God Of football Chapter 998: Verdict: Anomaly!

"Will you be sleeping soon?" a woman's voice inquired, accompanied by the gentle sound of a sofa cushion shifting in the dimly lit chamber.

The man, addressed by his wife of ten years, turned toward her and gave a slight nod.

"Well, the match has concluded," the wife responded, a subtle note of protest in her tone, before her gaze drifted to the small form resting upon her husband's lap.

The husband followed her line of sight to the child, a source of much delight since her arrival, then looked back at his wife, offering a faint smile.

"I will take her to her room and be with you shortly," he stated, his eyes conveying a plea. His wife eventually conceded, though not without a weary sigh.

"Just be back early. I don't want to be the one fetching you to bed," she said, sounding fatigued. She then walked a short distance across the floor, its timbers letting out a soft creak, and a moment later, a door clicked shut behind her.

The husband then redirected his attention to the television screen, where a fresh yet familiar graphic was displayed prominently.

Arsenal 4–0 West Ham United.

The visual remained, showcasing Arsenal's emblem on one side and West Ham's on the other, before transitioning to the post-match analysis. The host leaned back slightly in his seat, fingers interlocked, observing the replay of the fourth goal cycling silently behind him.

"Seven wins out of seven, folks," he declared finally, exhaling for dramatic effect.

"Twenty-one points from a possible twenty-one. Thirty-three goals tallied since the season commenced, with a mere two conceded. A close contest was never anticipated tonight, and indeed, it was not."

Immediately after his statement, he shifted his attention to his right, offering a subtle nod to one of the evening's guests.

"But what we are witnessing transcends merely a strong opening. It signifies something altogether different, and from current indications, it is hardly a stretch to surmise that Arsenal might successfully defend their title."

The pundit, a former midfielder whose bearing still suggested he could take to the field at any moment, nodded slowly in agreement.

"It remains premature to offer definitive pronouncements, and the future is inherently uncertain, yet it is, quite frankly, astonishing," he remarked.

"Thirty-three goals in seven league fixtures. Such a tally is unprecedented. If these numbers hold, Arsenal could potentially score at least 120 goals by the season's end. To me, they have truly appeared unstoppable on every occasion."

He lightly tapped the desk with his knuckles.

"And perhaps unsurprisingly, Izan accounts for twenty-one of those goals. Twenty-one, and it is still merely the fourth of October. Curiously, I had assumed he was already twenty, given how long it feels as though I have known him, but the young man is still seventeen and will not reach adulthood until the latter part of November!"

The second pundit adjusted his position in his seat, crossing his arms.

"It is truly remarkable," he commented. "It is unlike anything previously observed, but the league will eventually adapt. We have seen instances of this before, with Arsenal themselves scoring 33 goals back in 2009, albeit across the first ten games of their season, and Manchester City netting 36 in a comparable ten-match span."

The first pundit directed a sharp look at him.

"Adapt?"

"What I am conveying," the second stated, standing his ground, "is that context is crucial. Arsenal is performing exceptionally. They possess immense confidence. However, they are not quite as invincible as many perceive them to be."

The host gently interjected.

"Nineteen goals prior to today's match. A brace from the bench brings the total to twenty-one. Furthermore, there are eight assists to his name."

"Twenty-eight goal contributions," the first pundit affirmed immediately. "On matchday seven. In the Premier League."

He leaned forward, his voice gaining intensity.

"This is not a league where opponents capitulate easily. Defenders do not yield ground willingly. Midfielders do not grant space out of sheer generosity. The sport is becoming increasingly structured and tactical, yet he remains involved in twenty-eight goals already. Out of a total of thirty-three. There have only been five goals scored this season in which he was neither the scorer nor the assister."

The second pundit exhaled audibly.

"Indeed, let us not delude ourselves into believing the league lacks competitiveness. The Premier League consistently sets the standard. Players face considerable challenges, and eventually, every team does."

Before the second pundit could elaborate further, the first raised a hand.

"No one disputes that fact."

He then turned slightly towards the primary camera.

"However, let us be clear. The league is undoubtedly at the pinnacle. Certainly. The intensity, the speed, the caliber of play. It is exceptionally demanding. But he operates on a level ten times superior. That is the difficult reality."

The host observed their exchange intently, allowing a moment of silence.

"Erling Haaland has scored nine goals," the second pundit offered. "Nine in seven matches is still an impressive feat. Exceptionally strong."

"And yet, it appears diminished in comparison," he concluded.

"That is the issue. Nine would lead most seasons at this point. But twenty-one? Twenty-one makes everything else appear normal. Izan is making the league resemble a book."

He shook his head, a hint of amusement in his expression.

The second pundit leaned forward, a touch of frustration beginning to surface.

"Football does not remain static. It adapts. And I am confident they will discover methods, perhaps next season if not this one!"

"They are already doing so," the first retorted. "He is the top priority on every defensive strategy sheet. Yet, it is not effective. Now, even Europe has resorted to administrative measures to halt Izan because he has kept them on edge since last season and appears poised to do it again with Arsenal this season!"

The second pundit’s posture relaxed slightly.

"Kindly refrain from speculation as we do not yet have a definitive conclusion, and no one intends to diminish Izan's achievements, especially after winning the Ballon d’Or. I will concede," he admitted softly, "even those currently excelling are not operating at this altitude. Statistically, no. In terms of impact, no."

He then directed his gaze back towards the host.

"But football operates in cycles. A downturn is inevitable."

"Perhaps," the first conceded. "Perhaps there will be, but that is a discussion I wish to have 15 years from now, as Izan's career will only yield more 'gold, gold, gold.'"

He looked directly into the camera again, his voice now steady instead of impassioned.

"At present, we are witnessing something without a peer. We prefer to act as if there is a competition. We enjoy crafting narratives. Haaland versus this player, Mbappé versus that one. Yamal versus him. It makes for compelling television."

He gestured with his hands.

"In reality? There is not a single player on the planet who can match him right now. Not in terms of output. Not in terms of influence."

The first pundit settled back into his chair.

"And if this is October," he added, as if speaking to himself, "then the summer promises to be exciting."

/Swiishh/

"That's quite enough from you," the man stated as he switched off the television and rose from his seat.

"Let’s get you and I off to sleep before Mommy comes to have our heads," he continued as his daughter stirred in his arms, squirming as if seeking a more comfortable position.

....

On a separate, muted wall some distance away, Arsenal’s fourth goal was being replayed.

Dr. Keller stood by the window, his phone held to his ear, his glasses perched low on his nose.

He avoided looking directly at the screen, but the movement on it was faintly reflected in the glass.

"Have you concluded with the statement?" the voice on the other end inquired.

Keller nodded once before responding, as if his caller could perceive his action.

"Yes," he replied, his tone calm and assured.

"It has undergone two reviews. There is nothing further to add."

Keller turned slightly, finally facing the screen.

"All samples were clear," he elaborated. "Blood panels. Hormonal indicators. Recovery measurements. No anomalies. No artificial enhancements. Nothing identified within their nutritional regimen either. We scrutinized it meticulously."

"They are simply... precise."

After a brief pause, the call terminated without any concluding remarks.

And by morning, the official statement had been released.

The headline was straightforward, devoid of sensationalism or ambiguous phrasing.

UEFA’s official communication detailed the testing procedures involving randomized samples, despite the short timeframe of approximately five days.

Nevertheless, the statement indicated ongoing surveillance with a follow-up investigation, but confirmed that, at present, nothing was out of the ordinary.

No forbidden substances were detected in any Arsenal player who underwent testing.

No unusual biological markers were found.

No banned compounds were identified in any supplements, meals, or recovery beverages.

One section described the club as "a team operating at a standard of tactical and physical accuracy that, while exceptional, remains within the scope of natural human variation."

Another sentence characterized their recent dominance as "a confluence of elite physical conditioning, structural coherence, and surges in individual performance and comprehension."

Then, towards the conclusion, a more concise section contributed by Dr. Keller featured a specific acknowledgment.

the statement read,

The final sentence was less technical in its phrasing.

A/N: Hello, loyal readers! Art here, hoping life has been treating you all well. Apologies for my recent absence; I was undeniably occupied with numerous commitments, particularly last week, which necessitated juggling an exam alongside personal matters I was navigating. While a full resolution remains elusive, my schedule has thankfully normalized, affording me some respite. However, I must temper expectations regarding a return to the previous pace of 14 weekly chapters for this particular work. My commitment moving forward is one chapter daily, with the hopeful addition of one or two more on weekends, as I continue to manage multiple projects. We have reached Chapter 999, a milestone that truly underscores our journey together. From the depths of my heart, I extend my sincerest gratitude. My initial motivation for writing this book stemmed from a lack of stories in this genre, and I am immensely pleased that my imagination has resonated with you. Thank you for your unwavering support, your generous gifts, and your dedicated reading. I assure you that I will bring this book to a satisfying conclusion for your sake. Thank you profoundly!