The final monts of the half were breathless. Liverpool launched one final attack, Robertson whipping another ball into the box.
Gakpo and Gravenberch both flung themselves toward it, but Gabriel again made a heroic intervention, heading it away as the whistle blew for halfti.
Peter Drury: "A relentless, pulsating half of football here in Los Angeles. Arsenal lead, but only just.
Liverpool have knocked on the door ti and ti again, yet it is the brilliance of one player—sixteen-year-old Izan—that separates the two sides at the break."
The cara panned to Izan, wiping sweat from his brow as he walked off, exchanging words with Odegaard.
Arsenal had the advantage, but with another 45 minutes to go, the battle was far from over.
.....
As the players walked down the tunnel for halfti, Sofi Stadium was still buzzing with energy.
Fans from both Arsenal and Liverpool stood in clusters, engaged in heated discussions, while others quickly typed out their thoughts online.
In the Arsenal section, supporters were celebrating loudly, replaying clips on their phones of Izan's passes and involvent in the goals.
A group near the tunnel held up a massive banner that read:
"IZAN 10 – THE FUTURE IS NOW"
So fans were still processing what they had just witnessed.
"Yo, this man Izan? He's making this look too easy. I can't believe he's still a teenager."
"Liverpool's press is strong, but it doesn't even matter. Every ti Izan gets the ball, we look like we're in total control."
A few rows back, a father and son duo were engaged in an animated conversation.
The kid, wearing a brand-new Adidas Arsenal kit with a "10" on the back, was practically bouncing.
"Dad, did you see that pass? The one to Havertz? That was like—like—like a video ga!"
"Kid, that wasn't a video ga. That was pure class."
anwhile, in the Liverpool end, frustration mixed with reluctant admiration.
"Man, we're not even playing bad. It's just Izan. The guy is everywhere."
"I don't even wanna admit it, but you're right. Every ti we try to build sothing, he's there breaking it up or launching a counter."
So fans were already debating what needed to change in the second half.
"We got chances. Salah's goal was a banger. But Izan? That kid is on another level. Feels like watching a pri David Silva with pace."
"Bro, it's scary that he's not even in his pri yet. Imagine this dude in three years."
One fan in a Steven Gerrard jersey was visibly frustrated.
"Man, I can't even be mad. Izan's just different. But still—Arne Slot needs to make adjustnts. We can't let him dictate the whole ga."
Online, the football world was on fire as fans from all over debated the first half. The trending topics?
#Izan
#ArsenalVsLiverpool
#PreseasonMagic
#FutureBallonDor
Arsenal fans were already claiming victory.
"Izan is the truth. I don't care if it's preseason—he's running the ga against Liverpool like a pri De Bruyne. WHAT A PLAYER!"
"People laughed when we signed him, said he wasn't proven. Now look at them. Our starboy."
"Izan makes football look easy. That ball to Havertz was sothing out of FC 24."
Liverpool fans were in agreent about one thing—Izan was the problem.
"We're not playing badly. But let's be real, Izan is making the difference. Without him, this is a completely different match."
"We need to press him better in the second half. Every ti he touches the ball, he picks us apart."
"Izan's vision is scary. How did he even see that pass for the second goal? Feels like we're playing against a young Iniesta with Mbappé's engine."
Neutral fans were also loving what they were watching.
"This dude Izan is gonna be the face of football soon. Mark my words."
"Stat check: Izan in the first half vs. Liverpool— 97% pass accuracy, 4 key passes, 1 goal, 1 assist, and 6 duels won. Unreal numbers."
"Arsenal fumbled not giving Izan more minutes in the earlier gas. An absolute gem of a player."
anwhile, football analysts and influencers had already begun their halfti breakdowns.
"Izan's first half vs. Liverpool shows why he's one of the most exciting young talents in the world. A generational midfielder," a Bein tabloid shone minutes after the half ended.
"Arsenal's new star is cooking in LA. Izan is controlling this ga like a veteran. Liverpool struggling to contain him."
"If you're watching #ArsenalVsLiverpool right now, you know: Izan is THAT guy."
No matter which side fans were on, one thing was undeniable— Izan was the difference maker.
...
Inside the Liverpool dressing room, the atmosphere was tense but controlled.
Arne Slot stood in the center, his sharp gaze sweeping across his players. Despite being down at halfti, he wasn't about to lose his composure.
"We're not far off," he started, his voice firm but even. "We've had chances. Mo's goal was world-class. But let's be honest—there's one problem we haven't solved."
The players didn't need him to say it. They all knew.
"Izan."
Arne Slot exhaled sharply, rubbing his hands together as he looked around the dressing room.
His tone was calm but carried an unmistakable urgency.
"Listen up," he said, locking eyes with each player. "We're struggling to contain one player. One player.
And if we don't find a way to stop him now, then I promise you—this isn't just a preseason problem."
He let that sink in for a mont before continuing.
"Because co the Premier League, if we don't figure this out, we'll be in for an exhausting season.
Every ti we play Arsenal, this is what we'll deal with. Izan is not just so kid having a good night—he's the real deal.
And if we let him dictate gas like this, we're going to suffer, not just today, but in the league when points actually matter."
His words carried weight. Even the most experienced players—Van Dijk, Salah, Robertson—listened intently.
Slot then turned to Mac Allister, nodding.
"Alexis, you've done your job well, but he's still slipping away. That can't happen."
Then, shifting his gaze to Gravenberch, he made his decision.
"Ryan, you're doubling him with Alexis. No more space, no more ti on the ball. If he drops deep, you follow.
If he moves wide, you're there. We cannot allow him to dictate the rhythm of this ga."
Gravenberch straightened, nodding.
"Got it, coach."
Slot took a final look at his team.
"We are Liverpool. We do not let one player run the show. Now go out there and take back control."
The players rose with renewed focus. As they stepped out of the dressing room, there was a shared understanding—this wasn't just about winning this ga.
It was about setting the tone for the season.
...…..
In the other dressing room, the energy was high, but Mikel Arteta wasn't about to let that turn into complacency.
He stood in front of his players, arms crossed, eyes sharp. His voice was controlled, but the intensity never wavered.
"Well done, boys." He let the words settle before adding, "This is what I want to see from us. This is our football."
He turned slightly, eyes landing on Izan, who sat with his boots untied, towel around his neck.
"Izan, fantastic. You're running the ga, making things happen, creating chaos for them."
He nodded, a slight smirk forming. "They can't handle you. They know it, we know it."
Then, his expression turned serious. "But listen carefully—this is Liverpool. They're not going to sit back and accept this. They'll adjust, and we need to be ready."
His eyes scanned the room.
"We cannot lose focus. There are monts where we take one touch too many, where we're too slow to move the ball. That's what they're waiting for. That's what led to their goal."
His gaze shifted to Zinchenko, who nodded, acknowledging his mistake.
"We're playing well, but I want more. More control. More aggression. If we let them drag us into a physical battle, we're giving them what they want."
He then stepped forward, hands gesturing firmly.
"We're ahead because we play our ga. Keep the intensity high, keep finding spaces, and keep trusting each other. Don't let up."
Then, he addressed the midfield.
"Declan, I need you to be aware of Gravenberch now. They will probably be sending him to help Mac Allister with Izan or make soone who can do it.
That ans we can exploit the space they leave behind. Martin, Kai, be ready to drop and link up."
He clapped his hands once, his voice rising slightly.
"One half to go. Let's finish this the right way."
The players nodded, the determination in their eyes clear. They had the edge, and they weren't about to let it slip.
As both teams erged from their dressing rooms and filed into the tunnel, the atmosphere crackled with tension.
Players exchanged glances—so focused, others laced with quiet animosity.
Izan adjusted his sleeves, eyes ahead while from behind, Mac Allister and Gravenberch muttered between themselves.
No words were spoken.
A/n: First of the day. Okay guys. New month, new Author. I hope everything is going well for everyone and even if it isn't, we are still living. Thanks for supporting this novel and I hope you have a great month. Have fun reading and i'll see you soon with the second chapter of the day.
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