Bab 61: Comeback
Louis's smile became even brighter because he heard the long-lost voice of the system in his mind again.
"Ding! The bond system is triggered!"
"Terry has regarded you as an opponent that must be defeated! As a result, you have obtained a new player module: John Terry's physical fitness module!"
Module: Peak John Terry Physical Fitness Module
Fusion Difficulty: SS
Fusion time: 60-180 days
Physical fitness was undoubtedly one of Louis's shortcomings, and John Terry's physical fitness was exceptional. Otherwise, how could his performance on the pitch and in other areas of his game be so outstanding?
However, the difficulty of fully integrating this module was considerable. But no matter how challenging it might be, improving his physical fitness to Terry's level would significantly enhance Louis's role on the field. Moreover, better physical condition meant a reduced risk of injury.
Speaking of injuries, Louis lowered his head and looked at the green spots around his collarbone. He reached out and pressed on them, wincing in pain. He did another set of shoulder lifts and stretches. Although the surrounding muscles were still sore, at least he could do these movements, which indicated there were no fractures. Louis breathed a sigh of relief.
After defeating the top team Chelsea, Arsenal's ranking in the league reached 18 points, only two points behind Everton in fourth place. And the team's next opponent in the league was Everton. As long as they could beat Everton, they would seize fourth place, making Arsenal fans very happy. Before next spring arrived, they could climb to fourth place, making the task of competing for the top four this season seem easy.
However, the media quickly reminded Arsenal fans to stay calm: Louis would have to serve a one-game suspension in the next round of the league. Without Louis, defeating Everton at home would not be easy, even with Moyes leading them.
The current league standings were as follows: Arsenal handed Chelsea their first loss of the season, causing Chelsea to lose their top spot. Manchester United and Manchester City surpassed Chelsea in the rankings, with Manchester United in first place with 26 points. Both Manchester City and Chelsea had 24 points, but Manchester City overtook Chelsea on goal difference. Everton, in fourth place, had 20 points, and Arsenal, in fifth, had 18 points, eight points behind the top spot.
Arsenal fans were slightly discouraged by this gap, but they quickly dismissed the idea that the team had no hope of competing for the championship this season after eleven league rounds. Competing for the championship was still too far away for Arsenal. Getting into the top four and playing in the Champions League was a more realistic goal for the season.
Louis had scored his tenth league goal in this game, solidifying his place on the scorer's list. Before the season began, no one could have imagined that after eleven league rounds, a name few had heard of three months ago would top the Premier League scorer list.
After eleven league rounds, the team finally returned to their home ground to face Montpellier. Arsenal adopted an aggressive offensive posture from the beginning, ultimately defeating Montpellier 2-0 at home. Louis did not score but provided an assist to Walcott. Arsenal's four top forwards—Louis, Podolski, Giroud, and Walcott—maintained their scoring prowess in both the league and Champions League.
However, Schalke 04 also won, beating Olympiacos 4-1 at home. Both Arsenal and Schalke 04 now had 12 points. In the final round of the group stage, Schalke 04 would play Montpellier away, while Arsenal would face Olympiakos away. Although Montpellier was stronger than Olympiakos, the game Schalke 04 faced was much more challenging than Arsenal's.
The significance of Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Schalke 04 at the Schalke Stadium was now evident. Even if Schalke 04 beat Montpellier 1-0 in the final round, as long as Arsenal could defeat Olympiakos, they would still finish first in the group!
November 29th
Arsenal plays Everton at home. Due to a yellow card in the last game, Louis could only accept a one-game suspension. Therefore, he sat in a box at the Emirates Stadium to watch the game, accompanied by his family members.
In Europe, watching football every weekend is like a big party. Except for his uncle, who couldn't come to England often due to work, Louis's other family members frequently flew to London. After all, there are quite a few direct flights from Milan to London. Sometimes, if it's an early game, they could fly back to Milan immediately after watching the match.
There was good news for Arsenal in this game: Diaby's comeback. Although he started on the bench, he was ready to go into battle at any time. Wenger planned to let him adapt as a substitute in this game, preparing for the next away game against Olympiacos, where the team would need Diaby's defense and confrontation in midfield.
Before the game, the media speculated that without Louis, Arsenal's offense might struggle. This proved true as Arsenal's players, accustomed to Louis's devastating performance on the pitch, seemed to lack a target for their passes. The game was tense, and by the 89th minute, the score remained zero to zero. For Everton, a draw would be acceptable, but Arsenal desperately wanted to secure fourth place after this round of league play.
Supported by their belief, in the 91st minute, center-back Koscielny seized an opportunity from a corner kick and knocked the ball into the goal guarded by Everton goalkeeper Howard. With this winning goal, Arsenal defeated Everton 1-0 at home, scoring three points and moving one point ahead of Everton. After twelve league rounds, Arsenal climbed into a familiar position.
However, after the game, the media focused not on Arsenal's return to the top four but on the team's lack of offensive performance without Louis. Headlines read, "Arsenal's offense without Louis seemed chaotic, with aimless passes forward - they were always used to having a player who could receive their passes in the frontcourt." Another article noted, "Some joke that Arsenal's current tactics are like a dog holding a Frisbee. Midfielders and even Giroud throw the Frisbee, and Louis always catches it. Without Louis, Arsenal struggles."
Wenger remained silent on these media reports, knowing the issues were evident to everyone. Arsenal were not perfect, with many problems that prevented them from competing for the title. Despite these challenges, Arsenal's gap to Manchester United had shrunk to six points after Manchester City drew with Chelsea and Manchester United were held to a draw by Norwich City. A six-point difference was no longer insurmountable, and Arsenal seemed to see a glimmer of hope in the title race.
Everything depended on their performance against Olympiacos in the Champions League, followed by the thirteenth round of the Premier League against Manchester United at home. If Arsenal could defeat Manchester United and reduce the point difference to three points, they might be considered contenders for the championship.
When Arsenal traveled to Greece for the final round of the Champions League group stage, the British media paid little attention. Manchester United had secured first place in their group, Manchester City had secured last place, and Chelsea had secured third place. As long as Arsenal beat Olympiacos, they would finish first in their group - a highly probable event. Instead, the media focused on the upcoming Arsenal vs. Manchester United game, hyping Arsenal's revenge for the 8-2 defeat last season and the narrative surrounding Robin van Persie's transfer to Manchester United.
The media buzz affected Arsenal players' mentality. In Athens, they talked more about Manchester United than Olympiacos. When Arsenal conceded a goal at the Karaiskakis Stadium, it seemed inevitable. Olympiacos, though not as strong as teams in the four major leagues, were a formidable force in Greece, and their fans celebrated wildly.
Wenger sat on the coaching bench, shaking his head. He had warned his players about underestimating their opponents, but their focus was elsewhere. When Schalke 04 scored, Wenger's frown deepened. If Arsenal lost their grip on first place in the group, they would be ridiculed for years.
At halftime, Arsenal trailed 1-0, and Schalke 04 led 1-0. The situation was precarious. Olympiacos had set up a dense defensive formation, making it difficult for Arsenal to break through. In the locker room, silence reigned. Wenger entered, looked around, and said, "I reminded you to forget Manchester United and focus on this game. Now you see the result of being absent-minded. I won't adjust tactics. The key to winning is here." He pointed to his head and walked out, leaving the players to reflect.
Louis stood up, surprising everyone. Despite his youth, he was the team's leading scorer. "Isn't it just a conceded goal? We've come back from worse. We just get it back in the second half!" Captain Vermaelen and vice-captain Arteta agreed, and the atmosphere quickly became heated. Players discussed how to play in the second half, with Louis's confidence inspiring them.
Outside the locker room, Wenger's tense expression softened into a smile. Although he was pleased with the team's self-adjustment, he decided to maintain a stern persona on the coach's bench as a small warning.
The second half began, and Olympiacos' confidence wavered. In the 53rd minute, Walcott passed to Louis, who hit the ball into the Olympiacos goal. "One to one! Louis! His sixth goal in the Champions League group stage! Arsenal ties the game!" Commentators were amazed, and the camera showed Wenger, seemingly unsatisfied with just an equalizer.
By the 81st minute, Wenger couldn't contain himself. Arsenal scored again, with Louis volleying the ball into the goal, a spectacular shot into the top right corner. "Arsenal took the lead! Louis scored twice!" Wenger, unable to stay seated, rushed to the sideline to celebrate passionately with his assistant.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone