Izan reached out, both hands closing around the handles.
His teammates gathered behind him a half-circle of exhausted, trembling men, their faces a mix of disbelief and pure joy.
The sound inside the Allianz Arena had long ceased to be mere noise; it was an avalanche of emotion, roaring and unending, the kind of sound that came when decades of waiting finally met destiny.
Izan turned, the weight of the trophy solid in his hands.
Its reflection shimmered in his eyes as he walked toward his teammates slowly, head bowed, the glimmer of a smile curving on his face.
Then, he looked up, towards Ødegaard, who stood a few steps behind.
A small nod was all it took.
Izan lifted his chin in Ødegaard's direction, a wordless invitation as the Norwegian captain blinked once, then twice, before stepping forward.
The Arsenal players parted, letting him through.
When he reached Izan, the two exchanged a brief look that said everything.
