By mid-to-late July, Arsenal had officially sent out the recall notice.
Players scattered across the globe began to return in waves, and by July 25th, the Arsenal Training Center was buzzing with activity once again.
After the emotional rollercoaster of the 2012/2013 campaign, Arsenal returned with a stronger backbone and a sharpened sense of purpose.
The squad that finished second in the Premier League had been kept largely intact. Add to that a few smart signings, and the Gunners were suddenly being talked about as serious contenders for the title.
But perhaps the biggest shift came from outside the club.
Sir Alex Ferguson had finally stepped down.
The old roadblock standing between Arsenal and the title was now out of the way.
Of course, Jose Mourinho's return to Chelsea added a layer of unpredictability, but there weren't many who believed the Portuguese tactician could seamlessly mold the Blues into title challengers in his first season back.
Still, for Arsenal, Chelsea felt personal.
Their former captain, Cesc Fàbregas, had signed for the Blues, donning that deep royal blue at Stamford Bridge. That twist left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Gunners fans.
Kai, for one, was puzzled. That transfer wasn't supposed to happen until the 2014 summer window. Something had changed the timeline.
Perhaps it was the flapping of butterfly wings—his butterfly wings—nudging the course of history in a new direction.
Arsenal fans, many of whom had already grown weary of Fàbregas' flirtations with Barcelona and perceived lack of loyalty, erupted in outrage. The move to Chelsea was, to them, the final betrayal.
But Fàbregas seemed unmoved, already used to the noise.
Rumors had circulated that he made overtures to return to Arsenal. But Wenger, surprisingly firm, had turned him down.
In a rare show of steel, Wenger even stated publicly:
"Fabregas is a great player, I know that since he was my player. But the direction of Arsenal has changed since he left, making him no longer in the plans of this club."
Meaning without the Professor's fluff.
Fabregas is not welcome.
And so Fàbregas turned to the blue side of London. And Arsenal fans, understandably, turned their backs on him, chanting "Get out of London!" whenever his name surfaced.
Elsewhere, Liverpool had made moves of their own.
Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho, Simon Mignolet, and Iago Aspas were among the new names at Anfield. The team looked more complete, more cohesive, and for once, prepared to make a real push.
Last season had been rocky—at one point, they flirted with relegation before climbing out of the mess. But they couldn't pull off a finish like Arsenal's dramatic late surge.
Still, four consecutive years without Champions League football had left a mark.
Up in Manchester, David Moyes had taken the reins at United following Ferguson's farewell.
There was cautious optimism.
Moyes had done wonders at Everton with limited resources, and many hoped he could carry that tenacity into Old Trafford.
But already, there were whispers: Moyes wasn't Ferguson.
He had the work ethic. He had the tactics. But did he have the presence to lead a club of giants?
Only time would tell. For now, United and him was in the honeymoon period.
Manchester City, meanwhile, had gone bold.
The money flowed—nearly €90 million spent in a single window.
They maintained their reputation as the league's most extravagant spenders, eclipsing even Chelsea. But for all their flash, City were still missing a true midfield orchestrator.
Kevin De Bruyne, for instance, was still stuck in London—barely getting any time at Chelsea, biding his time.
And then there was Arsenal.
Their summer window wasn't flashy. It was downright modest.
Not because Wenger didn't want to strengthen the team, but because the right players simply weren't available.
He had made moves to reinforce the backline, targeting names like Hummels from Dortmund, Chiellini and Bonucci from Juventus, and even Thiago Silva from PSG.
But nothing materialized.
Either the clubs had better results, or they simply had more cash.
Compared to Dortmund, Arsenal were just a Champions League Round of 16 team; Dortmund were the finalists.
And going toe-to-toe financially with PSG? A fool's errand. Even with the backing of their Russian owner, Arsenal couldn't afford to provoke the Parisians.
So Wenger turned to bargains.
Without the draw of recent trophies, elite players were hard to attract.
Spending over £40 million early, he chose to redirect the rest of the funds toward repaying the Emirates Stadium debt.
Pay it down early. Regain financial freedom. That was the Wenger strategy.
For now, though, it was about rolling with what they had—and proving to Europe that this squad had the potential to challenge.
On the first day of training camp, the full squad reported in for their medicals.
The results were encouraging. Most had kept themselves in good shape over the break—no slackers, no surprises.
The mood inside the locker room was electric.
They had missed the title by a single point last season, but no one was dwelling on that. It was a new campaign, and the feeling was clear: Arsenal were ready to fight.
"Some teams beefed up over the summer. Might be a bloodbath this year," one Chamberlain mused, lacing up his boots.
"So what? We've got our firepower. No reason to back down."
"Wonder how United will cope with Moyes."
"Bet you there'll be drama. That squad's a lot of ego, not sure Moyes can manage it."
"Chelsea might be dangerous, too. Mourinho's back."
"He flamed out at Madrid. But still, better keep an eye on him."
"Every year the Premier League turns into a madhouse."
"So many transfers, you never know who's gonna rise."
"Well, one thing's for sure. Arsenal's going for it!"
"Haha, we'll kick their backsides just like last year."
"Any of the new guys showing up today?"
The banter carried across the room, full of anticipation.
Kai—no longer tucked away in the corner—sat calmly on a bench, tying his laces, watching it all unfold with a smile.
His locker had been moved closer to the middle now. A small gesture, but one that spoke volumes about his growing influence.
In the corner where he used to sit, Park Chu-Young looked quietly resigned.
Kai shot him a glance, sighed, and shook his head.
The Korean forward had it rough.
A forgettable debut season at Arsenal, a loan to a struggling La Liga team, and now military service looming.
Tough break.
Kai knew the drill—unless Park helped South Korea win something big like the Asian Cup or Olympics, military service was inevitable.
And with the World Cup around the corner, this might be his last dance.
Kai didn't dislike all Korean players—Park Ji-sung, Son Heung-min—those guys earned respect. But Park Chu-Young wasn't in that bracket.
Suddenly, the locker room door opened. In walked Vermaelen, flanked by several new faces.
New arrivals.
Kai immediately clocked one name: Mathieu Flamini.
Wenger's go-to move—bringing back a reliable Frenchman, and for free, no less.
A seasoned pro who would integrate quickly, and most importantly, didn't cost a penny.
Wenger's brilliance or stinginess? Take your pick.
There were no flashy signings like a wonderkid. The professor was happy with his midfield mix.
The new lads were making their rounds, exchanging greetings.
Kai noticed something funny: while others got full-on hugs or animated high-fives, he mostly received reserved fist bumps.
Unbeknownst to him, Vermaelen had issued a jokingly quiet warning before they stepped in:
"Whatever you do—don't mess with the vice."
But there's always one who didn't get the memo.
Flamini, ever the competitor, strode up to Kai and declared:
"Wenger said I should strive to challenge for a starting spot. I may be your backup now, but that might change soon. Let's have a good campaign."
The locker room froze.
Chamberlain stiffened. Vermaelen inched closer, ready to intervene if needed.
Some were even mentally prepping: if a scuffle broke out, whose backing who?
But instead of tension, Kai stood up, clapped a hand on Flamini's shoulder, and grinned.
"Good. That's how it should be. At Arsenal, we fight for our places. If you outplay me, I've got no right to start."
A collective breath was released across the room.
Even Flamini blinked, surprised by the response.
Kai turned toward the new players, raising his voice just enough:
"Listen up. This is Arsenal. No one's stopping you from taking a spot—your job is to knock the starter out."
"Play better, train harder, and you'll earn more—higher wages, more respect, better roles."
"And trust me, there's no feeling like hearing the Emirates erupt when you score."
"So go ahead—come for our spots. Just be ready when we push back."
Eyes lit up.
Pressure settled over the room like a warm weight.
Kai turned back to Flamini and tapped the number on his jersey.
"You want the number 4 shirt?"
Flamini, still taken aback, gave a slow nod.
Kai schooled his face, slung the shirt over his shoulder, and walked toward the door.
"Then earn it. Come rip it off me."