Rising Star 3.0

The TV broadcast replayed the scene where Louis scored the goal over and over again.

"Jourdren is a very experienced goalkeeper. He had almost completed the block, but Louis calmly used a fake move, giving himself space to push into the near corner!"

"It was a very simple push. It is impossible for any professional player to push the ball away without pressure. But the problem is that Louis faced the goalkeeper's aggressive defense."

"He is very calm, very calm! It's hard to imagine that he is only seventeen years old."

In the commentary box, the France TV Sports commentator no longer expected Montpellier to complete a miraculous comeback in the last few minutes. He began to praise Louis's performance.

"He's like a veteran with more than ten years of experience," the commentator said.

The Arsenal fans who had traveled to the away game were cheering, singing loudly.

"He is our wonder boy!" The singing echoed throughout the stadium.

Montpellier fans began to leave early. While Wenger applauded Louis's goal on the sidelines, he pondered a crucial question: Is Louis ready to become a starting player?

Scoring twice in two consecutive games with such explosive performances, from any angle, Wenger could no longer justify keeping Louis on the bench. If a striker performs well but never gets a chance to start, what kind of impact will this have on his motivation?

Arsenal brought home a victory from the away game and made a good start in the Champions League. However, they did not rank first in their group. Schalke 04, playing at home, showed excellent form, easily defeating Olympiacos 3-0 to top the group on goal difference.

Before the game, many thought this group was complicated, with Montpellier having a chance to qualify. But now it seemed Schalke 04 and Arsenal would compete for the top spot.

After this Champions League round, Louis, who scored twice, naturally became the focus of media across Europe. Scoring twice in two consecutive games, and in both his professional league and Champions League debuts, instantly turned Louis from a relatively unknown youth player into a highly watched rising star.

Because the teams he scored against were no pushovers—Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, and Montpellier, the defending Ligue 1 champions—Louis's abilities were evident.

As a result, media from various countries began reporting on Louis, with many titles praising his quick rise and resilience.

[Is He Really a Prodigy? Genius Louis's Successful Transformation in Half a Year!]

[A Young Man's Rise Against the Odds!]

[Scoring Twice in a Row, He Is Truly Arsenal's Replacement for Van Persie!]

Fans from all over Europe discussed the young man with a remarkable journey. His four goals were frequently replayed on TV, making Louis a household name.

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In Manchester, at the Carrington training ground, Ferguson put down the newspaper, muttering, "What a lucky guy."

He had planned to retire, but losing the championship to Manchester City in the last round of the previous season made him stay another year to ensure a title win.

To achieve that, he needed a reliable forward, which led him to bring Arsenal's captain, Robin van Persie, to Manchester United. Van Persie quickly became United's top scorer.

Ferguson initially didn't worry about Arsenal, thinking their thin lineup couldn't challenge Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea. But now, Louis's performances caught his attention.

"He's a taller, faster, better physical version of Solskjaer, at least that's what it looks like for now," Ferguson told his assistant, Mike Phelan.

Phelan nodded. "Maybe this kid will soon become Arsenal's main forward."

Ferguson picked up the newspaper again, then put it down with a look of regret. "Why is Wenger so lucky?"

After the Champions League game, the local media in England previewed the fifth round of the Premier League. When discussing Arsenal, most predicted, "Louis may start in this round of the league."

Their speculation wasn't baseless. Arsenal played in the Champions League midweek, making rotation in the weekend league likely. Plus, their opponent was Southampton, a relatively weak team, making rotation feasible. Lastly, Louis's consecutive standout performances warranted a start.

On the [Premier League Preview] program on Sky Sports, Arsenal legend Martin Keown confidently said, "Yes, I'm sure Mr. Wenger will start him."

"No coach would ignore a striker who has scored four goals in the last two games."

"And this isn't just to spite Gary Neville," Keown joked, looking at Neville. "It's a reasonable assumption."

Gary Neville, contemplating whether to avoid the limelight, knew fans loved seeing him suffer due to his earlier comments about Louis. This popularity even led to TV stations offering him extra pay to appear, so in a way, Neville had Louis to thank for his continued relevance and earning opportunities after retirement.