Chapter 707 131: Advancing! King of the Gunners! Heroes Make the Times! European Best Player! The Bloody Massacre at Old Trafford

But at Arsenal, he could be the sole king!

Of course, the prerequisite was that he had the ability to lead Arsenal to success!

After the draw, Platini first took the stage to introduce some of UEFA's policies and summarize the past season. Then, the three candidates came up for short interviews.

After that began the nerve-wracking voting process.

The selection for the European Best Player was just like France Football Magazine's European Golden Ball Award, voted on by football journalists from 53 European countries and regions across two rounds.

The first round determined the top three.

The second round involved a live vote by the 53 journalists to finalize the rankings of those top three players.

Wang Shuo, Ronaldo, and Messi stood side by side on the podium. In reality, all three already had a pretty good idea of the outcome.

The final result came as a surprise to no one.

"I am here to announce that the winner of the inaugural 2011 European Best Player is..."

As Platini said this, he turned and pointed to the three players behind him.

Tense music fittingly echoed through the Prince's Hall.

"...Wang Shuo!"

Thunderous applause instantly erupted within the Prince's Hall.

The giant screen behind them began playing a highlight reel of Wang Shuo's spectacular performances from the past season.

"Wang Shuo, twenty years old, a player from China. He made his debut at Mainz, rose to fame at Dortmund, and last season..."

Amidst the applause and the booming introduction, Wang Shuo first hugged Ronaldo and Messi beside him. Then, he stepped forward to Platini, reached out to accept the brand-new European Best Player trophy, and hoisted it high into the air.

The applause in the hall grew even more thunderous.

The giant screen behind him displayed the final vote tallies for the three finalists. Wang Shuo had received 41 votes, far ahead of Messi's 9 and Ronaldo's 3.

Then, the audience fell silent.

"At this very moment, this honor in my hands belongs to everyone who has accompanied me on the path of my career and helped me grow!"

Wang Shuo's words won over the crowd, sparking another round of applause.

"Thank you to UEFA, thank you to all the journalist friends who voted, and thank you to all the fans who like and support me. Most of all, thank you to football—it has given me everything I have today!"

The venue erupted into warm applause once again.

"Tonight, I am able to hold this award because of Dortmund.

"I will always remember the deafening roars of Signal Iduna Park and the TIFO from the fans in the South Stand.

"I will also forever remember the teammates and coaches who stayed behind to keep me company after every training session.

"Even more so, I will remember all the teammates who fought side by side with me. Your support and trust were the foundation of my efforts on the pitch.

"Dortmund will always be the most passionate home in my heart!"

Dortmund's general manager, Watzke, sat just below the podium, watching Wang Shuo deliver his speech. He believed that at this very moment in Germany, many Dortmund players were also watching this live broadcast. Their hearts had to be filled with the same excitement and deep emotion as his.

Logically speaking, Wang Shuo had already left Dortmund. As a player for Arsenal, bringing up his former club at a time like this was somewhat sensitive. But Wang Shuo said it anyway.

This alone was enough to prove that Wang Shuo was a man who deeply valued loyalty and relationships!

Watzke thought to himself, "Jurgen, neither of us misjudged him!"

Up on the podium, Wang Shuo paused for a moment before continuing.

"In my home country, there is a saying: all good things must come to an end.

"Now, with gratitude and hope, I have embarked on a brand-new journey, coming to the Premier League and joining Arsenal.

"To me, this is a brand-new challenge and a breakthrough for myself. I am eager to write a new chapter here and fight for the fans alongside my new teammates and coaches!"

Applause echoed through the venue once more.

"Finally, I want to say that no matter which jersey I wear, my hunger for victory and my desire for championships will never change!

"Football has given me everything, and I will give my all for football!

"Thank you, everyone!"

Finally, amidst the applause of the entire hall, Wang Shuo hoisted the trophy high once more.

This moment was not only captured by the media reporters on the scene but was also instantly broadcasted to every corner of the Earth. It was destined to dominate the front pages of major media outlets the next day.

But Wang Shuo certainly had no time to bask in the joy of his award. After attending the grand ceremony in Monaco and the UEFA banquet, flight schedules forced him to stay in Monaco overnight. The next morning, he traveled to Nice, France, to catch a flight back to London.

The following day, he traveled north to Manchester with the team to challenge Manchester United away from home!

August 28th, afternoon. Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester.

Premier League Round 3, Arsenal playing away against Manchester United.

People often said that at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester United always received special treatment. No one knew if it was true, but some statistics simply could not be covered up.

As England's top referee, Howard Weber frequently officiated matches involving giant clubs or high-stakes clashes. In his last 10 times officiating Manchester United's home games at Old Trafford, he had awarded them a staggering five penalties.

In Weber's refereeing career, every time Arsenal visited Old Trafford with him as the referee, the Gunners were guaranteed to concede a penalty.

And to no one's surprise, this time was no exception.

With Alexandre Song suspended and Vermaelen failing his medical, Arsenal's starting lineup for this match was severely impacted.