Chapter 926: Efficient Counterattack

This season, Manchester United is 6 points ahead of the second place in the league with 9 rounds left. They defeated Inter Milan 2:1 in the Champions League quarter-finals. There is not much pressure on both lines. For them, the Triple Crown It is no longer a fantasy, but a goal that can have both. Therefore, Manchester United attaches great importance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and Arsenal.

Since Manchester United's two substitute central defenders performed very poorly in the last game against Liverpool, this game is against Arsenal, which is known for short passing penetration. In order to make up for the loopholes in the central defenders, Ferguson sent in one breath in this game. Among the six defenders, Rafael, Brown, O'Shea, Smalling, Evra, and Fabio, there are only four offensive players: Rooney, Hernandez, Scholes, and Gao Xiaodong. Gao Xiaodong also Take defense into consideration.

Arsenal lost to Birmingham City in the League Cup final and were just eliminated from the Champions League by Barcelona. They were 8 points behind Manchester United in the league. There was only a theoretical hope left in the championship. Now the only championship Arsenal can compete for is the FA Cup. This game Arsenal are also destined to win the quarter-finals.

Wenger deployed a very aggressive lineup in this game, with Denilson and Diaby as the defensive midfielder, Nasri, Wilshere and Arshavin as the three attacking midfielders. In the last game, forward Fan Fan was suspected of being injured. Pesci also started, targeting the weakness of Manchester United's centre-back.

However, after the players from both sides came on the field, Wenger discovered that his old rival Ferguson had actually sent out six defenders, and his face suddenly turned green with anger. "Old bastard! How shameless! You are so conservative at your home court. You really don't even have a face." ”

However, when Ferguson shook hands with Wenger, he even said: "You almost dismounted Basara. This attack is too strong. I think we may not be able to defend it even if we send 6 defenders."

Wenger said coldly: "Fortunately you don't have 10 defenders."

Ferguson laughed loudly, "Arsena, you can't underestimate the offensive power of the defender."

On the field, it was Evra who exchanged team flags and emblems with Arsenal captain Koscielny. Today the captain's armband was worn on Evra's arm. Ferguson said it was a rotation, but Manchester United players thought it was a sign of disrespect for Gao. Xiaodong's last impulsive punishment.

After the game started, Arsenal took the lead and the midfield trio of Nasri, Wilshere and Arshavin quickly attacked Manchester United's center.

Manchester United was well prepared for this. Gao Xiaodong and Fabio actively intercepted in front of the central defender, preventing Arsenal from penetrating in the middle.

After Arsenal passed the ball several times, they made a mistake under the pressure of Manchester United. Gao Xiaodong stole the ball, split the ball with one kick, and passed it to Rafael who quickly intervened.

Manchester United played very concisely today. After Rafael received the ball from the wing, he saw Hernandez move forward quickly and pass a diagonal pass behind the Arsenal defender.

Hernandez is faster than Berbatov, and today Manchester United focuses on countering offside. He ran earlier, grabbed the ball before Arsenal center back Koscielny, and shot directly into the far corner of the goal.

Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia reacted quickly and flew to save the ball from the baseline.

However, the linesman's flag had already been raised at this time, believing that Hernandez was offside.

Then the midfield became the domain of Arsenal. The six defenders sent by Ferguson were able to defend the penalty area, but they were unable to complete the passing and cutting cooperation in the midfield. They relied solely on the skills of Scholes and Gao Xiaodong, who had declined in athletic ability. It's just too difficult to play against a great Arsenal man.

In the 6th minute, after Arsenal made consecutive short passes from the center to open up Manchester United's wings, Wilshere suddenly split the wing. Nasri received the ball and forced a breakthrough on the right side of Manchester United left back Evra to knock on the door.

Although Arsenal penetrated the wing, the only striker in the middle was Robin van Persie. Manchester United's two defenders followed closely behind Van Persie. Gao Xiaodong, O'Shea, and Fabio in the middle were firmly stuck in their positions and did not allow the Arsenal midfielder. When Nasri had the opportunity to move forward, no one caught the ball and the ball flew directly out of the sideline.

Although Arsenal's attack failed to result in a shot, they still adhered to the tactics of central penetration and wing breakthrough.

In the 11th minute of the game, Arshavin got a chance on the left side of the penalty area. After cutting in, he shot from the back corner of the goal with his left foot near the corner of the penalty area, but the ball missed the goal post slightly.

Arsenal launched attacks on two wings in a row, forcing Manchester United to strengthen their defense on the wings.

However, after beating Barcelona, ​​Arsenal's offensive confidence became more and more confident, and their attacking methods became more and more flexible.

In the 18th minute of the game, Arsenal played back from the wing to the center. Wilshere passed O'Shea and Scholes. After being knocked down by Scholes from behind, he used his legs to sweep the ball to the advancing defender. Waist Diaby.

Diaby took two steps forward and volleyed with his right foot from the top of the penalty area.

This time, Smallin did not lose his position. He stretched out his long legs to block, and the ball hit Smallin's legs and bounced out of the baseline.

Arsenal took a corner kick and the ball was easily deflected by Brown. O'Shea passed the header to Gao Xiaodong. Gao Xiaodong avoided Denilson's pressing, passed the ball to Rooney, and moved forward quickly.

Rooney and Gao Xiaodong cooperated very well. He passed the ball to Gao Xiaodong who was avoiding the defender at high speed. Gao Xiaodong received the ball and continued to move forward.

Denilson and Diaby were in hot pursuit, but could not catch up with Gao Xiaodong who was carrying the ball.

Gibbs, the last full-back, blocked the ball from the front. Gao Xiaodong moved the ball forward. The ball passed Gibbs, but Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia quickly attacked and destroyed the ball before Gao Xiaodong. Out of the sideline.

Although Gao Xiaodong and Rooney's counterattack was destroyed by Almunia, the threat was not small. If Almunia took one step late, Gao Xiaodong would have a chance to lob the goal.

But Arsenal did not give up their offense. They only had one championship to fight for, the FA Cup. Arsenal's players were very eager to solve Manchester United within 90 minutes instead of having a penalty shootout with Manchester United in the end.

In the 24th minute of the game, Van Persie, who had been waiting in the center to grab a point, suddenly pulled to the side and handed the center to his midfielder.

This change caught Manchester United off guard. Robin van Persie took the ball from the wing and crossed to the front of the penalty area to shoot hard with his left foot.

This kick was a good one. Van der Sar tried to hold the ball, but the ball was spinning. Van der Sar jumped and missed the ball. He quickly jumped again and finally held the ball in his arms.

Arsenal then continued their onslaught.

In the 28th minute, Van Persie, who moved widely, received the ball on the right side of the penalty area, and Smallin pressed behind him.

Van Persie made a fake move to turn left, then turned back and volleyed directly with his right foot.

This time the shot was sudden, but it did not fool the experienced Van der Sar. Van der Sar flew and saved the ball from the bottom line.

Nasri took a corner kick from the left, and Robin van Persie, who performed bravely, suddenly ran forward and rushed to the top. The ball flew against the crossbar and flew out of the baseline.

In the 32nd minute, Arshavin pretended to break through from the wing and suddenly passed into the space on the left. Diaby cut from the midfielder position to the left side of the penalty area to get the ball. However, when he turned to spike the ball, Gao Xiaodong had already caught up. Stealing the ball with his feet.

If it was a defender, he might have taken a big shot, but Gao Xiaodong saw Scholes' position, passed a diagonal kick to Scholes, and moved forward at high speed to ask for the ball.

Scholes immediately prepared to counterattack with a long pass, but Hernandez, who was at the front, was in a bad position and Rooney had not yet reached him, so he had to pass the ball to Gao Xiaodong who rushed up in the penalty area.

Scholes' pass was very accurate, just in time for Gao Xiaodong's pace, allowing Gao Xiaodong to receive the ball comfortably.

There was a lot of space in front of Gao Xiaodong. Both the offense and defense thought that Gao Xiaodong would continue to dribble. However, Gao Xiaodong did not dribble. He caught up with the ball, flicked his instep, and the ball drew a parabola and flew towards Arsenal's defender. behind.

Hernandez was running when Scholes got the ball. When Scholes passed the ball to Gao Xiaodong, Hernandez paused for a moment, and then started running again. Gao Xiaodong's pass When the ball was passed, he was not offside.

Hernandez shook off the defender, pushed the ball forward with his chest, and went straight to the penalty area with the ball.

Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia quickly attacked and blocked the ball.

Hernandez feinted and shot into the lower left corner of the goal with the arch of his foot.

Almunia is no ordinary person. Although he was knocked to the ground, he still blocked the ball with his feet.

Seeing the ball rolling towards the baseline, Rooney followed up from the wing at high speed, pushed the ball with the arch of his foot before it was about to leave the baseline, and sent the ball into Arsenal's goal from a small angle.