The Rising Star’s Challenge
"Maximum salary in the team? Only one more year?!"
When Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis heard Louis's agent's request, he almost refused outright. But Gazidis, a shrewd negotiator, knew better. If news broke that contract extension negotiations with Louis had failed, wealthy clubs would descend like sharks smelling blood.
Gazidis took a deep breath. "The salary is too high; we cannot disrupt our wage structure for a young player. And a one-year extension is too short! Louis is a valuable asset. A four-year contract at least can protect this asset!"
Initially, Arsenal thought a 2+1 contract was reasonable. Now that Louis was a rising star, Gazidis wanted to lock him in for as long as possible.
Negotiation is a game of push and pull. Louis and Tulio didn't expect an immediate agreement on a contract renewal and salary increase. Tulio advised Louis, "As long as you continue to perform well, you hold the cards. If Arsenal isn't sincere, we can leave at any time. You won't lack suitors!"
Louis had no shortage of interested clubs. AC Milan, his former club, felt a pang every time they saw his success, regretting selling him cheaply for two million.
Louis knew the best way to maintain his form and improve was to keep pushing himself.
"Ding! You have completed all training in the [Basic Dribbling Training Module], and your [Basic Dribbling] ability score has been raised to: Level A"
"Ding! Your [Basic Shooting], [Basic Dribbling], and [Basic Passing] abilities have all been upgraded to A level."
"Ding! The three basic skills have been integrated, and your [Basic Skills] score has been raised to S level!"
On the training ground, Louis stopped, reflecting on his progress. Basic skills were the foundation of everything. His [Basic Skills] rating reaching S level meant significant improvements in shooting, dribbling, and passing.
"My control, passing, shooting, dribbling... everything feels much better," Louis thought.
In two and a half months, he had transformed from a player whose touch was shaky to one with top-tier technical skills. This rapid progress was remarkable.
"My speed and technique are back, even better than before!" Louis assessed. He was tall, fast, powerful, technically proficient, and versatile. He could charge, hold off defenders, shoot, receive, and pass. His physical fitness hadn't even peaked yet. This made him the ideal contemporary center forward.
"If Arsenal doesn't give me the maximum salary, the worst case is I leave next season," Louis murmured. He wasn't begging for the maximum salary; he deserved it.
There was a two-week break between the fifth and sixth rounds of the Champions League group stage. After the Liverpool game, Arsenal had a week to recover.
On November 17th, the eleventh round of the Premier League, Arsenal would face Chelsea away, the current top team in the league. Chelsea were in excellent form, leading the league and being the defending Champions League champions.
This summer, Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich was generous, fulfilling almost all the signing requests of coach Roberto Di Matteo, who led them to their first Champions League title. They brought in technical players like Hazard, Azpilicueta, Oscar, and Marin, showing Di Matteo's ambition to shift Chelsea from a defensive powerhouse to a more technical team.
The forward line of Hazard, Oscar, and Mata was highly technical. Facing Chelsea away was never easy.
"This is a London derby," Wilshere noted, sitting next to Louis on the bus to Stamford Bridge. "After Chelsea won the Champions League last season, they ridiculed us."
"Why?" Louis asked, puzzled.
Wilshere explained, "Because they became the first London team to win the Champions League."
"Oh," Louis nodded, understanding.
England had five teams that had won the Champions League: Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Liverpool, and now Chelsea. Before Chelsea's triumph, no team from London had ever won it, despite having many professional teams and being the region with the most Premier League teams.
Arsenal, with the most titles in London, had long seen themselves as the city's top team. Chelsea's Champions League victory embarrassed Arsenal, leading to ridicule.
"Last season, we almost missed the Champions League," Chamberlain said, leaning over Louis's chair.
"Yes, we only secured third place by beating West Bromwich Albion in the last round. If we'd finished fourth, we'd be in the Europa League," Cazorla added.
Chelsea, finishing sixth in the league, secured their Champions League spot by winning it. If Arsenal had finished fourth, they would have missed out on the Champions League, a fate that instead befell Tottenham.
At Stamford Bridge, some Chelsea fans displayed banners mocking Arsenal: "Hey Arsenal, the Champions League trophy from London is here!"
As both teams emerged from the tunnel, all Arsenal players had to pass under this banner, which was broadcast worldwide.