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Chapter 14 – Youth Cup Final (Second Half)
Location: Highbury Stadium, London
Date: April 2003
The second half began under the bright London floodlights. The crowd was restless, still buzzing from Jeremy Lynch's first-half hat-trick. Arsenal led 3–0, but Manchester United's youth team wasn't beaten yet.
In the directors' box, Arsène Wenger stayed glued to his seat. His hands folded, his sharp eyes watched the boy in the number 11 shirt. Three goals. Cocky. Clinical. But can he sustain it?
On the pitch, Jeremy strolled into position with a lazy grin. He glanced across the field at Gerard Piqué, who was shouting instructions at his United teammates. "Keep him tight, no space!" Piqué barked.
Jeremy smirked. "You can shout all you want, mate. I'm still scoring three more."
[Ding!]
> Egoist System Notice
"Dominate. You are halfway to six. History remembers only those who refuse to stop."
Jeremy chuckled under his breath. "Yeah, yeah. Watch me."
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Kick-off, second half.
United came out swinging. Kieran Richardson darted down the left flank, whipping in an early cross. Giuseppe Rossi attacked it, glancing a header just wide. The United bench roared, urging their lads on.
For a few minutes, Arsenal were pinned back. Jeremy barely tracked back, lingering high up the pitch. Hoyte shouted at him again: "Lynch, drop in, man!"
Jeremy turned, grinning. "Nah, mate. You lot defend. I'll win us the match."
The United players noticed. Piqué stepped up, pressing higher, trying to keep him quiet. For ten minutes, it worked. Jeremy barely touched the ball, growing restless.
Then the chance came.
54th minute.
Hoyte intercepted a pass and launched it long. The ball soared over United's midfield. Jeremy spun, body angled perfectly, and burst into the gap. Piqué gave chase, but Jeremy's first touch killed the ball dead.
One-on-one again.
He slowed, waited for the keeper to commit, then chipped the ball coolly over him — ice cold, casual, effortless.
4–0 Arsenal.
Jeremy turned to the crowd, arms outstretched, before sliding on his knees and throwing up a celebration that hadn't even been invented yet. A cheeky grin crossed his face as his teammates swarmed him.
"Oi, where'd you get that from?" Randall asked, laughing.
Jeremy winked. "Future, mate. Keep up."
[Ding!]
> Goal Logged – Ego +3
Current Stats:
Shooting: 74
Dribbling: 75
Passing: 61
Defence: 48
Technique: 72
Instinct: 79
Endurance: 68
Strength: 65
Ego: 83
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United tried again to claw back momentum. Rossi came closest, forcing a fingertip save from the Arsenal keeper in the 61st. Richardson kept pushing, but Arsenal's backline was stubborn.
Jeremy, meanwhile, was coiled like a snake.
67th minute.
Randall nicked the ball in midfield, slipped it to Bendtner. Bendtner, for once, didn't try to dribble himself — he flicked it out wide to Jeremy.
Jeremy's eyes lit up.
He took off down the wing, defender tight on him. A quick step-over, then another, then a burst of pace — the echoes of Ronaldinho still alive in his movements. He cut inside, faked a shot, sat a defender on the ground, and rifled the ball low past the keeper.
5–0 Arsenal.
Jeremy wheeled away, hand to his lips again, shushing the away fans who were jeering. His grin was wide, teeth flashing under the floodlights.
Bendtner ran up, shaking his head but laughing. "Selfish bastard. Could've squared that."
Jeremy clapped him on the back. "Mate, you'll get your chance… maybe."
[Ding!]
> Goal Logged – Ego +3
Instinct +1 | Technique +1 | Shooting +1
The system purred. "One more. The final dagger. Make it unforgettable."
---
Wenger sat forward, elbows on his knees. Five goals. Ridiculous. The boy was arrogant, yes, but unstoppable. Each finish was different. Clinical, cheeky, ruthless.
He glanced at Liam Brady beside him. "He has… no fear."
Brady frowned. "Or no discipline."
Wenger allowed himself a faint smile. "Sometimes, they are the same thing."
---
75th minute.
United pushed bodies forward, desperate for a consolation. Rossi tried a curling effort from distance — over the bar. The Arsenal keeper launched the goal kick long.
The ball sailed, bouncing awkwardly near the halfway line. Jeremy read it first.
He spun, muscled off Piqué — surprising strength in his lean frame — and drove forward. Two defenders converged, but Jeremy wasn't looking to pass.
He dropped his shoulder, slipped between them, and thundered a shot from 25 yards. The ball screamed through the air, smashing into the top corner.
6–0 Arsenal. Jeremy Lynch's sixth goal.
Highbury shook. Even the United fans clapped grudgingly.
Jeremy tore off down the sideline, leaping into the air with a celebration stolen from another star of the future. He landed, laughing, pointing to himself.
"I told you, I'm him!" he shouted toward the stands.
His teammates mobbed him, even Bendtner grinning despite himself.
Hoyte just shook his head. "Six bloody goals… lad's a machine."
[Ding!]
> Historic Performance
6 Goals in Youth Cup Final
Reward: +5 Ego | +3 Shooting | +2 Instinct | Shop Bonus Unlock
Jeremy's vision flashed with the new shop interface. Rare items glimmered — injury kits, stamina boosts, even a "Prime Finisher Pack." His chest burned with adrenaline.
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The final minutes ticked away with Arsenal firmly in control. United, demoralized, barely strung passes together. Rossi trudged up front, shaking his head. Piqué, hands on his hips, kept barking, but it was over.
Full-time: Arsenal 6 – 0 Manchester United.
Every goal, Jeremy Lynch.
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The whistle blew, and the Arsenal lads exploded into celebration. Medals were handed out, the trophy lifted high. Cameras flashed, recording the moment. Jeremy stood at the center of it all, grin wide, arms raised.
The crowd chanted his name. "Lynch! Lynch! Lynch!"
Up in the directors' box, Wenger stood. His decision was made. He turned to Brady.
"Promote him. He trains with the first team. Tomorrow."
Brady hesitated. "Boss, he's… unpredictable."
Wenger smiled thinly. "So was Henry at his age. So was Vieira. We can teach discipline. But that instinct, that ego? That cannot be taught."
He glanced back down at the pitch, at Jeremy celebrating like a king among boys. This one… this one could be special.
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In the dressing room after, the lads were drenched in champagne and sweat. Bendtner was singing, the trophy passed around, everyone buzzing.
Jeremy sat back, towel over his shoulders, grin fixed on his face.
[Ding!]
> System Update
"Performance complete. Wenger has taken notice. You are no longer just an academy player. You are Arsenal's rising egoist."
Jeremy chuckled to himself, leaning back. "Told you all. I'm him, mate. Just the start."
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