Super Marshal

October 18, afternoon.

As a golden game on Saturday afternoon, the Gunners Arsenal sits at the Highbury Stadium to face the rivals of the same city, the Blues Chelsea, which has become the focus of worldwide attention.

This is not just a London derby, but also a strong dialogue between the top and second in the Premier League.

The Highbury Stadium was full early on, and the Gunners fans accounted for the vast majority, while the fans of the visiting team Chelsea were squeezed into a remote corner. They were still unable to become the protagonist of the stadium, but they were stubbornly resisting.

Before the game started, the fans of the two teams had already fought back and forth in the stands, as if they were using their own way to win an outpost for the team they supported.

And this scene was also included in the pre-match screen by Sky TV, the broadcaster of the game.

"As the only two unbeaten teams in the Premier League so far this season, the summit match between Arsenal and Chelsea is undoubtedly quite eye-catching, but in the past thirteen years, Chelsea have never beaten at Highbury Stadium. opponent."

"After Abramovich entered the team this season, Chelsea paid a lot of money to hire the champion coach Gao Han. Afterwards, the Blues invested 200 million euros and introduced a group of high-level players. The team's strength has greatly increased and it is ambitious. I want to play in the Premier League."

"Before the game, our reporter had the honor to meet Gao Han in the player tunnel and interviewed him with a few questions. What impressed me the most was that Gao Han answered the reporter's question and said that he regarded this game as a Chelsea game. battle for the rectification of the name."

"He said that a lot of people think Chelsea are mercenaries, but his team will dispel that misperception."

"As for the opponents in the same city, Gao Han also said that Arsenal is not as rumored by the outside world, and he never thinks that Wenger is a representative of technical and pass control football. He believes that what Wenger promoted in Arsenal is a very Pragmatic defensive counterattack tactics, and he hopes to prove his and Chelsea's strength in the game with his best pass and control style of play."

Just after Andy Gray finished speaking, Martin Taylor, who was sitting on the sidelines, also put forward his own views.

"To be honest, I am really looking forward to the high-cold Chelsea, because they are the team that really shines in the Premier League over the years, especially the advanced pass-and-control style of play in continental Europe, which is too impressive. Surprised."

"Yes, that's right." Andy Gray also nodded in agreement, "Many people feel that if the alpine Chelsea can succeed, it will greatly change the structure of the Premier League, especially the impression of the Premier League in many European continents."

Andy Gray smiled wryly, "You know, Martin, they call us a technical and tactical desert."

"Haha, you're right. Ferguson is a typical Premier League style, Wenger is a defensive counterattack, and Gao Han is a pass-and-control style of play. This season's Premier League is indeed very exciting."

"Okay, we have already got the starting list for this game." Andy Gray took the words.

"The home team Arsenal still adopts a four-four-two formation, the goalkeeper is Lehmann, the defense is Ashley Cole, Campbell, Kolo Toure and Lauren, and the midfielders are from left to right. Pires, Gilberto Silva, Vieira and Ljungberg, the French duo of Henry and Wiltord up front."

Martin Taylor immediately interjected: "Judging from Arsenal's starting lineup, they still focus on defensive counterattacks. Both Henry and Wiltord are speed forwards who are good at counterattacks. They have performed well this season."

"That's right." Andy Gray also agreed, "Chelsea's starting list is a bit surprising."

"Van der Sar in goal, Bridge, Gallas, Terry and Ferreira in defense, Deco, Makelele and Veron in midfield, Ronaldinho in the front three. , Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eto'o."

"We see that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eto'o are back in the starting XI, Martin, what do you think?"

"Yes, this will be a big suspense of the game." Martin Taylor replied.

"Although the outside world is not satisfied with these two players, and even scolded them, Gao Han stubbornly chooses to trust them. Although players such as Good Johnson, Robben and Van Persie were allowed to start, their performance seems to be unable to satisfy Gao Han. Let these two players start again this round, I believe Gao Han has his own ideas."

"But the question is also obvious, whether the two players can bear the high cold expectations, this is fatal."

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With the whistle of the referee, this much-anticipated focus battle finally started.

At the beginning of the game, Arsenal took the lead to kick off, and the Chelsea players quickly rushed towards the back of Arsenal.

And it's not the kind of frontcourt players who come forward to harass, but the entire back line is pressed together, which shows Chelsea's determination to press and press the frontcourt.

Arsenal obviously didn't expect Chelsea to pounce so hard. When the ball passed to Campbell's feet, Eto'o had already caught up. The England central defender directly sent a long pass to Lauren on the right.

But as soon as Lauren unloaded the ball, Ronaldinho came close, forcing him to change his mind temporarily and kick the ball forward with a big left foot.

But the quality of this pass was obviously not high. After flying through halftime, it was quickly pushed down by Terry.

Only ten or so seconds into the game, Chelsea managed to snatch the ball back into their own hands.

Terry headed the ball to Makelele, who passed it forward to Veron.

After the Argentine midfielder pulled to the right and received the ball, he quickly launched a counterattack.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic from the center, Eto'o from the right rib, both of them rushed towards Arsenal's penalty area at the same time.

Veron's pass was well past Gilberto Silva and into Eto'o's feet, but the Cameroonian was clearly going to play Zlatan Ibrahimovic after receiving the ball at the edge of the box. With a cooperation, after stopping the ball, he knocked the ball to the Swedish center, but unexpectedly, Ibrahimovic rushed faster than him and rushed ahead of him.

As a result, Eto'o passed the ball very well, but no one answered it. Vieira quickly followed up and made a big-footed clearance.

Ibrahimovic pointed in front of himself, looked at Eto'o, as if to say, you should pass forward.

"I thought you didn't run so fast." Eto'o walked back with his head down.

Ibrahimovic almost scolded directly.

Although the first attack failed to create a threat, Chelsea still held possession and organized patiently.

Got another chance soon.

Ronaldinho retreated to respond and passed Deco's pass to Veron, who directly passed a long pass to Ibrahimovic's feet. The Swedish center directly threw the ball behind him. Knock, to pass to Eto'o who plugged in later.

But this time Eto'o failed to understand Ibrahimovic's intentions, instead of obliquely behind him, he sprinted straight forward.

As a result, the ball was grabbed by Vieira again and passed directly back to the defense.

In less than three minutes, two turnovers caused Chelsea to lose the ball. Not to mention, it also excited the fans at Highbury Stadium, and at the same time exposed the team's own problems.

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"Sure enough, although the two of them are more active than before, they still can't do it."

Pat Rice could not help but be delighted to see Chelsea squander two chances in a row.

The two turnovers reflected the problem between Ibrahimovic and Eto'o, lack of tacit understanding, and it seemed that they were not very happy to pass the ball for the other party, and some were perfunctory.

Don't underestimate this, because one of them is a center forward and the other is a right winger, both of which are important parts of the team's offense.

This kind of continuous pass has high requirements on the players. Any mistakes in any link represent the failure of the overall attack. Therefore, Chelsea's first two attacks could not even enter the penalty area.

Wenger didn't just see that, he saw more.

"Gao Han is indeed very thoughtful. Chelsea's overall pressing and pressing are very organized. The players' line selection without the ball is very purposeful. Forward penetration, pulling, turning back, and crossing all reflect Gao Han's thinking. And their players all have excellent technical skills, so they have an obvious pass control advantage."

"Their tactical execution efficiency is too high. Gao Han must have worked hard in training." Wenger repeatedly praised.

But soon, the topic changed again, "But you see, whether it is pressing, running without the ball, or passing and controlling the ball, they all serve the offense, but now their offense has come to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. There is a problem here with Eto'o, which not only affects the smoothness of the team's passing and possession, but even affects the team's offensive threat."

Just as he was talking, he saw Chelsea had another chance on the court.

Eto'o passed the ball from the right. After Veron stepped in to catch the ball, he rushed the ball to Zlatan Ibrahimovic before Gilberto Silva.

The Swedish center is at the front of the arc of the penalty area, holding the ball with his back, facing Campbell and Kolo Touré alone.

Arsenal's two centre-backs, one blocking the right side and the other blocking the back, insisted that Ibrahimovic had no chance to turn around and hit the goal with his right foot, forcing the Swedish center forward to turn to the left and hit a goal with his left foot. The threatening shot was directly confiscated by goalkeeper Lehmann.

This is also the first shot in the game!

Wenger and Pat Rice applauded vigorously from the sidelines.

"Good job, beautiful defense!" Wenger shouted towards the players on the field.

As long as Chelsea's attack can be blocked outside the penalty area, then Arsenal's goal is basically stable.

"Lauren, don't be careless, pay attention to the number ten!" Wenger reminded his right back Lauren.

Lauren nods on the field as he realizes how heavy his task is.

At the same time, Wenger also announced that the team began to shrink the line of defense, tightly blocking their own half.

For so many years, the biggest advantage of the Gunners is the quick counterattack. Through the skillful and smooth pass, the ball is scored into the opponent's penalty area in the shortest time after grabbing the ball.

According to Arsenal's internal training requirements, the counterattack must be completed within ten seconds after stealing the ball, and if it cannot be completed, it will be given up.

Therefore, after figuring out Gao Han's intentions, Wenger also decisively adopted the contraction of the defensive line, and played his best defensive counterattack with peace of mind, waiting for Chelsea to make a mistake.

As for the possession of the ball and the pace of the game, Wenger never felt that his team could compete with Chelsea.