As the final whistle blew and Arsenal's players exchanged handshakes with their Liverpool counterparts, Izan was already making his move.
So players stayed behind to soak in the applause or engage in post-match interviews.
But Izan swiftly navigated past the oncoming reporters, cutting through the crowd with a determined stride toward the tunnel.
"And there goes Izan Hernandez—absolutely no interest in sticking around," Peter Drury chuckled. "If you want a word from him, you better start running."
Lee Dixon laughed. "Honestly, if he plays football the way he dodges reporters, no wonder Liverpool couldn't lay a finger on him tonight."
The caras caught so of the crowd laughing, a few Arsenal fans even playfully mimicking Izan's quick getaway.
One Liverpool fan near the tunnel held up a sign that read: "Izan, blink twice if Arteta is holding you hostage!"
As Izan disappeared into the tunnel, the SoFi crowd cheered once more, a mix of admiration and amusent.
And in the comntary booth, Drury's voice carried the final word: "He ran the ga for ninety minutes, and now he's running from the press. What a night for Izan Hernandez."
...….
Izan burst into the dressing room, nodding absentmindedly at a few of his teammates on the bench who had arrived before him.
He slowed until every eye wasn't on him before making a beeline for the washroom.
His pace wasn't quite as urgent as when he'd been dodging defenders—or reporters—but it was getting there.
As soon as he stepped inside, he hesitated for a mont, then swiftly pushed open one of the stalls, locking himself in with a sigh.
"Did I get food poisoning?" he muttered to himself, staring blankly at the door in front of him like it held the answer.
Outside, a few of the other players were already talking about what was next, but Izan was on a completely different battlefield now.
...…
Izan stepped out of the stall, letting out a deep sigh as he made his way to the showers.
He twisted the knob, and warm water cascaded over him, washing away the gri and sweat from the grueling match.
His muscles, sore from the endless running and battles, finally relaxed under the soothing spray.
"What a ga. If that's how every battle with a top 6 team in the EPL is going to be, then I might have to stock up on the conditioning fluids," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his damp hair.
It had been a chaotic ninety minutes, full of fouls, fights, and fire, and now that it was over, all he wanted was to unwind.
As he lathered up, he replayed certain monts in his mind—the goals, the battles, the mistakes.
He could still hear the roar of the crowd when he had torn through Liverpool's midfield.
The groans when Endo had dispossessed him, and the booming laughter when he made a swift exit past reporters.
Even in a preseason match, there was no such thing as a quiet ga when he was involved.
Finishing up, he stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist before heading to his locker.
The dressing room was still lively, with so of the boys still in their kits and others chatting away or scrolling through their phones.
Saliba and Gabriel were talking animatedly about one of their duels with Núñez, while Rice was sitting on the bench, shaking his head at sothing Ødegaard had said.
Izan barely paid attention as he toweled off, changed into a clean Arsenal tracksuit, and sat on the bench, running another towel over his damp hair.
He checked his phone, expecting a flood of ssages about the ga, when suddenly,
The door swung open.
The room went still for a second as Arteta strode in with purpose, scanning the space with a look that ant business.
His sharp eyes moved from player to player before landing on Izan, who, to his misfortune, was the only one fully dressed and ready.
"That's what I like to see," Arteta announced, loud enough for everyone to hear.
His voice carried an air of satisfaction. "Professional. Prepared. So of you could learn from him."
A chorus of groans and playful complaints erupted from the dressing room.
"Gaffer, you don't see ? I was about to get up!" Declan Rice protested, still sitting with one boot on and one-off.
"Man, let finish my drink first," Trossard added, holding up a water bottle.
Izan smirked but said nothing, already wary of whatever was coming next; Arteta wasn't the type to hand out praise without a reason.
"Co on," the manager said, clapping a firm hand on Izan's shoulder. "You're coming with to the press conference."
Izan blinked. "Wait, what?"
"You heard . Let's go."
"Gaffer, co on, I just showered," Izan tried, glancing at his teammates for backup. None ca.
"Exactly. You're fresh, you're presentable—unlike the rest of them." Arteta turned to the room. "So of you should take notes."
Laughter broke out across the dressing room. Zinchenko shook his head, grinning.
"Tough luck, bro," Gabriel teased.
"Better you than ," Havertz muttered with a smirk.
Arteta had already made up his mind, and once that happened, arguing was pointless.
"Fine," Izan muttered, standing up.
Arteta patted his back. "That's the spirit. Let's go."
As he was dragged towards the door, he could hear his teammates laughing and calling after him.
"Make sure you shout us out!"
"Tell them I was the best player today!"
"Try not to cause another fight with any Liverpool players in the press room, eh?"
Izan just shook his head and walked on.
The room was buzzing when Arteta and Izan entered, the murmur of journalists filling the air as cara flashes flickered.
They took their seats, microphones adjusted, and within seconds, the moderator gestured for the first question.
(The Athletic). Mikel, first of all, congratulations on the win. Preseason or not, a victory over Liverpool is always significant. What are your thoughts on the ga?"
Arteta: "Thank you. It was a very competitive ga, exactly what we needed at this stage of preseason.
We saw a lot of good things, but also areas where we need to improve. Liverpool is a fantastic team, and they pushed us hard, but I'm pleased with how we responded."
(BBC Sport). Izan, you were heavily involved in all three goals today—another free kick, two assists. You also scored against Manchester United in the preseason and impressed against Leverkusen. How do you feel about your performances so far?"
Izan leaned closer to the mic, choosing his words carefully. "I feel good. It's still preseason, so we're all working towards full match sharpness, but I think I've settled in well.
Each ga has been a different challenge—United, Leverkusen, and now Liverpool. I just try to contribute however I can."
(Sky Sports): "Speaking of those different challenges, you've now faced top teams from England and Germany in a short span.
Based on what you've experienced, how do you compare playing against Premier League opposition versus a team like Leverkusen?"
Izan thought for a second before answering. "It's different. The Premier League teams press higher and faster, and the physicality is next-level.
United was more structured defensively, Liverpool played with intensity for the full ninety minutes, while Leverkusen was very technical.
But in the end, it's about adapting. Every team has weaknesses—you just have to find them."
(ESPN)You've had a taste of English football now, but do you think you're fully prepared for what's to co in the league? Players have talked about how relentless it is compared to other leagues."
Izan gave a small nod. "I understand that, and I won't pretend I know exactly what's coming until I'm in the middle of it.
But I ca here because I wanted this challenge. I know there will be tough monts, but that's what makes it exciting. The best players thrive under pressure."
(Goal): "Your set-piece ability has been a major talking point. You scored that free kick against United, and now another one against Liverpool. Is that sothing you've always been confident in?"
Izan smirked slightly. "I've always practiced them, yeah. Had a few of them at Valencia. At the end of the day, it's about repetition, understanding how the ball moves, and trusting yourself in the mont. If I get the chance, I back myself to take it."
(The Guardian): "Your assists today demonstrated your vision and passing range. How do you approach your role within the team? Are you aiming to take on a more playmaking role this season?
Izan shrugged. "I don't focus on labels. If I see a pass, I play it. If I need to drive forward, I will.
It depends on the situation. The most important thing is making the right decisions for the team."
(CBS Sports): "With the season approaching, what are your personal goals? Any targets you've set for yourself?"
Izan paused, considering the question. "I don't like setting numbers because football isn't predictable.
What I can say is that I want to be consistent. I want to contribute in big monts.
I want to help this team compete at the highest level. If I do that, everything else will follow."
Arteta nodded approvingly beside him.
(Football London): "Mikel, last question—how do you see Izan fitting into this Arsenal squad for the upcoming season?"
Arteta smiled. "Izan has already shown what he's capable of, but there is so much more to co.
He has adapted well, and his ntality is exactly what we want. He will be very important for us this season."
The moderator wrapped things up, and Arteta gave Izan a pat on the back as they stood to leave.
"Good answers," he murmured as they stepped away from the caras.
Izan just smirked, exhaling slightly.
He was finally done with the questions—now all that was left was to let his football do the talking when the real season began.
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