God Of football

Chapter 963: Club Football!

Arteta’s office at Colney felt smaller than usual, the late afternoon light pressing in through the window, catching on the magnets and notes scattered across the tactics board.

He sat back in his chair, arms folded, eyes fixed on nothing in particular as he spoke.

"At least one good thing came out of it," he said. "They left Izan out."

Across from him, Gabriel Heinze nodded, elbows resting on his knees.

"Yeah. That helps. A lot."

Arteta exhaled through his nose, half a sigh, half relief.

"He might not have needed it, but I did," he said with a little laugh at the end, causing Heinze to also chuckle.

They shifted naturally into what came next, the rhythm of planning already familiar to them.

"Forest after the break," Heinze said. "They haven’t had a very good start performance-wise, but they are tenth in the league."

"And then Bilbao," Arteta added. "First Champions League game. It seems like the number of matches is increasing every season."

He tapped a pen against the desk once, then smiled faintly. "After that, City."

Heinze raised an eyebrow. "Pep."

Arteta chuckled, the sound brief but knowing.

"He’ll already be overthinking it. He always does."

Before either of them could say more, a knock came at the door.

Both men turned at the same time, and the door opened just enough for a head to appear.

"Alright, bosses," Izan said, grinning easily, eyes bright.

"Enjoying the fresh air?"

Arteta stared at him for a second. "What are you doing here?"

Izan shrugged. "Got quiet at home. Thought I’d stop by."

He paused, then added, "Brought my dog too."

Arteta glanced toward the door. "Where is he?"

Izan pointed behind him.

As if on cue, there was a soft rustle from the corridor, nails clicking lightly against the floor.

Arteta laughed, shaking his head. "I assume he is also going to be doing whatever you are going to be doing here?"

Izan nodded at that, causing Arteta to shake his head before he waved a hand towards the door.

"Go on. Have fun."

Izan nodded, already stepping back. "See you later."

The door closed, leaving the room still again.

Arteta and Heinze looked at each other for half a second, then both broke into laughter.

Arteta leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face.

"This guy," he said, shaking his head, still smiling.

A quarter of an hour later, one of the pitches at Colney lay open and quiet.

Izan stood at one end, boots laced tight, sleeves rolled up, breath steady.

The grass still held a trace of moisture, cool under his studs.

Miko waited beside him, tail already swaying, white coat bright against the green.

Izan stretched once, loose and unhurried, then crouched and reached for the dog’s vest.

He adjusted the straps carefully, tugging once, then twice, making sure it sat right.

"Alright," he muttered, close enough that only Miko could hear.

"We’re letting loose today."

Miko looked up at him, mouth open, tongue out, eyes sharp with expectation.

Izan stepped back to the line, bent forward slightly, hands resting on his knees. He glanced down again.

"On your marks..."

Miko tilted her head, ears twitching, trying to read the tone more than the words.

Before Izan could say anything else, he pushed off.

He was gone in an instant, legs driving, breath cutting the air.

Miko reacted without thinking, paws digging into the turf as it shot after him.

Man and dog tore down the pitch together, the space between them shrinking and stretching with each stride.

Izan laughed as Miko surged past him after he slowed, then kicked again, chasing his dog into the last stint of the run.

—

Nearly a week and a half later, the house in Hampstead was still wrapped in morning quiet.

Izan stirred first, blinking against the pale light slipping through the curtains.

His body felt different.

Looser and not that artificial kind that came when he used his conditioning fluids.

Before he could sit up, Olivia shifted beside him, pressing closer, her arm sliding across his chest.

"Stay," she murmured, voice thick with sleep.

"Just a bit longer, okay?"

He snorted softly, more breath than sound as the corner of his mouth lifted.

"I’ve got things to do."

She hummed in response, tightening her hold, her forehead resting against his collarbone.

He gave in without another word, settling back into the pillows, and rested his chin lightly on the top of her head.

....

The morning sports shows slipped back into the lives of football fans after a long but short break on the fence because of the international break.

Club football was almost back.

Two days, maybe three at most.

The international break had wrapped itself up and let go, players scattering back across Europe, dragging suitcases, sore legs, and stories with them.

On one channel, a panel leaned forward in their chairs, voices overlapping with the familiar excitement.

"Feels like it’s been longer than it actually was," one of them said, smiling.

"But you can sense it now. Everyone’s coming home."

Fans called in, messages scrolling across the bottom of the screen.

Some were light-hearted, others dramatic in that way only football supporters could manage.

"Honestly," one message read, "not watching Izan for ten days messed me up more than I expected."

Another followed seconds later. "I’m sleeping better knowing he’s back this weekend."

Laughter rippled through the studio, but there was truth in it.

The absence had been felt, and it was back to club football for the players who had had the opportunity of representing their national teams.

—

By the time Izan turned onto the familiar road leading to London Colney, the morning rush had thinned.

He rolled to a stop at the gate a little later than usual, engine humming softly.

The security guard leaned out of the booth, eyebrow raised, already smiling.

"You’re late today," he said, glancing at his watch.

"Everything alright?"

Izan nodded, calm, hands loose on the wheel.

"Yeah. Just one of those mornings for the lady."

The guard gave a knowing look, then shifted his attention to the passenger seat where Miko sat proudly, head high, eyes alert.

"Well, good morning to you too," the guard said, lifting a hand.

Miko responded by raising her paw, holding it there for a beat longer than necessary, causing the guard to cough out a small laugh.

"Smart girl."

Izan shook his head, amused, as the barrier lifted.

He eased forward, the car pulling away smoothly, leaving the booth behind.

Inside the lot, he parked, cut the engine, and stepped out into the cool air of the lot, where a few cars were already parked.

Miko hopped down beside him, tail brushing his leg as they headed toward the entrance.

Izan adjusted the strap of his bag, glanced once at the building ahead, then pushed through the doors.