"It's 11 AM on May 6, 2015, German time. The Arsenal team's plane has just touched down at the airport in Munich, Germany. In a few days, they will face FC Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final."
"Throughout their history, Arsenal have reached the Champions League semi-finals three times before. This will be their fourth appearance. How will the Gunners fare this time? We can only wait and see."
After Ma Fanshu finished her introduction in front of the camera, loud cheers suddenly erupted from the crowd gathered at the front.
She knew the Arsenal team had arrived.
Without missing a beat, Ma Fanshu continued smoothly: "The entire Arsenal squad has now arrived in Munich. We can see manager Arsène Wenger leading his team toward the player bus. Walking right behind him is one of our own, Le Kai, who also serves as Arsenal's captain."
"Today, Le Kai turns 23 years old. This is his fourth year at the club. In just four years, he has risen to become the team's captain and is now leading Arsenal toward an even brighter future."
"Undeniably, Le Kai is currently the most-watched Chinese footballer in the world. Now, he and his Arsenal side are about to step onto the grand stage of the Champions League semi-final."
Back home in China, a large number of fans sat in front of their television screens, watching Le Kai intently.
He wore his hair neatly slicked back, his face sporting a clean goatee. At only 23, the young captain already carried himself with remarkable maturity and composure.
This was his first season wearing the armband, and in that short time, he had already guided Arsenal back to the Champions League semi-finals.
As they reached the entrance of the team bus, Kai did not board immediately. Instead, he stood to the side and gave each teammate a high-five as they stepped on. He also quietly reminded them not to stop for any interviews.
Once everyone had boarded, Kai and Arsène Wenger finally stepped onto the bus together. Inside, instead of heading to his usual seat, Kai sat in the front row alongside his manager.
"There will be a short interview this afternoon. You should attend," Wenger said.
Kai frowned slightly. "What interview?"
"An official one, arranged by UEFA," Wenger replied. "Lahm from Bayern will also be there."
"Both captains?" Kai asked.
Wenger nodded. "Think of it as a warm-up."
Le Kai thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
Upon arriving at the hotel, the team completed check-in procedures and rested for about half an hour. Wenger then led the players to the training ground. Le Kai, however, remained at the hotel for the scheduled interview.
Around 2 PM, the call came through. Accompanied by assistant coach Pat Rice, Le Kai made his way to the interview location.
The interview was being held at the Allianz Arena. As the host, Philipp Lahm was already waiting at the entrance to welcome them.
Kai and Lahm exchanged a brief, polite handshake. The two men were not from the same generation and shared no particular personal connection.
Lahm led the group up to the stands, where the setup was simple: one camera, one host, Lahm, and Kai.
"Who would like to go first?" the host asked.
Kai and Lahm exchanged a glance. Le Kai smiled modestly and said, "I don't have much experience with this. Please, after you."
Lahm smiled back and nodded. "Then I'll go first."
The host began the interview with Lahm, focusing mainly on Bayern's history, the weight of expectations, and their ambitions for the tie. Lahm answered calmly and methodically, delivering solid but largely predictable responses.
Once Lahm had finished, it was Kai's turn.
Kai pointed toward the host and asked, "How should we begin?"
The host smiled reassuringly. "Just relax and be natural. We're simply having a conversation."
Kai nodded. "Alright."
The host wasted no time with the first question: "Do you consider Arsenal to be a giant club?"
It was a pointed, somewhat provocative question. Kai noticed Lahm watching him with a very faint, but you could see it, amused expression.
He lowered his gaze for a brief moment, gathering his thoughts, then lifted his head and answered with a firm, steady voice:
"I believe Arsenal is a giant club."
"People like to say Arsenal isn't a giant because there's no Champions League title. That criticism has followed the club for years. But look at the body of work. Arsenal has lived at the top of English football, winning titles and setting standards. That counts for something."
Le Kai did not raise his voice. He did not need to.
"At the same time, we know the truth. In Europe, there have been moments when our level dropped at the wrong time. That's part of our history too."
A brief pause, then a steady look at the camera.
"But my answer doesn't change. Arsenal is a giant club. And the Champions League will come. Soon."
The host blinked, caught off guard by how direct it sounded. Across the set, Philipp Lahm shifted slightly in his seat. His own answers had been clean, safe, structured. This was different. This had weight.
"Then how would you describe Arsenal as a team?" the host asked.
Le Kai smiled faintly.
"Most people say 'beautiful football.' That's the label. But that's not the core of this club."
He leaned forward slightly.
"It's resilience."
"Resilience?" The host could not hide the surprise.
"I'm serious," Le Kai replied. "From Tony Adams to Dennis Bergkamp, from Patrick Vieira to Thierry Henry, and now to us. Arsenal has stumbled, fallen short, and been questioned. But it always pushes forward."
His tone stayed even.
"That's the heritage I feel here. When things go wrong, someone steps up. If it's not them, then it's me."
This time, the host simply nodded.
"And your expectations for this Champions League?"
Le Kai did not hesitate.
"The Champions League. That's it. The one Arsenal has chased for so long. We're going to win it."
His eyes did not waver.
"And when we do, people will understand. Arsenal's era is here."
. . .
That evening, the pre-match Champions League interview featuring both captains was broadcast. Arsène Wenger and the coaching staff gathered to watch it together.
"Kai's statements were very strong," Lehmann remarked with a broad smile, clapping his hands in approval. He particularly appreciated the young captain's directness.
Arsenal wanted the Champions League, and there was no reason to hide it.
"Sounds almost like a declaration of war," Pat Rice added with a chuckle.
Wenger smiled calmly. "Every team here is aiming for the Champions League. There is no need to pretend otherwise. This interview should help boost the players' morale."
. . .
The following day, the Arsenal players made their way to the Allianz Arena.
The night before, Juventus had drawn 1-1 with Real Madrid in the other semi-final at the Santiago Bernabéu. The match had been fiercely contested throughout.
In midfield, Juventus — led by the impressive duo of Pogba and Pirlo — had clearly dominated. Real Madrid, missing the influential Luka Modrić, struggled to link their play effectively. They had managed to salvage a draw only through a penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juventus's performance had been outstanding, while Real Madrid's had been unexpectedly disappointing. Many had expected Carlo Ancelotti to guide Real Madrid to back-to-back Champions League titles — the first since the competition's reform. Instead, their display raised serious questions.
In contrast, Juventus had looked formidable, sending a clear warning to all remaining teams.
Arsenal's squad had watched the match together. The result only heightened the tension within the group. Although no one suffered from insomnia, the game undoubtedly affected their sleep. Some players were still yawning as they headed toward the stadium.
Le Kai had slept relatively well, yet he too had a vivid dream the previous night — a beautiful one. In it, he and his teammates had overcome every obstacle and lifted the Champions League trophy high above their heads.
Even now, as he sat on the bus, Le Kai glanced down at his hands. The sensation from the dream still felt remarkably real — the cold weight of the trophy, the thunderous roar of the crowd, and the uncontrollable trembling of his body in that moment of triumph.
But a beautiful dream is only a dream.
To turn that vision into reality, everything would begin here, tonight, at the Allianz Arena.
. . .
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