Always and Forever

twelve

Time skip a year

It's been a year. Me and Leah are still together, we are going strong. Viv and Lisa know. The whole team know. Everyone knows the truth, i sat down with them all and told them the truth. It's not something i was sure that i wanted to do but i've not looked back since i done so.

My parents have left me alone. I told them that the whole squad knows and that i'm not afraid to speak up and tell people like Jonas who could call the cops so i think that frightened them a little bit.

I had the season of my life last season.

We missed out on the leauge as we placed third, behind both Manchester City and the champions Chelsea. We lost the FA cup final to Chelsea. We got knocked out of the Continental cup by Man City who went on to the final, losing to Chelsea and we crashed out of the champions league in the quarterfinals. The team that bet us are the champions of Europe, Barcelona.

I played in 36 games over all competitions, ranking up a total of 16 goals and 29 assists. I was also totalled 58 goal involvements. Let's just say, this has been a year to remember.
On top of all of that i won PFA young player of the year as well as Arsenal poty and the leagues poty. It's been a great honour winning all of these trophies.

Now.. let's get into the real stuff..

So.. I have a year remaining on my current deal and Leah, hers was due to run out in a couple of months. Leah had offers from all over Europe but decided to stick with Arsenal, singing a one year contract extension. No one knows what Leah is going to do next year. Will she extend again? Will she look elsewhere? I don't even know the answer to these questions but there is a huge question surrounding my future at this club.

I'm Arsenal till i die. I'm Arsenal through and through but the offers i have received are such good offers, i don't know what i'm going to do. I have received a few good offers but only a few stand out. Chelsea wanted me but i didn't listen to their offer. I can't do that. I won't ever do that. Arsenal is my club. I won't play for Chelsea. I can't, it just won't feel right.

The offers that stuck out are:
Barcelona
Arsenal extension
Lyon
Wolfsburg

Next week, the season starts. Next week i'll have my answer. I'll either be saying goodbye or i'll be staying for longer.

******
Over the next week i spent as much time with the girls as i possibly could. I spent time with all of them. This was a hard, hard decision but one that had to be made and i've made my decision. Today will be the last time i step out onto the pitch as an Arsenal player for the foreseeable future. One thing i won't do is rule out a return, in the future i will be back playing in red and white and i know that for a fact.

The hardest part about this whole thing is leaving Leah. Me and Leah haven't been apart since we were fourteen years old. I'm 21 now, that's seven whole years. This will be hard but i need to do this for myself and for my career. The fans don't know. No one does apart from the people at Arsenal and the people at my new club. This is going to be hard but i need this. I need to do this.

Today we are playing Reading. This is my last game. Jonas has told me i will be starting.
There's definitely going to be tears. I've been at this club for seven whole years. And now i'm leaving, i'm moving to a country that speaks a language i can't understand. I speak English and a little bit of Dutch, because Viv was determined to teach me but that's it. I was never good with languages, i hate trying to learn them so here's hoping my teammates can speak english, for my own sake.

******
Before the game, i stood in the middle of the changing room and just thanked everyone.

"I just want to say Thank You. I've been at this club for seven years and i've loved every minute of it. This is my club, my team and my home and it always will be. I don't know how this will go. This could end up being the biggest mistake of my life but it's a risk i need to take because if this works out, i could become the best version of myself. It's time for me to fall in love with the game again, somewhere else, surrounded by new people. It will be a challenge but i'll be supporting you guys all the way. This team has what it takes, so for me fight, fight until your legs give up. Fight until your last breath. Let's make Arsenal a team everyone remembers. Guys, win the league. Defeat the odds, beat Chelsea, beat Man City. Show them that Arsenal are no underdogs. Fight for the cups, Continental cup or FA cup. I don't care. It's a trophy, fight for it. Fight for it all because i believe you can win it all. This is a special group and you guys deserve the world. I'll miss you all. I'll miss you all so much but, this isn't the end. These bonds we've built. The friendships and the relationships won't be forgotten. They'll come with me. It doesn't matter who i meet, you guys will always be my people, contact or no contact. I love you all"