Rise of a Football God

(Premier league:)

(Arsenal 0-2 Fulham)

(Half-time:)

Incredulously, the first half of this game came to an end with Fulham still leading the home side by 2 goals.

When the players went to the tunnel to rest, the rest of the world was thrown into a frenzy. Fulham were actually doing it!

This season, there was the perfect term to describe Fulham, the underdogs.

Earlier in the season, that was how fans still predicted.

Premier league fans predicted that they would lose against Arsenal, they would lose against Manchester City, they don't have what it takes to retain their spot at the top of the English premier league table but fast forward to now, Fulham were still within touching distance of the top.

Somehow, Fulham managed to prove all their doubters wrong and against all odds, they were still standing.

Somehow, they managed to get results against the biggest sides in the premier league this season and were still standing strong.

And somehow, in the 2nd half of the season now, they managed to win against Tottenham Hotspur last time out despite all the pressure on them.

And now, somehow, they were winning against Arsenal!

This was unbelievable, this was crazy, this season was borderline madness!

Manchester City was not in the title race any longer, and Fulham was actually in the title race! Was there a crazier premier league season than that?

While the outside world went ga ga over the first half result of this game, in the dressing room, Coach Marco Silva addressed his players.

This coach did not hold back, applauding his players as a proud smile lined his lips. "Congratulations guys, you all did well out there on the pitch".

"Your pressing was aggressive and consistent; you obeyed my instructions and never gave them too much time on the ball. For that, kudos to you guys". He smiled brightly even as his players also smiled back at him.

"During the second half, they'll want to increase the pressure even more. Their rationale will be that with more pressure, we won't be able to keep up, we'll falter and make mistakes".

Coach Marco Silva's eyes flashed, his face becoming serious. "That is exactly what I want to avoid".

"Don't fall into their rhythm, stay consistent in our own rhythm".

"When they're with the ball, press, never let up!"

"When you're with the ball, attack immediately! Always keep them on tenterhooks, got it?"

"Yes boss!"

"Good, relax your brains a bit and get ready to return to the pitch".

When the players eventually returned to the pitch, just like Coach Marco Silva predicted, all the Arsenal players felt like they received a shot of glucose and adrenaline as it showed in their mannerisms.

Arsenal's approach to this game changed.

FWEEEE!

As soon as the referee's whistle sounded this time, Fulham's suffering truly began as Arsenal took the game to them.

And trust the home supporters, they were firmly behind their team despite the fact that they were now losing by 2 goals.

BOOM!

Their voices rose through the roof of this stadium, creating sonic tsunamis of noise that affected the Fulham players but sheer determination was what kept the visitors going, playing their game.

Still, the Arsenal players tried everything in their repertoires.

From corner kicks, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, the 2 imposing Arsenal center backs tried to create something but Calvin Bassey and Diop were always at the ready, aggressively fighting the aerial battle with them and winning.

Those corner kicks also led to 2 dangerous Fulham counterattacks.

This 2nd half was even more explosive than the first as both teams played their hearts out. The Arsenal players were getting frustrated, nothing seemed to be working until something magical happened from the right side of the pitch.

Having did his best to keep up with the English International for most of the game, a tired Antonee Robinson finally let up and that was all Saka needed.

Receiving a long pass from Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka executed a perfect touch to bring the ball under control.

As soon as he controlled the ball, Antonee Robinson charged in only for the winger's quick feet to move in a blur, nutmegging him.

And just like that, Robinson was eliminated.

"Ugh!" Groaning tiredly, Robinson could not turn around to pursue immediately and that was the deciding moment.

Drifting with the ball infield, Bukayo Saka ran into more opposition.

He first ran into Lukic but slowing down slightly to draw the midfielder in, Saka used a perfect la croqueta to delete the Fulham midfielder.

Just outside the 18-yard box, the winger looked up at the Fulham goal, raising his leg to unleash a powerful shot at goal but he was not allowed to shoot as Diop came sliding in aggressively.

Saka stopped his shot at the last moment, turning it into a feint as in a show of skill, he trapped the ball, letting Diop slide helplessly past him.

With that, Diop was deleted but Calvin Bassey arrived soon after.

As soon as the Nigerian International arrived, Bukayo Saka staggered and as Bassey staggered with him, panicking, with a drop of his shoulder, the winger exploded past the center back and then, he finally hit the ball with his lethal left foot.

Bam!

It was not one of those powerful piledriver shots, rather it was a perfect precision curled shot towards the top left corner of the Fulham net.

Bernd Leno reacted, jumping on a full-stretch dive but it was not enough as curling beyond his reach, the ball curled back and into the net.

For a brief moment in the Emirates Stadium, there was a moment of disbelieving silence, and then…

"GOALLLLLLL…!!!" Arsenal fans erupted, spreading chaos as some even jumped beyond the barrier and into the pitch, celebrating with the players!

It almost felt like they've won the game.

That goal… had long been coming.

All the pressure since, all the pent-up emotions, they were all let out by that absolutely brilliant goal from the English winger.

Saka chants started around this stadium and in that moment, they could feel it, the switch in momentum.

Momentum was now on Arsenal's side.

Bukayo Saka scored a goal to half Fulham's lead in the 73rd minute of this game, did they have what it takes to draw this game?

"Now, Fulham are on tenterhooks, what a goal!"

"This game is even more interesting now!" Find more adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

"What can Arsenal do?"