Christmas had passed just five days earlier, and on December 29th, the Premier League's 20th round kicked off.
As usual, Arsenal fans flocked to the Emirates Stadium early—but this time, a heavy mood hung over them.
The club's persistent injury crisis cast a gloomy shadow over the entire fanbase.
Injuries to Wilshere and Cazorla had already taken a toll on Arsenal's attacking fluidity.
But Arteta's absence? That was the final blow to the team's trademark passing game.
Arsenal fans were frustrated.
Why were all the injuries concentrated in midfield? Why not a defender or a winger for once? Couldn't the football gods be a little more... balanced?
Of course, no injuries would be the best-case scenario. But now, all three core midfielders were out and confined to hospital beds.
Just look at the current midfield options: Kai, Diaby, Ramsey, and Coquelin.
Which of them could truly control the tempo and execute Arsenal's signature pass-and-move system?
Frankly, even thinking about it was painful.
Fans were left scratching their heads. How could they line up against their next opponent? How would they survive this match?
Still, despite the pessimism, they came. Because that's what supporters do.
So, what would today bring?
In this round, Arsenal were set to face Newcastle United—the Magpies.
Newcastle had been disappointing all season. Normally, with home advantage, Arsenal would be clear favorites.
But with a battered midfield and no clear playmaker, fans feared the worst.
As kickoff neared, eyes were glued to the starting lineup, hoping for a miracle.
Maybe Cazorla? Maybe Wilshere had made a recovery? Even Arteta?
Maybe this was an elaborate prank by the club?
But it wasn't April Fools' Day.
The confirmed lineup shattered all hope.
Defenders: Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen (C), Jenkinson
Midfielders: Chamberlain, Ramsey, Kai, Diaby
Forwards: Suarez, Walcott
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1):
Defenders: Santon, Perch, Coloccini (C), Simpson
Holding Midfielders: Bigirimana, Tioté,
Attacking Midfielders: Obertan, Marveaux, Cisse
"With this setup, are Arsenal going to play a defensive counter-attack?" commentator Ian Darke asked, clearly stunned.
Wenger's Arsenal rarely, if ever, used such tactics, especially not at home.
Wenger had long been a staunch believer in 'beautiful football.' He openly disdained counter-attacking styles, calling them antithetical to the spirit of the game.
For him, football should be elegant, expressive, and played with passion.
But today, it seemed the Professor had been forced to compromise.
Even the fans were stunned into silence.
What else could Wenger do?
Ask these midfielders to play tiki-taka?
To hold steady and await reinforcements, he had to go pragmatic. Defensive counter-attack it was.
Suddenly, the tactic felt less like cowardice and more like survival.
Still, it shocked the football world.
Journalists in the press box were already giddy.
Wenger had long criticized counter-attacks as the death of artistry in football.
Now? He was eating his words.
They could already imagine tomorrow's headlines.
Wenger, the idealist, was forced to play the very football he once ridiculed.
Flashes popped from all directions as the reporters captured every moment.
Kai stood on the pitch, feeling the glare of lenses aimed squarely at him.
He scowled slightly, then took a deep breath and raised his voice.
"Everyone's just waiting to laugh at us."
The players turned toward him.
Kai raised his arm and clenched his fist, pumping it with force.
"Let's give 'em something to talk about!"
A few grins broke out across the team.
Vermaelen bellowed, "Gunners!"
"Ready for battle!" the team replied.
Meanwhile, in the Sina Sports commentary booth, Zhan Jun was narrating the broadcast.
"We're bringing you live coverage of the Premier League's 20th round—Arsenal hosting Newcastle United at the Emirates."
"Arsenal's lineup today is unusually defensive. Zhang, what's your take on this?"
Zhang Lu chuckled. "Honestly, Wenger has no other choice. With Cazorla, Wilshere, and Arteta all injured, he's lost every player who could dictate tempo. Without a playmaker, what else can they do but play on the counter? They're still trying to secure a top-four finish."
Zhan Jun nodded. "And what role do you think Kai will play in this setup?"
Zhang Lu replied thoughtfully.
"I think Kai will still carry weight in this setup. He's not the central figure yet, but in a match —where both defense and quick transitions matter—he's got a key role. We've seen glimpses of what he can do. Maybe he's not the finished article yet, but Wenger seems ready to trust him with more responsibility."
It was a cautious response. Understandable.
After all, Kai had only recently broken into the starting XI. Asking an 18-year-old to be the anchor of both offense and defense was a tall order.
Still, Zhang Lu—and many Chinese fans watching—hoped this young midfielder could step into something bigger.
Wenger, for his part, wasn't exactly known for playing it safe. The Professor had always been bold—sometimes to a fault. His ideas didn't always work, but when they did, they paid off in spades.
So even as Zhang Lu kept his tone measured, his eyes betrayed anticipation. He was just as curious to see what Kai would bring.
Over on the Arsenal bench, Wenger stood near the touchline, visibly tense.
Could this patched-up midfield hold?
Could Kai handle the weight and emerge as a legitimate engine in the middle?
Those questions would soon be answered.
Pat Rice, watching just behind Wenger, was no less nervous.
His relationship with Kai was more personal.
He'd watched the boy grow daily for over a year—learning, adjusting, evolving. He'd seen more improvement in this one player than many of the club's former prodigies combined.
Not even Cesc Fabregas had stirred this kind of emotion in him.
Eighteen years old—and already the hub of Arsenal's midfield?
But circumstances had made it necessary.
In this system, Kai's defensive instincts and ability to distribute the ball were crucial.
Could he connect the back and front? Could he steady the team when the press hit hard?
Football had seen many prodigies come and go—brilliant comets who burned out far too fast.
Pat Rice didn't want Kai to be one of them.
He wanted him to become the pillar of Arsenal's next generation.
And so, despite the boy's age, the club's expectations sat heavily on his shoulders.
Pressure either breaks you or turns you into something stronger.
Come on, lad. It's your stage now.
Up in the East Stand, a few familiar faces were just as anxious.
Meadows, Billy, and their group of friends—clad in black Arsenal jerseys—sat frozen in anticipation.
Billy rubbed his hands nervously.
"Let's go, Arsenal. Don't fold on us now."
Meadows kept his eyes locked on Kai. There was something about the lad—something intangible.
This was the match that would reveal whether his instincts were right.
On the pitch, referee Chris Foy stepped out of the center circle. Newcastle's Demba Ba stood ready for kickoff.
As he tapped the ball back to begin the match, the Emirates roared to life.
"Come on, you Gunners!"
Newcastle didn't rush forward immediately. They held possession, cycling the ball back to probe for space.
Suarez and Walcott with the Arsenal front line pressed them high, but the rest of the team held their line.
Kai floated near the center circle, eyes constantly scanning the pitch.
With enough numbers behind the ball, Arsenal had plugged the obvious gaps.
But Newcastle were patient. They kept switching the play from side to side, testing Arsenal's structure.
Kai tracked the movement carefully, watching for any pattern or slip.
Newcastle's 4-2-3-1 was built for balance. Marveaux, the central attacking midfielder, was crucial, tasked with linking defense to attack and taking shots when the opportunity arose.
Demba Ba led the line, strong and explosive, supported by fast wingers on either side.
It was a flexible setup. Dangerous—if used right.
But it had flaws, too. The gaps between lines were wide, and the midfield spacing wasn't tight. Any misstep in passing could be punished.
There it was—the opportunity.
Newcastle's cautious build-up invited Arsenal's midfield to push up. The high press was on.
Suddenly, the pressure on Newcastle mounted.
And with more Arsenal players committed forward, Newcastle spotted a potential break.
Marveaux glanced toward Demba Ba, noticing no defender near him.
He launched a long pass, arcing high through the air.
Demba Ba braced himself under the flight of the ball, ready to control it.
The sun glared off the pitch, forcing him to squint.
Then, out of nowhere—a blur of red cut across his vision.
He turned—and saw the No. 4 Arsenal shirt racing away with it, cutting deep into Newcastle's half.
Kai was already gone.