God Of football

Chapter 931: Ones In Charge.

The next morning, Izan came down the stairs and into the kitchen with a relaxed smile that he didn’t bother hiding.

Olivia followed a few steps behind him with her arms crossed and a tired, unimpressed look on her face, while Komi just glanced at the pair as she set plates on the island.

"Well, someone slept well," she said.

"And someone very clearly didn’t."

Izan just sat on the glass stool and reached for the cereal box like nothing had been said, before turning to look at Olivia and then at Komi.

"True that," Izan said.

"Oh, please. And why do you think caused that?" Olivia muttered, saying the last part much lower as she slid onto the stool beside him.

Komi put a plate of toast and eggs down in front of her, and Olivia immediately dug in, chewing like she’d been starved in the night.

Komi raised a brow at that but didn’t comment.

She turned to Izan instead.

"You’re going to Colney today?"

"Probably," Izan said, pouring cereal into his bowl.

"I’ve got nothing planned, so I might as well go get back in tune with the guys."

"That’s good," she said with a small nod as she wiped her hands on the apron, untied it and hung it neatly on the hook.

"I’m heading out. You two take care of things since you’re the ones staying in. We might come in late, so Izan, please go pick up your sister from school."

She leaned down to pat Miko, who wagged so hard her whole body moved, then walked out through the hall.

The kitchen felt quieter once the door closed behind her.

Izan took a spoonful of cereal and looked over at Olivia, who was halfway through another piece of toast and looking like she could have another dozen.

Miko trotted over from the door and parked herself at Izan’s feet, tail swishing.

"You want to go again?" Izan asked, voice low and teasing as Olivia froze mid-bite, eyes widening.

"Don’t start," she said, pointing her toast at him like a warning.

When he only smiled, she gave him one more accusing look, then got up, grabbed her plate, and bolted for the couch in the hall.

Miko followed her halfway, then looked back at Izan as if she couldn’t decide whose side she was meant to be on.

...

After breakfast, Izan lingered around the house a bit because training wouldn’t start until an hour later, but after seeing the time not really passing much, he slipped into his car and drove out of Hampstead.

Some minutes later, he pulled up to Colney in the Jesko, the engine purring like it owned the driveway.

The guard on duty glanced up and whistled low, eyes widening just a little.

"That car never stops amazing me," he said with a grin.

Izan chuckled, leaning back slightly in his seat.

"Yeah, well... it’s reliable." He killed the engine, opened the door, and stepped out, the sunlight glinting off the sleek curves of the Jesko.

Just as he reached for the door handle, his phone buzzed.

He glanced down to see Olivia calling.

With a sigh, he answered. "Yeah?"

"Where are all of Miko’s leashes?" Olivia’s voice was sharp, though her tone carried that lingering frustration he knew all too well.

Izan ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head.

"Seriously... why are you still sulking?"

"I told you... You were rough," Olivia muttered, a note of exasperation underneath the anger.

Izan raised a brow, amusement flickering across his face. "You started it, though."

"I know, but..." she hesitated, the soft edge in her voice betraying her irritation.

"You should have been a bit more delicate with me."

He gave a small smirk, shaking his head.

"Noted. I’ll learn."

Then, gesturing toward a storage area by the entrance, he added, "Now, all the leashes are right there. Go grab them."

There was a pause, then Olivia’s tone softened.

"Thank you."

She ended the call, the line going dead, leaving Izan holding his phone.

He slipped it into the custom pocket of his shorts, a quiet smile tugging at his lips before stepping past another guard and into the familiar building.

....

[An hour later]

The training ground buzzed with chatter as the players gathered, stretching and joking with each other under the soft morning sun until Arteta’s voice cut through.

"Everyone, can I have your attention for a moment?"

The room quieted quickly, a few players exchanging curious looks.

At the front of the group, Arteta gestured toward a tall, athletic figure walking up with an easy confidence.

"This is Noni Madueke," he said. "Our newest addition to the squad."

A ripple of polite clapping spread across the group as Noni gave a small, self-conscious smile, waving lightly as he tried to blend into the circle.

Arteta continued, "With every signing comes added expectations, added weight. Not just on the pitch, but in everything you do off it as well. How you carry yourself, how you integrate into the team, it all matters."

The players only smiled wryly at that, a mix of amusement at Arteta using the same speech over and over for every player, passing between them.

Some nudged their mates subtly, sharing glances that said, Yeah, we’ve heard that before.

Seeing the reaction, Arteta allowed a faint chuckle to escape.

"I expect Noni to work as hard as anyone here, just like all of you." He paused, scanning the faces around him.

"Now, let’s split into our jogs. Warm up properly before we hit the drills."

After training, Izan stepped into Arteta’s office, as Arteta looked up almost instantly from a stack of papers, gave a small nod, and motioned him forward.

"Have a seat," Arteta said, leaning back slightly in his chair.

Izan settled into the leather chair across from him, feeling the faint tension that always came with private meetings.

"You called for me?" he asked, voice casual but attentive.

Arteta gave a slow nod, eyes locking with Izan’s.

"How was your flight back to London?"

"Hard, as always," Izan replied with a wry smile, "but I pulled through."

Arteta let a chuckle escape before his expression softened.

"I am glad you are. The reason why I wanted to speak to you today is about captaincy."

Izan’s eyebrows rose slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes as he leaned back and listened, waiting for the next words.

Arteta leaned forward slightly, folding his hands on the desk.

"Jorginho has moved on from the club," he began, his tone steady.

"Gabriel Jesus hasn’t been entirely reliable this season, and our current captains... well, Odegaard is also slightly injury-prone."

Izan nodded, taking it in, his mind tracing the implications.

"And that’s why..." Arteta continued, pausing just long enough to draw a little anticipation into the room, "...we’ve decided to officially name you as second captain. Rice will wear the armband, of course, but you or Saka will step in whenever needed."

Izan’s eyes widened slightly, a breath catching in his chest.

"Wow," he said, letting the weight of the announcement sink in. "Thank you, coach, for thinking of me like that."

Arteta shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"You don’t have to thank me. You only have yourself to thank, Izan. You’ve earned it."

Izan nodded, a mix of pride and determination settling in his chest as he had just absorbed the responsibility he’d just been given.

Arteta gave a small nod, leaning back in his chair.

"Alright, that’s all for now. Go join your mates and get ready for training."

Izan returned the nod, a quiet smile on his face as he stood up, brushed off his shorts, and stepped out of the office, the door closing softly behind him.

The moment he got out fully, his phone pinged just as he reached the edge of the training grounds.

Glancing down, he saw the headline: "Izan: Officially Arsenal’s Third Captain."

He chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.

"They could’ve at least let me leave the corner before announcing it," he muttered, scrolling through the reactions with a wry smile tugging at his lips.

A/N: Okay guys. I might be existing or something. I am sleeping while typing this so forgive any mistakes you find. When I wake up with all my cognitive function there, I so I will edit it when he wake up.