God Of football

Chapter 552: December Crunch [1]

The wind off the Thames hit harder than usual.

It crept between jacket buttons and into gloved fingers, whipped through the old iron gates of Craven Cottage, and swirled across the pitch like it had something to say.

Packed to the rafters, the stadium groaned with anticipation.

The crowd buzzed—not rowdy, but sharp, edged with hope and edged with nerves.

And above it all, a voice slipped into the broadcast.

“This place has always felt like it remembers things,” said Rob Hawthorne, his tone almost reverent as the camera panned across the bobbing crowd and the snug old stands.

“History leaks through the bricks at Craven Cottage,” responded co-commentator Chris Sutton.

“But if Fulham want a different kind of memory tonight, they’ll need more than nostalgia. Arsenal aren’t here for the tour.”

“Yes, Chris,” Rob Hawthorne said, “This is the point where titles are lost or won. The December crunch and if Arsenal have their sights set on the title, then they need to tread carefully in this upcoming stretch or they could even slip outside European football contention..”

Kickoff snapped the calm.

It wasn’t aggressive.

It wasn’t manic.

It was methodical.

Arsenal passed like a chess master opening with perfect form—no drama, no flamboyance.

Just a quiet threat in every move.

Izan was on the shoulder early, drifting into the half-spaces and baiting pressure.

Not touching the ball too often.

But always where the defenders’ eyes twitched toward.

“Izan occupying the spaces in front of the Fulham defense early on.,” Sutton muttered. “He’s tying knots and weaving nets but they won’t know when they are caught.”

In the seventh minute, Arsenal made their first real incision.

Rice spun past Alex Iwobi with a simple shoulder feint and immediately slotted a ball into Ødegaard.

Fulham’s line reacted late—too late.

Izan had dropped in, pulled Bassey with him, and already flicked it sideways to Jorginho, who pinged it wide for Saka.

The Fulham right side was caught flat.

Saka hesitated just enough for the fullback to commit.

Then burst.