Chapter 552: Stripped! [GT - ]

Leo hooked the ball with his left foot as his body spun toward the touchline.

The change was so sudden that Arsenal’s defensive movement continued in the direction they had anticipated for a bit longer, and for a fraction of a second, they were all looking one way while Leo was going the other way.

A collective gasp rolled through the Emirates, unable to keep what they had seen just in their minds, but that wasn’t all.

Leo kept on running, keeping the ball right to his feet as he accelerated down the flank.

The Arsenal players who had all been around until a second ago quickly spun, with Ben White, who was the nearest, galloping in his bid to get to Leo, who kept on going.

The chase went on for a couple of seconds, and through it all, Leo kept the ball at his feet, reeling in the Arsenal players until the farthest of the 3 was just a foot away from him, and then that was when he struck.

He touched the ball right through them, sending it towards Reyes, who received it with Rice closing.

He could have turned, but instead, he returned it immediately, sending his own pass curling into the space behind Rice and, once more, Leo, who had backed away for a step, accelerated toward the ball.

Just like earlier, White came across, feet digging into the grass as he raced towards Leo, but this time it was different.

The defender closed the final few yards and prepared to challenge, but right as it seemed like he’d get to the ball, Leo stopped the ball dead.

White’s momentum carried him forward, causing the ball to slip cleanly between his legs.

"Oh, that is brilliant from Calderon! He’s gone right through him there," the commentator said as Leo stepped around White and went after the ball.

The Arsenal defender spun around again, reaching for Leo’s shirt, but Leo used an arm to hold him off just enough to reach it first.

They were on the edge of the penalty area now with Leo shaping to cross, but before he could go through with it, White grabbed him.

That halted Leo’s swing, but right as he still tried to follow through, White tugged at him again, and this time, the referee’s whistle sounded.

The game had been halted, but Leo felt different as he looked at the ball.

Against teams like Arsenal, chances did not always announce themselves.

Sometimes they existed for half a second.

Sometimes they disappeared just as quickly.

And he wanted to take advantage of every one.

Before anyone could react, Leo stepped right towards the ball.

Feeling the movement, Ben White reacted, but Leo got to the ball, touched it with his hand and then pushed it back toward the edge of the box.

Arsenal were caught completely unprepared.

Several red shirts immediately threw their hands upward, with some even calling it, "Wait!", but the ball was already on course.

Reyes collected it and then shaped as if he would strike first time, but then Reyes dragged the ball across his body with his right foot and onto his left.

The movement bought him just enough space after the Arsenal players reacted, trying to put themselves in the path of a ball that didn’t even come and in the next second, they paid for it.

"IT’S REYES!!" the commentator bellowed as the Portuguese fired away.

His shot stayed low, causing Raya to gather a set of steps before lunging, but he could only feel it as the ball flashed beyond his outstretched hand.

And smashed into the net.

"REYES! OOHHHHHH, GOOOOAAAAAAALLL," the commentary came through again, and this time, the Wigan end exploded with them.

Reyes turned immediately; his arms began to spread as he ran toward Leo, and above them, the commentary box was already erupting.

"Wigan have turned that around beautifully! Calderon with a quick reaction—" they tried to say, but down the pitch, the whistle came again.

And again.

And again.

The celebration stopped almost instantly as Reyes slowed, while Leo looked around in confusion, but quickly enough, he found the referee walking towards him.

"What ref?" Leo questioned genuinely, but the referee gestured back toward the spot where he’d just been fouled.

"I stopped the play."

When he said that, Leo stared at him.

"I know, I saw that."

Then he pointed toward the ball.

"That’s why we restarted quickly."

Leo tried to explain his case, but the referee shook his head.

"No. I stopped it. You have to wait."

"Oh my God, but it’s a free kick," Leo said and slipped his hands over his head in agony, but the referee remained firm.

Leo stared at him for another moment before looking away, knowing it wouldn’t take much for his remaining patience to evaporate.

He knew what the referee was saying, but he did not agree with it.

The referee turned and motioned for the Wigan players to move away.

The goal was gone, and their foul was too.

The Wigan supporters responded with a mixture of boos and disbelief at the robbery that was going on right in front of their eyes.

"Wigan thought they had found a way through, but the referee has ruled against the quick restart."

The co-commentator sounded equally surprised.

"I’m not entirely sure what Leo was supposed to have done differently there. He heard the whistle, saw the ball was available and played it quickly.

If the referee wants to deem his case fit, then he has to at least give Ben White a yellow card or else it’s false."

Leo walked away shaking his head, and so did the rest of the Wigan players who didn’t look the least pleased.

Behind them, the referee retrieved the ball and prepared to restart.

A drop ball followed, with Arsenal returning possession toward Wigan’s half, but it just wasn’t the same.

Leo watched the ball roll away, and for a moment, the frustration showed clearly across his face.

The goal wasn’t even the problem as opposed to the down feeling that came with it after getting it chalked off.

"Wigan," the commentary came through again, "will need to quickly forget about the goal or else it could be detrimental in the long run!"