The process of structured weight loss was not especially painful, yet Kai lived with a constant sense of hunger.
During his weight gain phase, he had eaten until he felt completely satisfied. Now he stopped at roughly sixty percent. Apart from the calories required for training and recovery, nothing extra was allowed.
The club monitored everything closely.
Kai followed a detailed nutrition and conditioning plan. What he ate, how much protein and carbohydrates he consumed, and the volume of each training session were all recorded carefully in Pat Rice's notebook. Pat reviewed it almost daily.
"Discipline," Pat would remind him, "which you have in spades, is needed to refine your engine."
This was not a short-term adjustment. Kai could not afford drastic measures. The team needed him match-ready, and extreme methods would only compromise performance.
Weeks passed steadily.
By October 18, Arsenal were preparing for their eighth league match of the season, a home fixture against Hull City at the Emirates.
Hull had collected six points from seven games. Their record was modest, yet for a club still adjusting to life in the top flight, it represented stability. Still, facing Arsenal away was a different challenge.
Arsenal rotated the squad, though the starting eleven remained strong.
In goal was Navas.
The back line featured Bellerin, Mertesacker, Rio Ferdinand, and Monreal.
Midfield consisted of Ramsey, Kai, and Cazorla.
Up front were Rosicky, Campbell, and Walcott.
It closely resembled last season's tactical framework. The attack could lack fluency at times, but the structure was solid, and the counterattack was sharp.
For Walcott, Campbell, and Ramsey, this was an opportunity to reestablish themselves. Their hunger was evident from the first whistle.
Hull perhaps assumed a rotated Arsenal would be easier to manage. That assumption lasted six minutes.
Hull had just completed an attack when Rio Ferdinand collected the loose ball and passed quickly into midfield. Kai received it, lifted his head once, and without hesitation threaded a precise ball into the space behind Hull's right back.
Walcott reacted instantly. His acceleration separated him from his marker within seconds. He reached the byline and drove a low cross across the face of the goal.
Campbell burst into the box and slid in to finish.
Goal.
From the commentary box on BBC Sport, the commentator's voice rose with the moment.
"What a response from Arsenal. Clinical and direct."
His partner added, "It starts with Kai in midfield. He reads the situation early, moves the ball quickly, and Walcott does what he does best."
On the touchline, Arsène Wenger nodded and applauded. He was using these league fixtures to prepare for the European campaign ahead. The new combinations were not flawless, but their ceiling was high.
Last season, Arsenal had relied heavily on a single core lineup. Fatigue had cost them in key moments. Now there was depth, genuine competition, and options across the pitch.
Wenger glanced at the bench.
Suarez. Di Maria. Sanchez. Wilshere. N'Golo Kanté. Koscielny. Mustafi. Sagna. Gibbs.
He exhaled quietly.
Years ago, he had reached a Champions League final with a thin squad and little room for error. Now he had layers of quality. Flexibility meant resilience.
On the pitch, Hull attempted to respond by crowding the right flank. Under pressure, Walcott attempted a long diagonal switch. It was struck hurriedly and drifted unpredictably.
Kai tracked its flight immediately and adjusted his run. Hull's Diame followed closely behind.
They arrived almost together.
Kai planted his feet and positioned his body between Diame and the ball. Diame leaned in, trying to unsettle him, shoulder pressing into Kai's back.
Diame shoved again, but Kai held firm. He cushioned the ball down cleanly, shielding it with composure.
As the ball began to drop from the diagonal switch, Kai raised his thigh slightly. The ball struck it and softened immediately, its pace absorbed before it could bounce away.
It fell neatly in front of him.
With the inside of his foot, he guided it forward in one smooth motion, slipping past Diame and driving into Hull's half.
From the BBC Sports commentary box:
"Very assured from Kai. The first touch takes all the sting out of it, and suddenly he's on the move."
The crowd sensed it as well.
Kai was demanding the ball at every opportunity. It was not selfish play. Rather, he was central to everything Arsenal built. Almost every meaningful move began at his feet.
In previous matches, he would often release the ball early under pressure. This time, he chose to drive forward, only passing when no viable path remained.
He lengthened his stride, pushing into space.
Ahead of him, Livermore set himself, balanced and alert.
Kai glanced left and right. Rosicky and Walcott were making intelligent runs, but if he released the ball too soon, Hull's defensive shape would remain intact. The threat would be minimal.
He needed to draw them in.
To do that, he had to beat Livermore.
Kai was not a natural dribbler. His skill set relied more on timing and power than flair. So he went directly at his opponent.
Livermore braced himself. Seeing a 185-centimeter, 85-kilogram midfielder charging forward required courage. He lowered his center of gravity and prepared for contact.
At the last moment, Kai nudged the ball to his left.
Livermore reacted quickly and extended a leg to intercept.
In that split second, Kai's right foot circled awkwardly over the ball. He dragged it across his body with a clumsy outside flick, twisting his hips to spin past.
It was not elegant. His balance wavered, and his shoulders dipped unevenly.
"It won't make any coaching manuals, but it's effective."
"He's through, however it looks."
Livermore could only turn and chase. He had been beaten.
Hull's defensive line hesitated. Rosicky and Walcott were holding width, stretching the back four. For a brief moment, the defenders were unsure whether to close down Kai or protect the flanks.
That hesitation proved costly.
Walcott suddenly accelerated down the right channel. The burst was so sharp that the full back was half a step late.
Kai saw the gap instantly and slid a measured through ball into the open space ahead of Walcott.
The commentator's voice rose. "Kai threads it through. Walcott is in behind."
The co-commentator added, "That's perfectly weighted."
Walcott reached the ball in stride and struck early.
"Walcott shoots."
The ball skimmed past the goalkeeper's fingertips and nestled inside the far post.
"Goal for Arsenal," The commentator announced firmly. "Two nil."
His partner responded, "That is decisive. Just before the interval, and once again it begins with Kai driving at the heart of the defence."
The Emirates erupted as the clock approached forty three minutes.
"Arsenal have controlled this first half. They've taken their chances, and Hull now face a significant task."
On the bench, Kanté clapped enthusiastically.
Arsenal, after celebrating, walked back toward their half with calm assurance.
. . .
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