Volume 2 Chapter 36 Where’s the ball?
Just five days after Christmas, the 20th round of the Premier League was held on December 30th.
As usual, Arsenal fans went to the Emirates Stadium early, but this time , their expressions were particularly heavy.
The club's continuous injuries are like a haze hanging over everyone at Arsenal.
Injuries to Wilshere and Cazorla hampered Arsenal's attack.
Arteta's injury completely destroyed Arsenal's passing and control system.
Arsenal fans were very depressed.
Why are injuries concentrated in the midfield? Can't we be more evenly distributed? Can't the forwards or defenders share the pressure?
Of course, no injuries is the best case scenario.
But currently all three of Arsenal's midfield generals are injured and lying in hospital beds.
Look at Arsenal's current midfield configuration.
Luka, Diaby, Ramsey and a 'Zhang Juzheng'.
Which of these four can hold the ball and play Arsenal's passing and controlling system?
It's impossible to even think about it with your butt.
Arsenal fans are worried!
They had no idea how to arrange this lineup and how to prepare for the next game.
This also caused Arsenal fans to be generally depressed.
But even so, they still went to the home stadium to watch the game.
So...what if?
What kind of chemical reaction would happen?
In this round of games, they will play against the 'Magpies' Newcastle United.
Newcastle's performance this season is still unsatisfactory. If it were Arsenal as before, playing at home, they would have no reason to lose.
But now, with major midfielders getting injured one after another, they don’t know how to win.
As the game was about to start, Arsenal fans stared at the starting lineup.
They want to see Cazorla or Arteta or Wilshere, any one of them will do.
They hoped the club was playing an April Fools' joke on them.
Even though today is not April Fools' Day.
But Arsenal's starting lineup told them that the injury was a fact!
Arsenal (4-4-2):
Goalkeeper: Mannone.
Defenders: Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Jenkinson.
Midfielders: Chamberlain, Ramsey, Lukay, Diaby.
Forwards: Suarez, Walcott.
…
Newcastle United (4-2-1-2-1):
Goalkeeper: Krul.
Defenders: Thornton, Perch, Koloczni, Simpson.
Midfielders: Bigirimana, Tiote, Malvo, Obertan, Cisse.
Forward: Demba Ba.
"In this formation, are we going to play a defensive counterattack?"
The on-site commentator George Adams said in surprise.
Wenger's Arsenal have never played a defensive counterattack, especially when playing at home.
Wenger advocates the theory of "the football is at your feet". He despises all defensive counterattack tactics and thinks it is an insult to the sport of football.
Wenger advocates that football must take the initiative and be played with enough passion.
But even such a professor adopted a defensive counterattack formation, which shows how bad the situation of the club is.
Arsenal fans also opened their mouths wide, wanting to curse, but suddenly became discouraged.
What else can I do?
Instead of playing defensive counterattacks, we will rely on these people to play passing and controlling the ball?
This is impossible.
If we want to maintain the current situation and wait for the return of other main players, we can only use a more conservative defensive counterattack tactic.
This tactic is also known as the 'point-protecting weapon'!
However, they did not expect that Wenger would come up with such a tactic.
In the press box, the reporters were going crazy with joy.
Wenger actually adopted a defensive counterattack tactic, which is quite novel.
Previously, Wenger had criticized this tactical system, saying it was killing the artistry of football.
And now, Wenger is slapping himself in the face.
How can this not be exciting?
They have all thought of the title for tomorrow.
Once the report is released, I think it will trigger a good response.
Wenger will become a laughing stock!
Thinking of this, the reporters began to take photos frantically.
Lucky stood in the court, waiting for the game to start.
Flash lights flashed from all directions.
These reporters must be so happy that they are going crazy.
Lucky pouted in dissatisfaction, took a deep breath, and said loudly, "Guys! Everyone is waiting to laugh at us!"
The Arsenal players all turned to look at Lucky.
At this time, Lekai raised his arms, clenched them into fists, and swung them fiercely.
"Show them some power!"
Hey!
The Arsenal players grinned slightly, revealing a silent smile.
At this point, Vermaelen yelled: "Gunners!!"
Everyone was shocked.
"Ready to fight!!"
In the Sina Sports live broadcast room, Zhan Jun was also commenting on the game.
"This is the 20th round of the Premier League in the 2012/2013 season, Arsenal's home game against Newcastle United!"
"Arsenal, playing at home, unusually adopted a defensive counterattack formation. Coach Zhang, what do you think of this?"
Coach Zhang Lu smiled and said: "Wenger has been forced into a corner. Any one of Cazorla, Wilshere or Arteta can play in the passing and controlling system, but which of the current Arsenal midfielders can hold the ball? What else can they do if they don't play defensive counterattacks? They still have to fight for the Champions League qualification next season!"
Zhan Jun continued; "So what role do you think Lucky plays in this lineup?"
Zhang Lu coached, "It should have a certain weight. After all, defense is the foundation of counterattack. If you want to counterattack, you must ensure that the defense can be stable. We have all seen Lucky's previous performance. He is not the core of offense and defense, but he should also have enough weight and resources to be tilted!"
Zhang Lu's words are very conservative.
After all, he is the first Chinese player to play for a top club, and he has just started. It is a bit unreliable to put him directly in the core position of offense and defense.
Of course, both Zhang Lu and other Chinese fans hope that Kodak can play a more important role.
And Wenger is not a conservative person. The professor has made bold decisions and training methods many times. Although most of them failed, the small part of success was enough for Arsenal to make a lot of money.
Therefore, although Zhang Lu said this, he is already very much looking forward to the role that Lucky will play in the game.
In the Arsenal coaching booth, Wenger was standing on the sidelines, he was also a little nervous and uneasy.
Can this lineup be played out?
Whether Lucky can withstand the pressure and become a qualified offensive and defensive core, this game will give the answer.
The same is true for Patles.
Compared to Wenger, he has a closer relationship with Lucky.
After all, during the more than one year they spent together day and night, he watched Lucky make progress again and again and reach his current level.
For Patras, Lucky is his most anticipated disciple, although he has not yet been fully polished.
Even Fabregas couldn't give him this feeling.
The core of offense and defense at the age of 18 years and 9 months!
Fabregas did not receive the same treatment.
But it just happened, there’s nothing we can do!
In this system, Lucky's defense and passing ability are crucial.
Whether the whole team can be connected depends on Lucky's performance.
There are many talented players in the football world, and there are also some young stars who are as dazzling as shooting stars but disappear quickly.
Patras doesn't want Lucky to be the latter.
He hopes that Luka can become the pillar of Arsenal and the future of Arsenal.
So, even though he is only 18 years old, many people still place their expectations on him.
Pressure is power!
It all depends on your performance, kid!
…
In the east stands, Meadows, Billy and other players in black jerseys were equally nervous.
Billy rubbed his hands: "Let me see! Arsenal! Don't give up!"
Meadows had a serious expression, his eyes fixed in the direction of Lucky.
This Chinese person always gave him a very special feeling.
And this feeling may be verified in this game.
Is it the same as what he thought in his heart?
The same is true for other fans.
They saw that the referee had already left the center circle on the field, and the moment Newcastle United striker Demba Ba was about to pass back, Arsenal fans burst into huge cheers.
"Forward! Gunners! --"
The much-anticipated game began. After the kick-off, Newcastle United did not choose to attack aggressively, but instead passed the ball back and looked for opportunities.
On the Arsenal side, Suarez and others pressed the ball in the frontcourt, while the others did not move forward.
Lucky was cruising behind the center circle, constantly turning his head to observe the space behind him.
Since there were enough players in their own half, the gaps were basically filled.
But Newcastle was smart and started to move the ball to the left and right sides.
Lucky read the course of the game and watched the movements of every Newcastle player.
The 4-2-1-2-1 formation is a tactical formation with balanced offense and defense.
The position of the first '1', that is, Malvo, is very important. This is the first line of defense and requires a player who is good at fighting and has a certain long-range shooting ability.
The two forwards play as double wings, and the '1' Demba Ba in the front needs to have strong personal abilities.
Then he can break through the defense and complete the shot.
He can then retreat and pass the ball to the left and right wings to perform ferrying work.
But the problems with this lineup are also serious.
That is, the positioning is too rigid and the distance between the midfielders is too large, which makes it easy for the ball to be intercepted.
Lekai couldn't help but lick his lips. Isn't this the opportunity?
Newcastle's indecision caused Arsenal's midfield to move forward as a whole and began to launch a fierce high pressing in the frontcourt.
This also puts Newcastle players under tremendous pressure.
At the same time, they also saw a reduction in the number of players in the opponent's backcourt.
"You can fight!"
Malvo looked in the direction of Demba Ba and found that there was no one standing next to him.
This is an opportunity!
Immediately, Malvo chose to make a long pass.
The ball drew an arc in the air and flew towards Demba Ba.
Demba Ba occupied the landing area and raised his head to prepare for the ball.
Facing the sun, Demba Ba narrowed his eyes slightly under the glaring light.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of my eyes.
The next second, with a 'bang' sound, the ball in the air disappeared.
Demba Ba opened his mouth slightly...
Where is the ball?
He turned his head and saw a player wearing Arsenal's No. 4 jersey charging towards his own half with the ball!
