My Ultimate Gacha System

Chapter 394 - 67: USA Tour - Arsenal Match II

Twenty-second minute Arsenal built from back again and Ramsdale played short to Gabriel who was immediately closed by Antony, and Gabriel’s touch was heavy pushing the ball forward two yards instead of one.

「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」

N’Golo Kanté — Everywhere at Once

Demien read the loose touch instantly and burst forward closing ten yards in two seconds before sliding in with perfect timing to win the ball cleanly without fouling.

「STATS ACTIVE」

Acceleration: 83 | Tackling: 84

The ball broke to Sancho on the right wing who collected and drove at Arsenal’s retreating defense before cutting inside past Zinchenko and shooting from eighteen yards, and the deflection off Gabriel looped toward goal forcing Ramsdale to backpedal and tip over the crossbar with his fingertips.

Corner to United. Demien’s defensive work rate on display.

Twenty-sixth minute Arsenal countered after clearing the corner and Odegaard carried forward centrally with space ahead, and Demien tracked back to recover into position before reading Odegaard preparing to slip a pass through for Saka’s run.

「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」

Roberto Baggio — Divine Ponytail

The game intelligence activated two seconds before the pass happened and Demien stepped across to intercept with his outstretched leg, and the ball was cut out cleanly before transitioning to attack immediately with a first-time pass forward to Rashford on the left wing.

Thirtieth minute Bruno scored. Arsenal tried playing out from back for the third time and Gabriel received from Ramsdale under Antony’s pressure, and his first touch was heavy pushing the ball two yards forward.

Bruno read it instantly and jumped on the error winning possession twenty-five yards from goal, and his first controlling touch with his right foot steadied the ball before he struck with the same foot using proper technique.

The ball skidded low and fast toward the bottom right corner with pace and dip, and Ramsdale got a strong hand to it diving full stretch but couldn’t keep it out as the ball squirmed under his body into the net.

United one-nil. Teammates celebrated with a group hug and Demien jogged over to join briefly before returning to position.

Thirty-seventh minute Sancho doubled the lead. Wan-Bissaka launched a long diagonal from right-back toward Arsenal’s defensive line aiming for space behind Gabriel, and the center-back misjudged the flight completely missing his clearing header.

The ball bounced through to Sancho who’d timed his run perfectly staying onside by half a yard, and he collected in acres of space behind Arsenal’s defense before driving into the penalty area one-on-one with Ramsdale.

The keeper approached fast to narrow the angle but Sancho waited until he committed then smashed his shot into the top right corner with power and precision.

United two-nil after a dominant first half.

Forty-first minute Demien nearly scored. United countered after Casemiro intercepted Jorginho’s pass in midfield and played immediately to Bruno centrally, and Arsenal backpedaled desperately with six players behind the ball but gaps were appearing.

Bruno carried forward three touches and then the vision activated.

「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」

Andrea Pirlo — Deep-Lying Playmaker

Demien saw the play developing two passes ahead and spotted the exact moment to make his run, and he accelerated from his deep position into the right channel of the penalty area timing it perfectly to stay onside as Bruno slipped the pass into space with the outside of his right boot.

「STATS ACTIVE」

Off-Ball Movement: 83 | Vision: 81

Demien met the ball twelve yards from goal and his right foot first touch cushioned it perfectly using his ball control, and he shifted onto his stronger left foot in one motion.

「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」

Paul Pogba — Long Switch Flair

The legendary shooting technique activated and his left foot struck the ball cleanly with the laces aiming far post with power and precision, and the shot traveled fast and true dipping slightly toward the bottom left corner.

「STATS ACTIVE」

Shot Power: 79 | Long Shots: 89

Ramsdale dived full stretch at maximum extension and pushed the shot wide with a strong hand making a world-class save at point-blank range.

So close.

Demien put both hands on his head and Casemiro jogged over. "Unlucky. Perfect technique, keeper just made brilliant save."

Bruno shouted from midfield. "Keep making those runs! Goals will come!"

Blue text appeared privately noting the statistics being tracked.

Half-time whistle blew with United two-nil up. Dominant performance across the pitch with Arsenal sloppy in possession and vulnerable in transition.

Demien’s statistics at half-time showed twenty-five passes attempted with twenty-three completed for ninety-two percent accuracy, four duels won from five contested, one key pass created, one shot on target, two interceptions, zero turnovers.

Exactly what Ten Hag wanted.

Teams walked off and Ten Hag waited at the touchline, and when Demien passed he said "Good first half. Exactly the tempo I want from that position. Keep showing for the ball and making those late runs."

"Yes, boss."

8:25 PM EST — Half-Time

The dressing room was brief. Ten Hag told first-half starters they executed the game plan perfectly and second-half team gets their opportunity now with complete rotation for pre-season fitness distribution.

Demien and other starters changed out of match kit into training gear and would watch second half from the bench.

Substitutions announced: Mount, Eriksen, Pellistri, McTominay, Evans, Lindelof, Malacia, Wan-Bissaka rotating on to replace the entire starting outfield except Onana who played full ninety.

Second half kickoff showed a completely different United outfield ten and Demien sat on the bench beside Bruno, Rashford, Casemiro, and Sancho watching the second unit maintain control against Arsenal who pushed harder for goals but United’s fresh legs kept them at distance.

The match remained two-nil through the second period with few clear chances either end and Pellistri had a good opportunity late firing over from the right side after cutting inside.

Final whistle blew at two-nil. United won comprehensively in front of the record crowd of eighty-two thousand two hundred sixty-two.

Both managers had agreed pre-match to a penalty shootout for extra practice under pressure conditions and United converted all five through Casemiro, Dalot, Lindelof, Rashford, and Eriksen while Arsenal missed one when Fabio Vieira shot over the crossbar.

United won the shootout five-three doubling their victory.

Players shook hands with Arsenal’s squad in the center circle and Declan Rice stopped Demien briefly.

"Good performance today," Rice said. "Saw you with England last month too against North Macedonia. Welcome to Premier League football when the season starts."

"Thanks," Demien replied.

Mutual respect between competitors who’d face each other in the league soon.

9:15 PM EST — Post-Match

Back in the dressing room Ten Hag addressed the full group.

"Good performance implementing systems we drilled in training. Exactly what pre-season is for—building habits and tactical understanding. Next match is Wrexham in San Diego in four days, then Real Madrid in Houston, then Dortmund in Las Vegas before we return to England. Three weeks until Community Shield against City at Wembley starts competitive football."

He looked around the room making eye contact with several players including Demien. "Everyone contributed today. Maintain this standard."

Blue text appeared privately.

「PRE-SEASON MATCH COMPLETE」

「STATISTICS」

「Minutes Played: 45」

「Pass Accuracy: 92% (23/25)」

「Duels Won: 4」

「Key Passes: 1」

「Shots on Target: 1」

「Interceptions: 2」

「LEGENDARY SKILLS ACTIVATED」

「Marchisio — Balanced Engine」

「Kanté — Everywhere at Once」

「Baggio — Divine Ponytail」

「Pirlo — Deep-Lying Playmaker」

「Pogba — Long Switch Flair」

「PERFORMANCE RATING: 8.1/10」

「MISSION OBJECTIVES: 3/3 COMPLETED」

「✓ 90%+ pass accuracy」

「✓ Win 5+ duels」

「✓ Create chance」

「REWARDS」

「20 MP | 3 SP」

「Current Balance: 465 TP | 24 SP | 503 MP」

「Next Match: Wrexham AFC — July 26, San Diego」

Demien showered and changed into casual United training gear while players dispersed toward the team bus parked outside the stadium.

Marco waited near the bus entrance and when Demien approached he spoke without preamble. "Solid debut. Ten Hag doesn’t praise lightly so you clearly met expectations. That chance you created for Bruno and your own shot forcing Ramsdale into a world-class save showed quality."

"Should have scored."

"Keeper made brilliant save. You’ll score plenty this season. Focus on what you did well—positioning, decision-making, pressing, late runs into box. Exactly what modern box-to-box midfielder needs."

They boarded the bus heading back to the team hotel in New Jersey and Demien sat near the back scrolling his phone where social media was already reacting.

@FabrizioRomano:Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal in New Jersey. Demien Walter debut: 45 mins, 92% pass accuracy, created chance, nearly scored. Solid start. 🔴 #MUFC

@UnitedStandMUFC:Walter’s debut: Created Bruno’s best chance with perfect through ball, almost scored himself with technical finish, won duels, pressed intelligently. 8/10 performance. Exactly what we need. #MUFC

Demien locked his phone. First appearance complete, performed well, proved he belonged at this level.

Next match in four days against Wrexham in San Diego where he’d likely get more minutes, then Real Madrid in Houston, then Dortmund in Las Vegas.

Pre-season building toward Premier League opener against Wolves August twelfth.

Everything moving forward. Just football at the highest level now.

A/N

We are done withe the summer and transfer arc, now we focus on the new season.