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...
Francesco smiled and finally let himself rest as for one day, football could wait.
Then the following morning arrived without the urgency that had accompanied almost every other day of Francesco's recent schedule.
There was no flight to catch.
No team meeting waiting at London Colney.
No recovery appointment.
No tactical briefing.
For once, the day belonged entirely to football that he did not have to play.
Francesco finished breakfast at the Richmond house, changed into something casual and grabbed his keys.
Leah had mentioned the fixture several times during the week.
Arsenal Women were playing Chelsea Women at Meadow Park.
Normally, when Francesco was not involved in a match himself, he could disappear into the quiet corners of his home and enjoy having nothing demanded of him. But this was different.
He wanted to watch Leah.
Not on television.
Not through highlights.
From the stands.
He wanted to see her play from the same perspective that supporters experienced every week.
So, after saying goodbye to Cheddar, Francesco climbed into his car and set off toward Meadow Park.
The drive felt almost strangely ordinary.
No police escort.
No team bus.
No equipment trucks.
Just traffic, familiar London roads and the occasional Arsenal shirt visible through car windows as supporters made their own way toward the stadium.
The closer Francesco got to Meadow Park, the more obvious the matchday atmosphere became.
Small groups of supporters walked along the streets.
Scarves were wrapped around necks.
Children wore Arsenal shirts that were far too large for them.
Several people carried flags folded beneath their arms.
Francesco smiled as he passed them.
There was something refreshing about arriving at a football match as a supporter rather than as one of the players.
He parked and made his way toward the stadium entrance.
A member of the Arsenal staff recognized him almost immediately.
"Francesco."
"Morning."
"Enjoying your day off?"
"I am now."
The staff member laughed.
"Good. You'll have a better view than most of us."
Francesco shook his head.
"That's why I came."
Further along, he greeted another familiar face from the club.
A brief handshake.
A smile.
A few words about the fixture.
Nothing formal.
Nobody needed to make an occasion out of his presence.
He was simply another Arsenal person there to watch Arsenal.
As he made his way toward the seating area, several supporters recognized him.
"Francesco!"
He turned.
A group of fans smiled and waved.
He returned the gesture.
"Enjoy the game."
"You too!"
He continued toward his seat.
It was in the front row, close to the pitch on the Arsenal side.
From there, the difference was immediately obvious.
There was no barrier of television cameras or distance.
He could hear individual instructions from the players.
He could hear boots striking the ball.
He could see defenders communicating.
He could see the small movements that television coverage often missed.
Francesco settled into his seat and looked across the pitch.
Meadow Park was gradually filling.
The atmosphere was energetic without being overwhelming.
Supporters spoke among themselves while waiting for the teams to emerge, and the sound of drums and songs occasionally carried across the stands.
Then the Arsenal Women came out.
Francesco's attention immediately went to Leah.
The starting lineup was announced.
Peyraud-Magnin in goal.
Evans, Leah Williamson, Janssen and Mitchell across the defence.
Kim Little wearing the captain's armband.
Walti and Van De Donk in midfield.
Nobbs and Mead supporting Vivianne Miedema in attack.
Francesco watched Leah during the final moments of the warm-up.
She looked completely focused.
There was no unnecessary movement.
She spoke with Evans and Janssen, occasionally pointing toward the spaces behind the midfield.
The match officials completed their final checks.
The teams took their positions.
The whistle sounded.
Chelsea tried to establish themselves early, but Arsenal immediately made it clear that they intended to control the match.
Little dropped into useful positions to receive the ball.
Walti offered an outlet.
Van De Donk moved between the lines.
Mead stayed alert to space on the flank.
Miedema drifted across the front line rather than remaining fixed between the centre-backs.
And behind them, Leah was constantly reading what was developing.
Francesco found himself watching her almost as closely as the attack.
From this close, he could see the way she adjusted her position before the ball arrived.
Chelsea attempted to play through the middle.
Leah stepped forward.
The pass was cut out.
Another attempt went toward the right side.
She shifted across without abandoning the centre.
A Chelsea forward tried to turn between the lines.
Leah was already there.
She did not need a dramatic tackle.
She simply placed herself in the correct position and forced the attacker backward.
Francesco smiled to himself.
That was the part of defending he appreciated most.
The anticipation.
The decision made before the danger actually appeared.
Arsenal continued building.
Their passing became quicker.
Little and Walti moved the ball from side to side while Van De Donk repeatedly found pockets behind Chelsea's midfield.
Eventually, Arsenal won a penalty.
The move began with sustained pressure around the Chelsea area.
Mead received wide and drove toward the box.
She combined with Nobbs, who returned the ball into her path.
Mead entered the area before being brought down.
The referee pointed immediately to the spot.
The Arsenal supporters rose.
Francesco stood with them.
Little collected the ball.
She placed it carefully.
The Chelsea goalkeeper waited on the line.
Little took a breath.
Then struck.
The penalty went into the corner.
One-nil Arsenal.
The supporters erupted.
Francesco applauded with those around him, smiling as Little was surrounded by teammates.
"Good penalty," someone beside him said.
Francesco nodded.
"Very calm."
Arsenal restarted with confidence.
Chelsea tried to respond by pushing their midfield higher.
That created space behind them.
Leah noticed it almost immediately.
She won possession after reading a forward pass, then played simply into Walti.
The move began again.
One pass.
Then another.
Arsenal moved Chelsea from side to side.
Nobbs received between two defenders and turned.
She found Miedema.
The striker controlled the ball with her first touch.
A defender stepped toward her.
Miedema shifted the ball onto her preferred foot.
The finish was low and precise.
Two-nil.
Francesco rose again.
The supporters around him celebrated, but he remained focused on the pitch.
Miedema had made it look easier than it had been.
The first touch had created the opening.
The finish had completed it.
Chelsea were suddenly forced to chase the match.
They attempted to build through midfield, but Arsenal's pressing made that difficult.
Whenever Chelsea tried to play centrally, Walti or Van De Donk closed the nearest passing option.
When they went wide, Arsenal's full-backs stepped out.
And whenever Chelsea managed to break through that first pressure, Leah and Janssen were waiting behind it.
One Chelsea attack looked particularly dangerous.
A pass slipped through toward the forward line.
Leah reacted instantly.
She moved across, timed her challenge and took the ball cleanly before the attacker could enter the area.
The Arsenal supporters applauded.
Francesco joined them.
Leah immediately got back to her feet and began directing the defensive line.
"Stay there!"
"Hold!"
Her teammates responded.
Chelsea eventually had to recycle the ball.
The danger disappeared.
Francesco leaned back slightly in his seat.
He had seen Leah play countless times.
But watching from this distance gave him a different appreciation of what she contributed.
She was not trying to dominate every moment.
She simply kept making the right decision.
When to step.
When to hold.
When to challenge.
When to let the attack come toward her.
By halftime, Arsenal remained two goals ahead.
The players disappeared toward the dressing rooms.
Francesco remained in his seat while supporters around him discussed the first half.
Arsenal had controlled most of the contest.
But nobody appeared to be treating the result as settled.
The second half proved why.
Arsenal returned with even greater attacking intent.
Nobbs became increasingly involved.
She began arriving higher up the pitch, timing her runs beyond Miedema rather than staying alongside the midfield.
The first warning came when she received a pass from Van De Donk and carried the ball toward the edge of the area.
Her shot was blocked.
The rebound fell to Mead.
Chelsea cleared.
The next attack was more successful.
Walti won the ball and immediately moved it to Little.
Little turned and found Nobbs.
Nobbs exchanged a quick pass with Miedema.
That one-two opened a narrow channel.
Nobbs entered the area.
She took one touch to settle herself.
Then finished beyond the goalkeeper.
Three-nil.
Francesco clapped as the Arsenal players celebrated.
Nobbs was quickly surrounded.
The supporters were becoming louder now.
Chelsea restarted, but Arsenal continued pressing.
Their confidence had grown.
Miedema dropped deeper to participate in the buildup before suddenly turning and moving forward.
A pass from Mead found her.
Miedema controlled it just outside the box.
Nobbs dragged a defender toward the left.
That created space in front of Miedema.
She took advantage.
One touch.
A second.
Then a controlled finish into the corner.
Four-nil.
Francesco smiled and shook his head.
"She makes that look easy."
The supporter beside him laughed.
"She's unbelievable."
Francesco nodded.
"She is."
Chelsea were struggling to find a way back.
They attempted to attack through the flanks, but Leah remained alert to every movement around her.
One sequence in particular drew Francesco's attention.
Chelsea sent a forward into the channel between centre-back and full-back.
Leah tracked the run.
The ball came through.
She reached it first and cleared cleanly.
Another attack followed moments later.
This time, Chelsea attempted to play over the top.
Leah adjusted her body and won the aerial challenge.
She immediately looked up.
"Push!"
The defensive line moved forward together.
Arsenal regained their shape.
There was no panic.
No unnecessary clearance.
Just another defensive situation dealt with properly.
Francesco watched with quiet pride.
The attacking players were producing the goals, but Leah was contributing to the same result in a completely different way.
Chelsea's frustration began to show.
Arsenal took advantage.
Nobbs completed her afternoon with another goal.
The move started with Arsenal recovering possession in midfield.
Van De Donk carried the ball forward and slipped it toward Mead.
Mead looked up.
Nobbs was already moving.
The pass arrived into her path.
Nobbs took it in stride and entered the penalty area.
A defender tried to close her down.
Nobbs shifted the ball onto her other foot.
The goalkeeper came forward.
She finished low.
Five-nil.
The Arsenal bench rose.
Nobbs was immediately embraced by her teammates.
Francesco applauded from his seat, smiling as the scoreboard confirmed the margin.
Five goals.
Two for Miedema.
Two for Nobbs.
One for Little.
And still no response from Chelsea.
The remaining minutes were played with considerably less urgency.
Arsenal continued to move the ball intelligently rather than searching recklessly for another goal.
Leah remained completely engaged.
Even at five-nil, she continued communicating.
She pointed to spaces.
She spoke with Evans.
She adjusted Janssen's position when Chelsea attempted another attack.
A late Chelsea move finally reached the Arsenal penalty area.
Leah stepped across the attacker and intercepted the pass before it could become a shot.
The crowd applauded again.
Francesco stood.
He clapped toward the pitch.
Leah briefly glanced toward the stands.
For a second, their eyes met.
She smiled.
Francesco returned it.
Then the game continued.
The final whistle eventually arrived.
Five-nil.
Arsenal Women had dominated Chelsea.
The scoreboard displayed the result clearly.
Kim Little.
Vivianne Miedema twice.
Jordan Nobbs twice.
Five goals.
No reply.
The Arsenal players gathered together on the pitch while supporters celebrated around Meadow Park.
Francesco remained standing in the front row.
He applauded Little as she acknowledged the crowd.
Nobbs and Miedema exchanged smiles.
The coaching staff gathered near the technical area.
And then Francesco looked toward Leah.
She was still near the defensive line, speaking with Evans and Janssen before eventually turning toward the supporters.
Her afternoon had been quieter than the attackers' but no less important.
She had read the game well.
She had won challenges.
She had intercepted dangerous passes.
She had kept the back line organized.
And she had helped Arsenal finish the match without conceding.
Francesco gave her another round of applause.
Leah noticed.
This time, she smiled more openly.
Francesco stayed where he was as the players began their walk toward the supporters.
He knew there would be time to speak with her once she came off the pitch.
For now, he simply watched.
The noise around Meadow Park continued, but the afternoon felt peaceful in a way that his own football rarely allowed.
He had spent years living inside the pressure of stadiums, fixtures and expectations.
Today, he had simply been a supporter.
And as Leah and her teammates moved toward the Arsenal fans after a 5–0 victory, Francesco found himself smiling at the thought that sometimes the best way to appreciate football was to sit close enough to see everything that happened away from the ball.
Especially when the person you cared about was the one making those decisions.
He waited patiently near the front row as Leah eventually made her way back toward the tunnel.
Then the area outside Meadow Park had begun to change by the time Francesco finally left his place near the front row.
The immediate excitement of the final whistle was gradually giving way to the ordinary rhythm of a football afternoon coming to an end. Supporters were filtering through the exits in small groups, some still discussing the five goals, others already making plans for the journey home. A few children lingered near the barriers, hoping for one last glimpse of the players. Club staff moved between the stadium and the parking areas, carrying equipment and speaking quietly to one another.
Francesco remained nearby.
He had no reason to hurry.
Leah still had the usual post-match responsibilities to finish, and he was perfectly content to wait.
Eventually, the flow of people began to thin.
The Arsenal Women players had finished their interviews, changed, and completed everything required of them inside the stadium. Staff members started appearing outside with bags and equipment, followed by members of the coaching staff.
Then Francesco saw Joe Montemurro emerge.
The Arsenal Women manager was walking with several members of his staff, speaking casually as they headed toward the team bus.
Behind them came the players.
Francesco smiled.
Leah was among them.
He stepped away from the side of the entrance and walked toward the group.
Joe noticed him first.
"Francesco."
"Joe."
They met halfway and shook hands.
"Good to see you," Joe said.
"You too. Great result."
Joe gave a small laugh.
"Five-nil helps."
"It definitely does."
There was nothing formal about the exchange. Francesco had spent enough time around Arsenal's wider football operation that the interaction felt more like two people from the same club crossing paths after a good afternoon.
Then the players began reaching them.
Several recognized Francesco immediately.
"Francesco!"
"Hey, how are you?"
"Good game, yeah?"
He answered each greeting with a smile, shaking hands and exchanging quick words as they passed.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks."
"Enjoyed it?"
"Very much."
The atmosphere remained relaxed.
Francesco had barely finished greeting one player before another appeared, and a few of them laughed when they noticed that his attention was beginning to drift toward Leah.
Then Leah reached the group.
For a brief moment, Francesco and Leah simply looked at each other.
There was nothing complicated about it.
She had just finished a match.
He had spent the afternoon watching her from the stands.
Now they were finally standing in front of one another.
Leah smiled.
Francesco opened his arms.
She stepped into them.
They embraced naturally, holding each other for a few seconds before separating.
A loud whistle came from somewhere behind them.
Then another.
Francesco turned his head.
A few of the players were grinning.
"Oh, come on," Leah said, laughing under her breath.
Francesco laughed as well.
"You lot are terrible."
"We're only saying hello," one of them replied innocently.
"That was a very loud hello."
The laughter spread through the group.
Leah shook her head, clearly accustomed to the teasing.
Francesco looked at her.
"You've got a difficult team."
"You have no idea."
Joe watched the exchange with an amused expression before Francesco turned back toward him.
"Joe, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Would it be alright if I took Leah with me for the rest of the evening?"
Joe glanced at Leah, then back at Francesco.
"I'm sure she can survive."
Leah laughed.
Joe continued, "But if I'm letting one of my players disappear with you, I think there should be some compensation."
Francesco raised an eyebrow.
"Compensation?"
"A VIP ticket."
Francesco smiled.
"That's negotiable."
"One of the good seats," Joe clarified. "Or better yet, the VIP room at the Emirates. For one of the big Arsenal men's matches."
Francesco didn't hesitate.
"Settled."
Joe extended his hand.
"Deal."
Francesco shook it.
"Deal."
Joe gave him an approving nod.
"I'll remember that."
"You should."
The two exchanged another smile before Francesco turned back toward the players.
"Right. I'll return her eventually."
"Eventually?" Leah repeated.
Francesco looked at her.
"Eventually."
That earned another round of laughter.
Then Vivianne Miedema stepped forward with the kind of expression that immediately suggested she had something to say.
"Leah," she said, "you know you should never let him go."
Leah looked at her.
"What?"
Kim Little joined in.
"She means it. If you let him go, we'll take him."
Vivianne nodded seriously.
"Exactly."
Francesco looked from one to the other.
"I don't think that's how this works."
Kim shrugged.
"Why not?"
"Because I'm standing right here."
"That doesn't make a difference."
Vivianne smiled.
"He's probably number one on everyone's list."
Francesco laughed quietly.
Leah simply smiled and gave a small shake of her head.
She didn't look embarrassed.
She didn't need to defend anything.
She knew exactly what her teammates were doing.
"I'm not worried," she said.
Francesco glanced at her.
"That's reassuring."
Vivianne laughed.
"See? She knows she's won."
"Viv," Leah warned, although the smile remained on her face.
Kim laughed beside her.
The teasing never became anything more than that. It was the sort of harmless dressing-room humor that came naturally after a big win, especially when teammates knew enough about one another to push just slightly without crossing any line.
Francesco took it in good humor.
"I'm beginning to understand why your team is so difficult."
Leah nudged him lightly with her shoulder.
"You've been warned."
The group slowly began separating as players prepared to board the bus.
Joe offered Francesco another brief handshake.
"Enjoy your evening."
"Thanks, Joe. And thanks for letting me steal her."
"Just remember the VIP ticket."
"I won't forget."
Leah said goodbye to the manager and then to the remaining players.
"See you tomorrow."
"Bye, Leah."
"Enjoy your evening."
"Don't be late tomorrow," someone called.
Leah turned around.
"I won't."
Another voice came from behind her.
"Don't believe her!"
The group laughed again.
Francesco and Leah finally stepped away from the bus area.
As they walked toward the car park, the noise behind them gradually became more distant.
For the first time since the final whistle, there were no teammates around them.
No cameras.
No playful comments.
Just the two of them.
Leah slipped her hands into the pockets of her jacket.
"They're never going to let that go, are they?"
"Probably not."
She smiled.
"You didn't have to agree to Joe's deal that quickly."
"Yes, I did."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want to lose negotiations."
Leah looked at him.
"You're ridiculous."
"You're welcome."
She laughed softly.
They reached the car.
Francesco unlocked it and opened the passenger door for her.
Leah climbed in, and he walked around to the driver's side.
Once the doors closed, the world outside became quieter.
He started the engine and pulled away from Meadow Park.
For several minutes, neither of them needed to say much.
The afternoon was still fresh in their minds, but there was no need to replay every moment.
Eventually Leah looked across at him.
"So?"
"So what?"
"What did you think?"
Francesco smiled.
"I thought you played well."
"Just well?"
He glanced at her.
"You want the full review?"
"No."
"Good, because I'm not your coach."
Leah laughed.
"I already have enough coaches."
"You definitely do."
He paused before adding, "I liked watching you."
That changed the tone slightly.
Leah looked ahead through the windscreen.
"It's different when you're watching from there."
"Very."
"How?"
"You notice things differently."
She nodded.
"You mean because you can actually hear us?"
"That too."
He smiled.
"But mostly because I'm not thinking about what I have to do next."
Leah understood immediately.
"When you're playing, everything happens so quickly."
"Exactly."
He continued driving as the roads gradually carried them farther away from the stadium.
"I enjoyed just watching the game."
"And watching me?"
Francesco looked at her again.
"Especially that."
She smiled.
The conversation moved naturally from there, touching on the match without turning into another tactical discussion.
They talked about the penalty, Miedema's finishing, Nobbs' two goals and the atmosphere around the stadium.
Leah mentioned that the team had felt confident from the beginning.
Francesco told her that the front-row seat had been worth it simply because he could hear the communication on the pitch.
Then Leah remembered something.
"You know Joe's going to hold you to that ticket."
"I know."
"VIP room?"
"Apparently."
"You've created a problem for yourself."
"I've solved one."
"How?"
"I get to bring you to the Emirates."
Leah smiled.
"That sounds suspiciously convenient."
"I thought so too."
By the time they reached the restaurant, the sun had begun to disappear behind the buildings.
They found a quiet table inside, away from the busiest part of the room.
There was no rush.
No reason to look at the clock.
They ordered dinner and settled into an easy rhythm, talking between bites and occasionally allowing comfortable silences to fill the space.
Leah seemed more relaxed now than she had immediately after the match.
Francesco noticed.
"You're tired."
"A little."
"You don't have to pretend otherwise."
"I wasn't pretending."
"Good."
She smiled.
They spoke about football again, but only casually.
Leah asked about his recent trip and how strange it had felt to spend a full day without training or travelling.
Francesco admitted that he had almost forgotten what a genuinely empty schedule felt like.
"You came straight here instead," Leah pointed out.
"I had a reason."
"You did."
She reached across the table and briefly touched his hand.
The gesture was small and familiar.
Later, when dinner was finished, neither of them felt the need to extend the evening unnecessarily.
They returned to the car and began the drive back toward Richmond.
London had settled into its evening rhythm.
The streets were calmer than they had been earlier, and the glow of shop windows and streetlights passed across the car as Francesco drove.
The conversation became quieter.
They talked about ordinary things now.
What they might do the next morning.
Whether Cheddar would have forgiven them for leaving him behind.
What they should have for breakfast.
Nothing important.
And that was precisely what made it nice.
By the time they reached the mansion, the excitement of Meadow Park felt pleasantly distant.
Francesco pulled into the driveway and switched off the engine.
For a moment, neither moved.
Leah looked across at him.
"Thank you for coming today."
Francesco smiled.
"Wouldn't have missed it."
She leaned over and gave him a brief kiss before opening the door.
They walked toward the house together.
The moment the front door opened, Cheddar appeared almost immediately, tail wagging furiously as though they had been gone for days rather than an evening.
Leah laughed.
"There he is."
Francesco crouched down to greet him.
"Miss us?"
Cheddar answered by pushing his head against Francesco's chest before immediately turning toward Leah.
She knelt beside them.
"Traitor."
Francesco laughed.
"He's just making sure everyone gets equal attention."
"Of course."
Together they stepped farther inside, closing the door behind them.
The house was quiet.
Warm.
Familiar.
The match was over.
The teasing was behind them.
The evening belonged to them now.
And as Francesco and Leah disappeared into the comfortable stillness of home, the last traces of Meadow Park slowly gave way to the ordinary, peaceful rhythm of another night together.
__________________________________________________
Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 19 (2017)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, FA Cup 2016/2017, 2016/2017 Champions League, 2017/2018 Carabao Cup, Premier League 2017/2018, FA Cup 2017/2018, Champions League 2017/2018, 2018 World Cup, and 2018/2019 Community Shield.
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 14
Goal: 17
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 2
Goal: 2
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 17/18 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 59
Goal: 76
Assist: 6
MOTM: 7
POTM: 0
England:
Match: 11
Goal: 14
Assist: 1
MOTM: 7
Season 16/17 stats:
Arsenal:
Match: 55
Goal: 87
Assist: 5
MOTM: 14
POTM: 1
England:
Match: 1
Goal: 1
Assist: 0
MOTM: 0
Season 15/16 stats:
Arsenal:
Match Played: 60
Goal: 82
Assist: 10
MOTM: 9
POTM: 1
England:
Match Played: 2
Goal: 4
Assist: 0
Euro 2016
Match Played: 6
Goal: 13
Assist: 4
MOTM: 6
Season 14/15 stats:
Match Played: 35
Goal: 45
Assist: 12
MOTM: 9