When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 149 The Undefeated Legend
On April 16, 2004, Highbury Stadium witnessed Arsenal's perfect performance in the 34th round of the Premier League.

Despite the absence of Ljungberg and Ashley Cole due to injury, Wenger's team still demonstrated strong dominance.

Just four minutes into the game, the young Clichy made a brilliant interception on the left wing, quickly passing the ball to Pires after stealing it from Kelly.

The French midfielder dribbled forward two steps and accurately passed the ball to Wiltord, who had made a run into the box. Unfortunately, Wiltord's shot went just wide of the far post, drawing a sigh of regret from the stands.

BBC commentator Martin Taylor exclaimed excitedly, "What a fluid attacking combination! Just one final touch away from scoring!"

Just two minutes later, Arsenal came back stronger.

Wiltord intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly passed it to Bergkamp. The Ice Prince used his signature outside-of-the-foot through ball to penetrate the defense. Pires made a ghostly run and, without stopping the ball, swept it into the net with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area!

Highbury erupted in cheers as fans waved scarves wildly and chanted "We are the best."

On the sidelines, Wenger maintained his signature composure, simply nodding slightly with his hands in his trench coat pockets, but a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth betrayed his satisfaction.

BBC commentator Taylor's voice rose eight octaves with excitement: "Look at this goal! From interception to the goal, it only took 10 seconds! Bergkamp's pass was perfect, and Pires's positioning and shot were impeccable! This is a championship-level performance!"

In the 27th minute, Gilberto Silva delivered a surgical through ball from midfield, and Henry launched himself like an arrow, instantly shaking off the entire Leeds United defense.

Facing the onrushing goalkeeper Robinson, the Frenchman calmly slotted the ball into the far corner.

BBC commentator Martin Taylor exclaimed excitedly, "Henry! It's Henry again! That one-on-one chance was handled so calmly!"

After scoring, Henry opened his arms and slid on his knees to celebrate, and his teammates surrounded him to hug their star striker.

Just six minutes later, Bergkamp and Wiltord executed a brilliant one-two pass on the edge of the penalty area, forcing Dubery to commit a handball foul.

The referee promptly awarded a penalty kick.

Henry stood 12 yards out, took no run-up, and gently chipped the ball with a "Panenka" shot, sending it flying in a beautiful arc into the net.

Taylor nearly jumped out of the commentary box: "My God! What an elegant penalty! That's art!"

Arsenal fans in the stands cheered wildly, some even excitedly taking off their jerseys and waving them.

In the 50th minute of the second half, Henry once again displayed his killer instinct.

Gilberto Silva delivered a precise through ball from midfield, and Henry, anticipating the play, beat the offside trap and easily slotted the ball into the near corner past the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick.

After scoring, Henry excitedly ran towards the corner flag, where his teammates rushed over to high-five him in celebration.

Taylor exclaimed, "This is the Premier League's top scorer! He has completely dominated the game!"

In the 67th minute, Pires delivered a precise 40-yard long pass from the backfield. Henry overtook four defenders, using his speed to beat them and then poked the ball into the net.

Taylor's voice was hoarse: "A quadruple! Henry scored a quadruple! This is unbelievable!"

Highbury Stadium erupted in cheers as fans chanted "There's only one Henry," and Arsenal players rushed over to surround the goal scorer.

Even the usually calm Vieira excitedly rubbed Henry's head.

Throughout the match, Arsenal's fluid and seamless teamwork kept Leeds United on their toes.

Every exquisite short pass and penetration elicited gasps of amazement from the stands.

Campbell's defensive line was watertight, thwarting the opponent's attacks time and time again.

When the final whistle blew, the 5-0 scoreline turned Highbury into a sea of ​​joy.

The fans lingered, chanting "We're going to win the championship!"

After this match, Arsenal are now 10 points ahead of the league title with only 5 rounds remaining, and the Gunners will continue their unbeaten run this season.

Three days later, this in-form team will face a crucial battle in the Champions League semi-finals, and today's performance has undoubtedly given them a strong boost of confidence.

In the post-match interview, Wenger praised the team's performance in the 5-0 victory over Leeds United: "This victory is crucial for our title aspirations. Although the opponents played better in the first 20 minutes, our defense was excellent. We scored five goals and kept a clean sheet, which shows the team's balance."

When discussing Thierry Henry's four-goal haul, Wenger couldn't hide his admiration: "Thirry's performance needs no introduction; his timing and accuracy in shooting were perfect. It's hard to find new words to praise him; he is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world."

Speaking of winter signing Shabani Nonda, he said: "We are delighted to have signed him in the winter transfer window. His performance in the last Champions League match against Chelsea was impressive. It was his two key goals that helped the team advance and earned us this semi-final opportunity."

“Nonda’s knowledge of Monaco will provide us with valuable intelligence,” Wenger continued. “As a former Monaco player, he is familiar with the atmosphere of the Stade Louis II and the tactical characteristics of our opponents. Although he is now our player, this experience will be very helpful in our preparations.”

However, Wenger also pointed out the team's shortcomings: "Sometimes we could have pressed forward more aggressively, but perhaps I was too demanding. It is indeed difficult to maintain a perfect performance for 90 minutes."

Regarding the upcoming schedule, Wenger said: "Now we need to rest well and prepare for the next Champions League match against Monaco and the important league match against Tottenham. The players should enjoy this victory, but they also need to stay focused."

Wenger then spoke in detail about their upcoming Champions League semi-final opponent, Monaco: "Deschamps' team has shown amazing competitive strength this season, and their victory over Real Madrid was no accident. Look at their path to the semi-finals: eliminating Bayern Munich on aggregate, and then Real Madrid 10-4 on aggregate (5-1, 5-3) – such a record is truly admirable. Deschamps has built a dynamic young team with incredibly threatening counter-attacks and wing attacks. Roy has already scored 14 Champions League goals, making this Monaco team undoubtedly the most potent attacking force in the tournament."

“As someone who once coached in Monaco, I have a special feeling for the Stade Louis II. When I left in 1994, I never imagined that I would return there as an opponent. That stadium holds too many memories, but now we must put emotions aside.”

"Monaco's attacking system is very mature, and the front three of Roy, Giuly, and Morientes have excellent teamwork. Roy, in particular, has a top-notch nose for goal and finishing ability in the penalty area. His 14 Champions League goals are no accident, and we must keep a close eye on him. But more importantly, we need to cut off his connection with the midfield and prevent him from comfortably receiving the ball and turning around."

“But I’m more concerned about our own performance. Today’s game showed what kind of football we can play when we stay focused. Henry is in great form, but the Champions League is a completely different competition. We need the whole team to maintain this level, especially in defense where we need to be error-free. Monaco’s counter-attacks are very fast, and our defense must remain highly focused.”

"Monaco's advantage lies in the fact that they have already secured the Ligue 1 title with an unbeaten record this season, while we are also unbeaten in the Premier League. Although there is indeed a certain gap between Ligue 1 and the Premier League in terms of competitive level and intensity, this requires us to maintain absolute focus and humility."

"Comparing Roy and Henry? It's too early to discuss that now. Roy is an excellent young player, but Henry has proven himself at the highest level for many years. I'm more concerned with limiting Roy's performance than making individual comparisons."

"The first leg at the Stade Louis II presents both a challenge and an opportunity for us. They have a perfect home record in the Champions League this season, including a classic 5-1 victory over Real Madrid. Although we are playing away, my players are used to playing in various environments. We need to turn the pressure into motivation, maintaining a solid defense while striving for a valuable away goal. This is not the time to play conservatively. We need to demonstrate Arsenal's football philosophy, control the tempo of the game in our own way, and maintain a high level of tactical discipline. Monaco will undoubtedly take advantage of their home ground and strike first. What we need to do is remain patient and wait for our opportunities. The 180 minutes of competition have only just begun. The result of the first leg is important, but what is even more important is advancing to the final after the two legs."

Outside Highbury Stadium, a group of Arsenal fans wearing red and white jerseys were gathered around the entrance of the "Arsenal Bar" and having a lively discussion.

Old Tom, raising his beer mug excitedly, exclaimed, "Did you see Henry's chip shot? It was as graceful as dancing!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement.

Across the street, several middle school students were flipping through today's Daily Mirror at a newsstand.

“Look at these stats,” 15-year-old Jack said, pointing to the newspaper. “Henry has scored 29 league goals this season, a full eight more than the second-place finisher! I bet he can break Ian Wright’s record.”

At a nearby subway station, a group of commuters were also discussing the game.

Accountant Susan laughed and said, "Don't you guys think Pires is particularly charming when he plays football? The way his long hair flows when he runs is like watching a moving poem. I bet he's just as elegant in bed."

She paused for a moment, "It's like reading Baudelaire's poetry in bed while unbuttoning your shirt."

Her colleague Mike chimed in, "Here we go again. You said Vieira was the sexiest last week. But I think Gilberto is the unsung hero. Look how many steals he got today!"

On the streets of North London, several young fans are imitating Thierry Henry's celebration.

Ten-year-old Amir slid down to his knees, stood up, patted his knees, and said, "When I grow up, I want to play football like Henry!"

His friends burst into laughter, one of them shouting, "Your headers are better than his!"

On a newly emerging online fan forum, a fan with the username "Gunners4ever" wrote: "5-0! Who can stop us? The league title is basically secured now, let's cheer for the Champions League too!"

Someone immediately replied: "Don't be too confident, Monaco is not easy to deal with, especially that Roy."

Even Ali, the hot dog vendor on the street corner, was discussing with his customers: "Wenger is truly amazing, achieving great things with minimal investment. Look how solid Clichy was today; who would have thought he's only 18?"

At a local football equipment store, the owner was busy restocking: "As soon as the game ended today, jerseys with Henry's name on them sold like hotcakes. Kids all want to be the 'King of Highbury'." He wiped his sweat, "If we beat Monaco next week, I'm afraid we won't have enough stock."

Night fell, but the discussion in the bar continued.

The bartender joined the conversation while wiping the glasses: "Have you noticed? We haven't lost since we lost to Manchester United last September. This team has a special quality that reminds me of that legendary team from '89."

Meanwhile, in every corner of the city, tens of thousands of Arsenal fans were having the same dream: a season that could make history, an undefeated legend belonging to the red and white.

And during this off-season.

Roy stayed in Paris, frequently attending business events, fashion dinners, and private salons of major brands.

Under the flashing lights, he was impeccably dressed in a suit and spoke with impeccable manners, becoming a new darling of Parisian social circles.

However, such a high profile naturally attracted the attention of paparazzi.

They lay in ambush at the hotel entrance, waited at the corner of the restaurant, and even tried to sneak into private parties.

After all, this young football star can now make headlines in tabloids with just a few moves.

In the early hours of April 11, 2004, under the neon lights of the "La Argentino" restaurant in Paris, 19-year-old UEFA Champions League top scorer Roy and 25-year-old actress Leticia Costa were photographed by paparazzi. In the photos, Roy, wearing a dark blue suit, looks serious, while Costa, in a red dress, is adjusting his tie; the two appear quite intimate. They then drove away together in a black Mercedes, and the photos immediately made the front page of the entertainment section of Le Parisien.

On the evening of April 14, Roy was invited to participate in the popular French talk show "Speak Tonight".

To everyone's surprise, in stark contrast to his sharp and assertive demeanor in the post-match interview, he displayed astonishing eloquence in front of the camera.

The host joked, "I heard you've been studying philosophy lately?"

Roy responded with a laugh: "Yes, it helps me contemplate life in the opponent's penalty area."

The audience burst into laughter.

When discussing youth education, Roy earnestly stated, "When I was 12 years old playing soccer on the street, I never imagined I'd be standing here. But every child should have the opportunity to prove that their worth is more than just the zip code they were born with."

This speech was met with a ten-second round of applause.

The program specially arranged a segment where Roy would quickly comment on the week's news.

He perfectly summarized the French railway strike in three sentences: "Workers want bread, the government wants to save money, and passengers want punctuality—a typical triangular attack, but unfortunately, no one passes the ball."

Even the usually sharp-tongued host gave a thumbs up: "It seems that Monaco not only cultivates star players, but also thinkers."

When asked about preparations for the Champions League semi-final, Roy winked and said, "What I need to prepare for most right now is how to say something a little worse in the post-match interview than tonight, otherwise the coach should make me a press officer."

At the end of the show, when the host jokingly brought up his rumored relationship with Leticia Costa, Roy smiled helplessly: "It seems that people are more interested in my dinner menu than my goals."

His tone was sincere and candid: "Leticia is an excellent actress. We did have dinner together, but just like my teammate Giuly and I often have dinner together—it was just normal interaction between friends."

A burst of good-natured cheers erupted from the crowd, but Roy suddenly became serious, tapping his temple with his fingertip: "Right now, all my energy is focused on the Champions League semi-final. You know, when the opposing defenders are watching you, they don't care how many scandals you've been in the headlines."

On the evening of April 13, Monaco teammate Patrice Evra held an opening party at the newly opened "Monaco-side" restaurant in Paris. Roy and Giuly attended to show their support, both dressed in casual suits without ties.

Roy stood in the corner drinking mineral water the whole time, and only nodded politely when female fans came up to him.

Giuly, on the other hand, was much more lively, chatting and laughing with the guests while holding champagne.

At 12:30 a.m., he and Jiuli left together by car, declining all invitations to continue the night at the club.

On April 14th, Paris Match published even more sensational photos: Costa visited Roy's apartment in Paris late at night and didn't leave until noon the following day. An insider revealed, "They met through a mutual friend, singer Alizée. Costa is a die-hard football fan and has recently been a frequent visitor to the VIP boxes at the Stade Louis II."

However, their agents have consistently denied the relationship.

A spokesperson for Roy stated, "Mr. Roy is in talks with Ms. Costa regarding an endorsement deal for his AETHOS women's sportswear line THALIA. Yesterday's meeting was purely business-related."

Costa's publicist emphasized: "Leticia supports all French players equally."

In the early hours of April 15, 2004, in a private apartment in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, the rumors of Roy and Leticia Costa's affair finally became a reality.

Costa's silk sheet hung haphazardly on the floor.

Roy was leaning against the headboard, sweat dripping down his muscular abs.

On the bedside table sat a half-empty glass of champagne, with Costa's lipstick mark still on the glass.

"Oh, God"

Costa lazily rolled over, his long golden hair spreading out on the snow-white pillow.

Her voice was still hoarse from the passion.

Roy simply curled the corners of his lips and reached out to brush away the strands of hair clinging to her collarbone.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating his young and powerful body.

Those are the muscle lines of a top athlete; every muscle seems designed for explosive power.

Costa's fingers traced his thigh, where bruises from the game still lingered.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

Roy grabbed her wrist and easily pulled her back to him: "I heard you treat all French players 'equally'?"

Leticia's red lips curved slightly, her fingertips tracing his sharply defined chin, her warm breath deliberately brushing against his lips: "How could that be?"

She whispered in his ear, her voice alluringly husky, "I only support you."

"However, it depends on your performance."

Outside the window, the neon lights of Paris still flickered, while the temperature inside the apartment had already reached boiling point.

At three in the morning, the apartment lights suddenly came on.

Costa stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, wrapped in Roy's shirt, the hem of which just covered her upper thighs, revealing her famously long and slender legs.

Through the reflection in the glass, she saw Roy leaning against the headboard, his gaze intently following her every move—a look as dangerous and focused as when he broke through her defenses.

“Next time,” she turned and walked toward the bathroom, deliberately slowing her pace so that the hem of her shirt would lift slightly with the movement, “remember to tell the coach in advance that you want to ‘practice extra’.”

She paused at the doorway, turned back and gave him a provocative look: "I told you... I need to practice my shooting skills."

Roy laughed, then suddenly jumped out of bed and pinned her against the frosted glass bathroom door in three quick steps.

"Why don't we start the special training now?" He lowered his head and bit down on the loose collar of her shirt.

"After all, it's the Champions League semi-final."

His hand was already inside her clothes. "The part that needs the most practice..."

Costa craned his neck in the rising steam and heard the man behind him shout his victory declaration.

(End of this chapter)