Bab 260: Chapter 260: Rematch with Arsenal, Wenger's Madness!
Chapter 260: Rematch with Arsenal, Wenger's Madness!
On April 13th, at Wembley Stadium in London, the FA Cup semi-final match between Manchester City and Arsenal was taking place.
Having just played a crucial match against Liverpool the day before, Manchester City hadn't fully recovered. They were clearly at a disadvantage in this game.
Right after the quarter-finals, Manchester City requested the FA to postpone the semi-final match. However, Arsenal did not agree. They were determined to win the trophy and didn't want to give Manchester City a chance to recover.
Since Arsenal refused to postpone the FA Cup match, Manchester City then asked to postpone their league match. But the FA rejected this request as well, citing difficulties in scheduling since Manchester City's 29th-round game had already been postponed.
With negotiations failing, Manchester City had no choice but to accept the arrangement of playing two games in two days.
As a result, Pellegrini placed most of the starters from the previous match on the bench and fielded a team made up mostly of substitutes and a few main players to face Arsenal's challenge.
Although Lin Quan insisted he was fine physically, Pellegrini still put him on the bench. He didn't want to use up Lin Quan's energy too early. It would be better to let him rest a bit more and bring him on in the second half when Arsenal was tired. The impact might be even better then!
Besides, in the last match at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester City's substitutes almost defeated Arsenal. With some main players added this time, they might not need Lin Quan to win.
Playing two games in such a short period is tough, but Manchester City managed it during the Christmas fast-track league matches and succeeded.
As the league season comes to an end, Manchester City's remaining games will be fewer. They just need to endure this toughest period, and then they can rest well.
"Arsenal is determined to win this match!" said assistant coach Cousillas, worriedly looking at Arsenal's starting lineup.
Compared to Manchester City's starting lineup, Arsenal's was almost all first-team players. They had postponed their league match by three days, having prepared for at least a week for this FA Cup match.
"Wenger hasn't won a trophy in ten years, so he won't want to miss this chance!" replied Pellegrini.
The other two teams in the FA Cup semi-finals were not strong. Besides Manchester City and Arsenal, the other two were Hull City and Sheffield United.
Hull City is a mid-table Premier League team with average strength.
Sheffield United is from England's third tier—the League One.
This year, the FA Cup has seen quite a few upsets, with a League One team reaching the semi-finals. It's a rare occurrence, even for the FA Cup, which is known for its surprises.
Of course, this happened partly because the big teams faced each other early.
Manchester United was knocked out by Swansea in the first round. Chelsea was eliminated by Manchester City in February. Liverpool was ousted by Arsenal.
Thus, in the end, only Manchester City and Arsenal were the strong teams left in the semi-finals.
Now, these two teams were drawn to face each other, giving the other teams a chance.
In knockout cup competitions, a single goal can often decide the winner. So Manchester City's strategy was to defend well and look for counter-attack opportunities, aiming to score a decisive goal and send Arsenal packing.
Arsenal understood this too. Wenger chose not to start Özil but went with a combination of Cazorla and Arteta.
Arteta was strong defensively and could effectively support Cazorla, allowing the Spaniard to focus on his attacking strengths.
In this match, Wenger's tactics focused on the offense.
Arsenal's passing and movement were always dazzling, and if they could execute their plan well, scoring shouldn't be a problem.
The key issue was whether they could limit Manchester City's counter-attacks.
Wenger's gaze involuntarily fell on Manchester City's winger, Nasri, who had frightened Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last time.
Fortunately for Arsenal, Manchester City was not in top physical condition, and Lin Quan, who played the full match last time, was not starting today. Otherwise, Arsenal's defense would have had a harder time.
If they could beat Manchester City and reach the final, Arsenal would have an over 80% chance of winning against either Hull City or Sheffield United.
So, as long as they overcame Manchester City, Wenger could secure his first trophy in ten years.
"Come on, kids, step over Manchester City's bodies and take the glory that belongs to us!" Wenger silently cheered his players on.
Arsenal's players clearly understood this too. Knowing they were very close to the FA Cup trophy, they attacked Manchester City's goal repeatedly with fervor.
Ramsey, Podolski, and Cazorla had several shooting opportunities.
However, Manchester City managed to fend off their attacks repeatedly. They were playing defensively, but their defense was not weak and wouldn't be easily broken.
After consolidating their defense, Arsenal's famous passing and movement became less effective.
With too many players packed inside and outside the penalty area, it was hard for Arsenal to find enough space for their passing game.
And when it came to dealing with packed defenses, Arsenal's long-range shots and set-pieces failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
Throughout the first half, they had six long-range shots, but none were threatening.
After overcoming Barcelona, Manchester City's defense had significantly improved.
Arsenal's passing and movement were impressive but not on the same level as Barcelona's.
Barcelona excels at exploiting opponents' mistakes, whereas Arsenal is good at creating their own chances.
However, both strategies require space for passing and receiving.
Thus, parking the bus effectively limits such tactics.
Manchester City's strategy was to park the bus in this match. It might look scrappy, but no one could criticize them.
Playing two games in two days, even iron men wouldn't be able to withstand that.
Asking them to go out and attack Arsenal would leave Manchester City exhausted after half a game.
Moreover, Manchester City wasn't just sitting back. They were actively seeking opportunities.
In the first half, they launched several dangerous counter-attacks. If not for Arsenal's defenders committing fouls and taking yellow cards to stop them, Arsenal might have already conceded.
After forty-five minutes, the score remained 0-0, with neither team able to break the deadlock.
Arsenal made the first personnel change in the second half, with Wenger bringing on French striker Giroud for Podolski.
Giroud is a target man type of striker. He's tall and strong, able to hold up the ball and play it to his teammates. He's also good technically and excels at heading the ball.
Bringing him on was a good move, whether as a target man up front or for aerial duels in the box.
Since Manchester City was parking the bus, it was crucial to make the most of set-pieces.
This adjustment quickly had an effect. In the 55th minute, Arsenal won another set-piece.
Cazorla's free-kick into the box found Giroud, who outjumped Manchester City's defenders but his header lacked power, and Joe Hart easily saved it.
Giroud touched his head, dissatisfied with his effort.
But seeing he could win the aerial duels boosted his teammates' confidence, and the following free-kicks and corners targeted him.
This alerted Manchester City, but unfortunately, they had only one tall defender, Lescott, while Arsenal had two tall players: 6'6" Mertesacker and 6'4" Giroud.
During the game, both players rushed into Manchester City's penalty area, leaving Lescott with no choice but to mark the most threatening player.
A few minutes later, Arsenal won another corner.
Cazorla took the corner kick, and Giroud made a great header. Seeing the header, Joe Hart instinctively raised his arm and managed to block the ball during its flight.
Both Joe Hart and Giroud were stunned. Headers are hard to save due to their close distance and high speed, leaving little reaction time for the goalkeeper.
Giroud was amazed by Joe Hart's timely reaction and his ability to save the shot. Hart, on the other hand, felt lucky since he merely raised his arm out of instinct, relying entirely on luck this time.
Seeing Giroud's active performance, Lescott abandoned marking Mertesacker and focused on Giroud. Manchester City's defenders also used some sneaky moves to disrupt Giroud's shots.
This strategy temporarily alleviated the crisis, but Arsenal struggled to find the net again.
Giroud, however, adapted quickly. In the 76th minute, Arsenal had another corner. Giroud once again outjumped Lescott and headed the ball.
Lescott discreetly pulled him during the jump, preventing a strong header. In mid-air, Giroud spotted Ramsey in an open area near the penalty box and passed the ball to him without hesitation.
This unexpected pass caught Manchester City's players off guard. The nearest Manchester City player rushed towards Ramsey, but Ramsey acted faster. He looked at the goalkeeper's position and immediately took a shot.
The ball aimed at the top left corner, and Joe Hart, who had been drawn towards the right side by Giroud, couldn't reach it in time.
With a swish, the ball flew into Manchester City's net, witnessed by tens of thousands of fans at Wembley Stadium.
Arsenal finally scored after a relentless attack!
A massive cheer erupted from the Arsenal fans at Wembley, who were now in a state of excitement and frenzy.
Arsenal was in the lead!
Well done, Ramsey!
On the field, Ramsey ecstatically removed his shirt and ran wildly around the pitch. His teammates chased him down, tackled him to the ground, and celebrated intensely.
This goal was crucial, as Arsenal's players were growing anxious from their prolonged inability to score. If they hadn't scored, their mindset might have deteriorated, potentially leading to a last-minute collapse.
At this critical moment, Ramsey stepped up, stabilizing the team and pulling Arsenal back from the brink of collapse with his goal.
"Well done, Aaron!" Arteta said excitedly, ruffling Ramsey's hair.
"It was Giroud's pass that made it possible!" Ramsey didn't forget his teammate who assisted him. Without Giroud spotting his run, Ramsey wouldn't have had the chance to shoot.
"Hehe, I saw your run, so I passed it. I didn't expect you to score! I should have passed to you earlier!" Giroud was also thrilled. Although he didn't score, providing an assist and helping the team win was just as rewarding.
On the sidelines, Wenger went wild after seeing Ramsey's goal. He clenched his fists, shaking with excitement, his face contorted with joy. The typically composed professor had lost his calm demeanor.
Wenger had waited for this moment for ten long years, understanding more than anyone what this goal meant.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Wenger noticed Manchester City's number ten preparing to enter the game.
Lin Quan quietly walked to his goal, patted Joe Hart on the shoulder to console him, retrieved the ball from the net, and carried it to the center circle.
Placing the ball on the kick-off point, Lin Quan looked at the jubilant Arsenal fans with a calm expression, showing no signs of frustration or impatience.
Lin Quan's appearance made Wenger's heart skip a beat. No, the match wasn't over yet. They couldn't afford to be careless!
Arsenal had failed at crucial moments too many times, making even Wenger a bit nervous.
Wenger quickly adjusted his tactics, instructing his players to fall back and defend.
Continuing to attack was too risky at this point. With Lin Quan on the field, Manchester City would undoubtedly intensify their offense.
If Arsenal kept pressing forward, their defense would be too vulnerable, giving Manchester City opportunities.
But if they focused on defense, with Arsenal's strength, holding out for the final ten minutes shouldn't be difficult.
However, could they really stop Lin Quan when he went all out?
With this in mind, Wenger called Gibbs from the bench to warm up, preparing to add another defender to strengthen the defense.
If quality wasn't enough, they would rely on quantity. Five defenders should suffice, right?
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