanding performance. But even if he hadn't, someone else would have stepped up. That is the beauty of this current Arsenal team — all eleven players are strong.

This is no patchwork side. The Professor has forged them into a precise, unified machine."

. . .

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