Capítulo 60: Compared to a Legend
Oscar and Lampard played as dual attacking midfielders. Oscar, with his strong assist abilities, and Lampard, known for his remarkable scoring ability as a midfielder, presented a significant threat despite Lampard's advancing age. Even with limited playing time, Lampard could still perform at a peak level, making dangerous forward runs and creating scoring opportunities.
One controlled the ball while the other seized opportunities to shoot, combined with Hazard's threatening breakthroughs from the wing, Chelsea's offensive energy surged after Lampard came on. Wenger couldn't sit still as Chelsea created several dangerous chances, prompting him to start making substitutions.
Giroud was substituted for Coquelin to strengthen the midfield and counter Chelsea's offensive pressure. This move also hinted at a defensive strategy to preserve Arsenal's 1-0 lead in the last ten minutes. Podolski was replaced by Walcott, aiming to use Walcott's speed for counterattacks.
However, this shift in strategy reduced the support available to Louis, easing the pressure on Terry. Despite the reduced support, Louis remained vigilant, waiting for his opportunity as Arsenal began to defend more tightly and focus on long passes to their forwards. The idea was to leverage the individual abilities of the forwards to keep Chelsea's defense occupied and prevent players like Terry from advancing too far.
The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge remained electric but tinged with anxiety, affecting Chelsea's players on the pitch. The young Brazilian Oscar began to lose his composure, opting for a long-range shot that ended up hitting Torres and bouncing harmlessly to Cazorla, who quickly initiated a counterattack with a long pass to Walcott.
"Arsenal's counterattack. Walcott! Speed up!" The commentator's excitement matched the tension in the stadium. Walcott, almost undefended, received the ball on the wing and burst forward with incredible speed, turning into a blur. The focus of everyone in the stadium shifted to Walcott, but Terry's eyes remained fixed on Louis.
As Walcott moved forward, Louis sprinted into the penalty area with Terry in pursuit. Seeing David Luiz coming to block his path, Terry felt a moment of relief, thinking they could trap Louis. But then, Louis abruptly stopped and moved laterally, catching Terry off guard and forcing him to make a sudden turn, pushing his physical limits to keep up with Louis.
Walcott faced Ashley Cole, who used his experience to block Walcott's path into the penalty area, forcing Walcott to pass the ball instead. As Walcott crossed, Louis, who had slowed down to avoid offside, suddenly exploded into action, shaking off David Luiz with his speed. Terry, the only one left to challenge him, had to act.
Louis adjusted his pace and prepared for the cross, while Terry, in an awkward retreating position, also tried to anticipate the ball's trajectory. Both jumped, with Louis having a slight timing advantage and using his powerful leap to get above Terry.
As the ball soared into the penalty area, both players aimed for the same spot. Louis's explosive jump gave him the edge, and he met the ball with a powerful header, directing it towards the goal. Cech's desperate dive couldn't stop the ball from grazing the side netting and going in.
"That seals the victory! Arsenal have done it!" The commentator's voice echoed the jubilation of Arsenal fans. Louis's header, scored over Terry, was a defining moment. Stripping off his jersey, he celebrated wildly, roaring and flexing his muscles, while the visiting Arsenal fans erupted in cheers.
Wenger's excitement was palpable, and Stamford Bridge fell silent except for the jubilant Arsenal supporters. Despite the sending off due to the yellow card for his celebration, Louis's goal had effectively sealed the victory. Chelsea's last-ditch efforts were in vain as the final whistle blew, confirming Arsenal's London derby triumph.
Louis rushed onto the pitch, arms raised in triumph.
But he met Terry halfway.
"Well played, lad," Terry said, extending his hand.
"Thanks," Louis replied, shaking it firmly.
"Want to exchange jerseys?" Terry asked.
"Sure," Louis agreed with a nod.
They both took off their jerseys, revealing Louis's large bruise on his left collarbone. They exchanged shirts and patted each other on the back before heading in their separate directions.
"Nice young man, isn't he?" Cech said, standing in front of Terry and eyeing the red Arsenal jersey now in Terry's hand.
"Yeah, he is," Terry replied, turning to look at Louis. Despite his tall and lean frame, Louis's muscular build was unmistakable. The sight reminded Terry of another powerful figure from his past.
"He's a true forward," Terry remarked, looking back at Cech.
"He reminds me of Didier Drogba," Cech said, echoing Terry's thoughts.
"Next time we meet, I'll be ready. I'll defeat him," Terry said calmly but with determination. From now on, he regarded Louis as a real rival.
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