The Debut

"These English people are really mean," Louis thought, his heart not as calm as his appearance suggested. He was about to play in a professional league for the first time, and it was impossible not to feel some nerves.

Louis had imagined this moment countless times, but now that it was here, he wasn't overly excited. From joining Milan's youth team at age seven to now, at seventeen, he had prepared for this day for ten years.

"For a striker, the most important thing is to always stay calm!" his football mentor Inzaghi often emphasized. Whenever Louis used to rely on his speed to burst past opponents, Inzaghi would remind him of this. 

Now, without the speed he once had, Louis understood the wisdom in Inzaghi's words. Football isn't just about physical prowess; it's also about using your brain.

Meanwhile, at San Siro, AC Milan was playing against Napoli. Inzaghi, seated in the stands with his youth team players, had brought his phone with him, hoping to catch updates on Louis. The group chat [Loving Family] was buzzing with excitement.

Martina: My baby is going to play! 

Tommaso: Come on, cousin!

Simone: So why don't we go to England? Damn, what a pity, this is my eldest nephew's debut!

Inzaghi smiled, but his smile quickly faded as Napoli's Cavani scored, changing the score to 0-1. Inzaghi's brief smile during Milan's loss was captured on live broadcast, probably setting up misleading headlines.

Back at the Etihad Stadium, Louis finished warming up and approached Wenger.

"When you come on, your position will be slightly behind Giroud," Wenger explained, with Bould showing the tactical setup on the board. Arsenal would shift to a 4-4-2 formation, with Louis playing just behind Giroud.

"You need to use Giroud's cover to find space and score," Wenger added.

"Understood!" Louis nodded.

Wenger patted his shoulder. "Don't be too nervous. This is just a league game. Relax and play like you do in training. Even if we lose, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"Boss, if we're not playing to win, what's the point of subbing me in?" Louis asked.

Wenger was taken aback, then smiled. He had seen many top players, and Louis had the right mentality. He patted Louis' shoulder again. "You're right, Louis! Play to win! Go all out!"

Louis responded, "Just watch, BOSS!"

The fourth official raised the substitution sign: No. 14 off, No. 19 on. Walcott saw the sign and knew his time was up. He had failed to seize several opportunities, making way for Louis.

"Come on," Walcott said as he high-fived Louis.

"Thanks," Louis replied, patting Walcott on the back. Despite their competition, they maintained a professional relationship. Besides, Walcott had indirectly helped him gain an [Explosive Power Module], for which Louis felt grateful.

As Louis took to the pitch, he gestured and loudly explained the new tactics to his teammates. The TV broadcast locked onto him.

"Louis is coming on to replace Walcott. Arsenal's first substitution of the game," announced Sky Sports' ace commentator, Andy Gray. Next to him were guest commentators Martin Keown and Gary Neville.

"Hey, Gary, did you see that? He came on in the fifty-eighth minute! He'll get at least thirty minutes of game time!" Martin teased.

Gary Neville, unimpressed, replied, "I don't think it's a good idea to bring him on now. It's a tough situation for a debut. If he doesn't perform well, it might affect his chances in the future."