World football system-Chapter 67: Villa game

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The Emirates was glowing.

Under stadium lights and the fresh layer of snow now melting beneath thousands of footsteps, it looked more like a cathedral than a football ground. A holy place for ninety-minute sermons written in sweat and thunder.

Tobi stepped onto the pitch during warmups, greeted by roars.

The North Bank sang his name. Loud. In rhythm.

"TO-BI! TO-BI! TO-BI!"

He didn’t smile. Just glanced up to find Emilia in the front row—hood up, scarf covering half her face, but her eyes burning with belief.

That was all he needed.

> System Buff Activated: Emotional Anchor – Performance Stress -15%

Objective: 8.5+ Match Rating, Direct Goal Contribution, Win

Kickoff.

Arsenal in red and white. Aston Villa in dark green.

The whistle blew.

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First Half: 0’ – 45’

Villa pressed immediately.

Douglas Luiz and McGinn were animals in midfield. Aggressive. Snapping at heels. Tobi barely touched the ball in the opening five minutes.

Then he did.

9th minute – ball to his feet just inside Arsenal’s half. He let it run past his left, stepped over with the right, and spun between two Villa players like silk through fingers.

Pass to Ødegaard. One-two. Back to Tobi.

He threaded it through to Saka—clean on goal.

Shot—

Saved.

> Key Pass Logged

Match Rating: 7.0

Tobi clapped once, frustrated but focused.

Minutes passed. The game tightened. The Emirates held its breath every time Tobi touched the ball. The match was on edge.

31st minute – Corner Arsenal.

Ødegaard whips it in.

Saliba heads it back across goal.

Chaos.

Tobi reacts first.

Volley.

GOAL.

Arsenal 1 – 0 Aston Villa

He doesn’t celebrate wild. Just runs to the corner flag, points to the badge on his chest, and then to the stands—where Emilia stands with both hands on her heart.

> System Update:

Goal Scored – Finishing +4%

Buff Activated: Home Hero

Match Rating: 8.6

The rest of the half saw Tobi drop deeper, play cleaner. He didn’t force things. He managed.

Control. Patience. Precision.

At the whistle, Arsenal led. But it wasn’t over.

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Second Half: 46’ – 90’

Villa made changes.

On came Moussa Diaby. On came pace. On came threat.

Arsenal started slow.

52nd minute – Diaby broke free, squared the ball—

GOAL.

Arsenal 1 – 1 Aston Villa

The stadium fell quiet.

Arteta didn’t panic. Just barked louder.

Tobi clenched his fists. He’d been here before. Comebacks were written in his veins.

58th minute – He pressed high, stole the ball off Luiz, surged forward.

Split pass.

Martinelli.

GOAL.

Arsenal 2 – 1 Aston Villa

The Emirates exploded.

> Assist Logged

Match Rating: 9.3

New Objective: Hold Lead, 90% Passing Accuracy Final 20 Minutes

Villa pushed again. Arsenal defended deep.

Tobi shifted back to a double pivot, next to Declan.

Tackles. Clearances. Recovery runs.

89th minute – Villa free kick, 25 yards out.

Shot—

Saved by Ramsdale.

Final whistle blew.

Victory.

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Post-Match

Tobi collapsed onto the grass, sweat freezing against his skin.

Another win. Another war.

Emilia met him at the tunnel.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

He just nodded. "I want soup."

She laughed. "Let’s get you soup, soldier."

> System Summary:

Match Rating: 9.3

Goal + Assist Logged

Passing Accuracy: 93%

Buff Unlocked: December General – Cold Match Performance Boost

Romance Arc: Final Chapter in Progress

New Quest Unlocked: Christmas Break in Madeira – Family Time and Reflection

Date: December 20–27, 2028

Location: Funchal, Madeira (Portugal)

Events: Winter Break, Family Reunion, Bonding with Emilia, System Shift, The Calm Before January

Rain met the plane as it touched down in Madeira.

It wasn’t harsh. Just a soft, coastal drizzle that blurred the windows and made the world seem half-asleep.

Tobi leaned against the glass, hoodie up, headphones in, Emilia’s fingers laced with his as she dozed quietly beside him.

After six months of war—Premier League, Champions League, Portugal call-up, Arsenal pressure, media storms—this was the first real pause.

A full week.

Just them. Just home.

They stepped off the plane to the smell of salt and eucalyptus.

Tobi’s mother, Rosa Oliveira, stood waiting at the terminal exit, coat wrapped tight around her frame, eyes misty.

And next to her—Leonor.

Now 13.

No longer a little girl.

But a teenager with fierce eyes and a Valencia hoodie she wore like a second skin.

"Tobi!" she yelled, racing past the barrier, ignoring security.

He caught her in a spin-hug, lifting her off the ground.

"You’ve grown," he whispered.

"You haven’t," she said with a teasing grin. "You’re still my idiot big brother."

He laughed, genuinely. "Yeah. Still your idiot."

That night, the four of them sat around the dinner table in Rosa’s modest home in Funchal.

The house smelled like garlic shrimp and roasted chestnuts. There were Christmas lights in every corner, and the table was cluttered with food Tobi had dreamt of for months.

"Eat," Rosa said, pushing a third helping onto his plate. "You play like you don’t have muscle."

"I play like I’m lean," he retorted.

Leonor kicked him under the table. "You play like a diva."

Emilia giggled. "They’re all right, you know."

Tobi sighed. "This is abuse."

His mother reached out, placing a hand over his.

"But you’re home."

He nodded. ƒгeewebnovёl_com

And in that moment, he wasn’t Arsenal’s number 8. Wasn’t Portugal’s future.

He was just Tobi Oliveira.

Son.

Brother.

Boy.

System Log:

Environment: Safe Zone

Mental Stress Reduced -35%

Buff Activated: Family Anchor

Passive Skill Gain: Emotional Recovery +7%

Objective: Reflect, Connect, Strengthen Bonds

The next morning, Emilia woke before him.

He found her standing on the balcony in a sweater, arms folded, staring at the Atlantic.

"You miss home?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"I do," she said. "But I think I’m starting to find a new one."

He kissed her shoulder. "You’re a part of mine now."

They stood there for a long while in silence, the waves below crashing gently.

The week passed in quiet beauty.

Long breakfasts on the veranda with Rosa telling old stories

Training runs on the beach with Leonor, who was faster than he remembered

Movie nights where Emilia always fell asleep twenty minutes in

A surprise visit to a local youth academy, where dozens of kids screamed when they saw him

An impromptu five-a-side game that ended with him nutmegging a 12-year-old and immediately feeling guilty

December 24th – Christmas Eve

They gathered for midnight mass, as always.

Tobi wore a navy jacket, Emilia in a red dress. Leonor insisted on bringing her Valencia ball and juggled it outside the chapel steps before the service.

Inside, candles flickered.

Tobi sat beside his mother, hands in his lap, listening to the old priest speak in slow Portuguese.

He didn’t hear most of it.

The man who’d loved football more than anything.

A single tear slipped down his cheek.

He didn’t wipe it away.

Emilia took his hand again.

Christmas morning was laughter and chaos.

Rosa cooked enough food to feed a team.

Leonor surprised him with a drawing of him and her, both in their respective kits, standing back-to-back like superheroes.

"I’m the stronger one," she said.

"Lies," Tobi replied, choking up.

Emilia gave him a journal.

Leather-bound.

Empty pages.

"You write everything for the world. Now write something for you."

He didn’t respond.

He just opened it and wrote one word:

"Obrigado."

System Internal Update:

Buff Added: Clarity of Heart

Temporary Modifier: Focus +10%, Creativity +8%

Personal Stat Growth Opportunity – Next Match Bonus Pending

Quest Completed: Return Home Before Year End

New Arc Unlocked: Winter Surge (January – February Challenge Window)

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