The low hum of the bus engine filled the air as the Arsenal squad sat quietly, each player lost in their thoughts.
Leverkusen had gone unbeaten in all competitions, save for the Europa League loss to Atalanta last season, a feat as rare as it comes in modern football.
Even though this was just a friendly, the football world would be watching.
Izan sat near the window, his eyes flickering over the crowd gathered outside the stadium entrance.
Some were Arsenal fans, decked out in red and white, holding up scarves and jerseys.
Others were just football lovers who had come to see a battle between two of Europe's most exciting teams.
He could even spot a few Leverkusen supporters in their black and red, eager to see if their team could maintain its aura of invincibility.
Declan Rice sat next to him, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the stadium. "They're gonna treat this like a Champions League knockout, you know that, right?"
Izan nodded. "Yeah. And we should too."
