"Pa pa."
On the Arsenal bench, Wenger beamed, clapping his hands as he admired Maël's celebratory figure, his eyes full of affection.
His beloved general was always able to bring surprises to the team. Who would have thought that Arsenal would take the lead so quickly after coming up!
For a moment, he seemed to see the team rising all the way from this front line, rushing towards the final arena.
They had reached the Champions League final in the 2005-06 season. That season, the team had been left behind by more than ten points by the top three in the league early on. With no hope of winning the championship on the main front, they turned to the Champions League arena.
Thanks to the fact that they had just passed their peak and still had a few afterglows, as well as the emergence of young people such as Fabregas.
They went through many difficulties, and were about to win the first Champions League trophy in the club's history.
However, in the final, they met Dream Team II Barcelona, who were at their peak, and the team's goalkeeper Lehmann was sent off early due to a mistake in his attack. They eventually lost 2-1.
That was a painful experience. The team ended up empty-handed, and core players such as Henry and Pires then left, accelerating the team's decline.
"Philip."
Wenger looked to the side, wanting to ask Philip something, but couldn't help but ask this former beloved general first, "Henry, if this team continues along this path, where do you think it will go?"
Henry looked at the Arsenal team on the field, thought for a while and said, "It's hard to say, the randomness of the Champions League is too great.
"Like that year, we made so many preparations and felt that we would definitely be able to defeat Barcelona and fulfill our dream, but the red card in the 18th minute gave us a blow.
"There are too many uncertain factors in cup games. A small misjudgment can lead to a team being eliminated and falling short.
"But if it's just a guess, I think with the fighting power and stability that the team is showing now, there is a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals and semi-finals."
Speaking of this, he raised his shoulder and smiled, "But if that's the case, I'm not sure about the EFL Cup, and the league will inevitably be affected to some extent.
"If we go through something like January again, the situation for winning the championship will suddenly become tense, after all, our lead is only a few points."
Wenger nodded slightly. A few points of advantage was indeed not a big deal. There were many cases of being overturned after leading by more than ten points.
It's just that they have been in good shape recently, and they have only been slightly relaxed after winning a five-game winning streak. There are definitely still many challenges on this championship line.
"And..."
Henry looked at the Arsenal expeditionary army in the distant stands, recalling the past, with a smile on his face, "Mr. Wenger, do you remember what you said to us at the end of the 0304 season? At that time, the team's defense line was the same as now, and it was always easy to be distracted, allowing the opponent to grab the start and blast in one or two goals. The undefeated record always seemed to be shaky and could be ended at any time."
"Remember."
Wenger nodded quickly. Of course he knew what the other party was referring to, and repeated with a smile, "If you want to relax now, then accept that you are just an ordinary person who has occasionally achieved a little success.
"Or you want to do something special and become immortal."
The smile on Henry's face was even brighter, as if he remembered the joy at that time, "We want to become immortal, so we survived.
"The undefeated championship and the record of 49 undefeated games will always be regarded as miracles, and our names will be with it."
He turned his eyes to the court, looked at Maël wearing the No. 7 jersey, and his eyes filled with nostalgia for the past, as if he saw himself in the past, "This team now has a new backbone, a more excellent backbone.
"They have hope to achieve all this and replicate our achievements.
"Then let them let go and rush forward. What is as disappointing as losing the championship is winning the championship but losing the undefeated status at the last moment.
"At that time, the joy of the championship may be difficult to dilute the regret of not being able to become immortal."
"Also..." He looked at the AC Milan team uniform on the field, and also remembered his past regrets, "Mr. Wenger, if the team can win the undefeated this season, they may complete what we have not completed."
Wenger turned his eyes and followed Henry's gaze, seeing a group of Milan players.
Milan He also remembered something. In the first half of the 04-05 season after the end of the undefeated season, they continued the undefeated streak and raised this record in the English Football World to 49 games.
But this was not the best. The world's best record was the league's 58-game undefeated streak completed by AC Milan in 91-93.
Originally, they actually had a chance to catch up. With Arsenal's ambition at that stage, it was not a fantasy to win another 9 games.
But the eternal injustice against Manchester United made them stop in regret and anger.
From now on, that was also a turning point in the team's transition from prosperity to decline.
"You're right." Wenger nodded. If this team can win the undefeated championship this season, perhaps, they still have a chance to challenge AC Milan's record.
This time, they have more outstanding and more efficient top attackers!
How could there be no chance? "So, we have to be firm." Henry said so much because he was afraid that Wenger would have the idea of playing in the Champions League again. He shrugged and said, "After so many years of failing to win the league title, the fans are looking forward to it.
"For them, the league must be the top priority, as it symbolizes the glory of the local community.
"If we win the championship, and win it undefeated, then these seven years... they won't have waited in vain."
Wenger nodded and chuckled, "Do you think I'm not firm enough? No, don't worry, I'm not a greedy person. I know what's best for the team and have already made my choice.
"However, after this Champions League is over, if this season goes as smoothly as planned, I will fully prepare for next year's Champions League.
"After regaining the league title, it will be time to challenge for trophies that the club has never won in its history."
"I hope I'll be there then." Henry pointed at Wenger expectantly, jokingly asking him to sign him.
"Haha..." Wenger laughed twice without saying anything. Henry would have to leave at the beginning of next month, and no one could say for sure when they would meet again at Arsenal in the future.
Turning their attention back to the field, the game between the two teams had restarted, and AC Milan gave up possession after only a few touches.
Seemingly aware of Arsenal's sharp attack, they surprisingly chose a defensive counter-attack tactic today, and even Zlatan Ibrahimović retreated to the attacking midfielder position to meet and organize.
*"Bang!"*
In the 19th minute of the match, AC Milan seized a chance to transition, with Ibrahimović cutting behind Sagna and receiving a through ball from Seedorf.
He dribbled the ball all the way to the baseline and used his left foot to curl a precise short-range Cross, aiming for Robinho at the near post.
Everyone who saw this scene was a little surprised. Ibrahimović crossing and Robinho going for the header was definitely a reversal of roles.
*"Bang!"*
Robinho took the lead in the middle, heading the ball towards the far post from the spot, and scoring.
One to one!
Robinho's goal! "Oh!" Under the cheers of more than 70,000 Milan fans at San Siro, the King of Bicycle Kicks, Robinho, made a flying kiss celebration. He was no longer young, but he could still contribute.
*"Bang!"*
That wasn't the end of it. Just seven minutes later, Robinho received a pass from Ibrahimović and unleashed a cold shot from the edge of the penalty area.
The Football flew into the far corner, and Milan completed the comeback!
Two to one!
In the 35th minute of the match, Arsenal seized a counter-attack opportunity and passed the ball to Maël on the left wing.
*"Bang, bang, bang!"*
When he got the ball, the side back had not yet returned. Thiago Silva, who was still in his prime, lowered his center of gravity and followed him.
From the opponent's eyes, he saw a few traces of ruthlessness, as if he had no intention of intercepting the ball at his feet, but just wanted to wait for him to make a move and then knock him down on the San Siro grass.
Maël's fighting spirit was aroused. The more this happened, the more he wanted to play with the defender.
His right foot pulled the ball to the left, and his left leg followed with an inward step, then stepped back out, shifting his body's center of gravity back and forth.
"Pa pa... pa!"
His left foot then kicked the ball to the right, and the outside of his right foot also pushed the ball outwards again, pretending to rush forward.
At the critical moment, he pulled his center of gravity back and suddenly hooked the ball to the left front.
The whole process was smooth and flowing, without any stagnation or Coordination, and even incorporated changes in rhythm.
Thiago Silva had not come to defend in the first place, and had been trying to hook people. Watching Maël sway back and forth, he kept raising his foot to kick, but inadvertently lost his footing.
"Thump!"
At the moment when Maël changed direction, he sat down on the ground in a mess.
Dribbled past!
"Pa pa...!" The applause of Arsenal fans rang out from behind. Thiago Silva could definitely be regarded as one of the best defenders in the world at this time.
His value reached 40 million euros, which was not easy for a center back.
Even he was dribbled past by Maël, so they would naturally feel excited and proud.
*"Bang, bang, bang!"*
Maël dribbled past Thiago Silva, heading towards the more dangerous area of the opponent's backfield, his eyes filled with determination.
He looked up and observed that the other defenders were not too flustered, but steadily retreated, waiting for the midfielders to track back.
Footsteps sounded behind him, Seedorf and Van Bommel seemed to be catching up.
"Bang!"
He passed the ball to Gervinho on the other side, letting him find a one-on-one opportunity with the full-back, and he inserted himself into the penalty area.
Gervinho finally got a rare start, and he was very excited. He broke through to the baseline in two steps and swept a cross towards the center.
The quality of this ball was very good, it passed through Antonini in the middle and Seedorf who was chasing back, all the way to the far post.
"Shirr!"
Maël had just rushed over at this time, and feeling that he couldn't reach it, he threw his body out, sliding and kicking at the football.
"Pa-shua!" The football hit the instep of his sweeping foot, changing its trajectory and bouncing into the goal.
The ball was less than 1.5 meters away from the goalkeeper, and Abbiati had no time to react.
Another goal!
Two to two! "Yeah!!" Maël ran all the way, waving his arms and shouting, rushing excitedly towards the corner flag area.
Brace!
His 7th Champions League goal! Arriving at the sideline, he threw his center of gravity forward, completing a front flip without any borrowing force to celebrate.
"Aaahh!"
After landing, he didn't stop, jumping high on the spot and waving his right fist, shouting a few times.
The Milan fans who were very close to him stared at him blankly, not knowing what to say. Many people looked envious, as if they were drooling over Maël.
If they had such a young striker, they wouldn't have been constantly suppressed by Juventus this season.
"Beep!"
In the 39th minute of the game, Robinho, who was in hot form today, caused Sagna to foul with his Dribbling, and the referee awarded a penalty.
Zlatan Ibrahimović then took the penalty and scored, which was considered a return of Robinho's favor.
Three to two! The star players of both teams are in hot form, and the defense lines are facing great pressure.
"Bang!!"
Before the end of the first half, Seedorf bypassed Kyle Walker in a corner kick melee and slammed the ball into the goal with a stab shot.
Four to two! A six-goal battle in the first half!
"Aaaaght!!" The San Siro stadium went crazy, countless AC Milan team flags were waving frantically in the stands, and the fans then pulled out a banner with 'Target Champion'.
Seedorf and Robinho slid out on their knees together on the sideline, and Zlatan Ibrahimović pounced on them and knocked them down. They will continue to write their own story.
At the center line, Maël put his hands on his hips and looked around the huge stadium, and then looked at the Champions League logo and star logo of 'UEFA Champions League' under the scoreboard.
He understood that he might have to say goodbye to this place this season, but he also knew very well that one day he would return to this arena that symbolizes the highest level.
"Beep! Beep——!"
The first half of the game then ended, and the players from both sides walked towards the player tunnel.
Alexandre Song and Ramsey were wearing substitute vests, waiting for Maël on the sidelines with water and towels.
After Maël came off the field and wiped the sweat from his body, he directly put on his jacket, ready to rest.
"Beep beep!"
Before the start of the second half, Henry replaced him, Benayoun replaced Van Persie, and Chamberlain also replaced Arteta, so that three main players could rest.
In the 73rd minute of the game, the opponent's midfielder Kevin Boateng moved forward into the penalty area, and after receiving a through ball from his teammate, he pushed a shot to further expand the score again.
Five to two! This was also the score at the end of the game. Arsenal couldn't attack in the second half, so they kept defending densely.
"Beep! Beep! Beep——!"
"Yeah!"
As the referee blew three long whistles, the cheers of the San Siro fans seemed to be enough to pierce the clouds and crack the rocks, and tens of thousands of people on the scene collectively revelled.
Before leaving the field, Maël took one last look at this beautiful stadium, or rather, one last appreciation of the Champions League stage.
7 goals and 4 assists, these were the excellent results he left on this field this season, second only to Messi, Ronaldo and Bayern's Mario Gomez on the scorer list.
He really wanted to continue on and fight on this stage, but now was obviously not the best time, it was time to say goodbye.
Next year, he will be back!
He will reappear on this field in a better and more powerful posture!
At that time, he hoped that he could be crowned on this field and become the King of Europe.
"Haha..."
"Yes, that opportunity was too good."
Back in the locker room, Maël heard everyone talking and laughing, and even Mr. Wenger was pretending to be relaxed while chatting with Philip.
But obviously, a heavy atmosphere enveloped the place. After knowing that they had basically said goodbye to the Champions League stage, the players were under a lot of pressure.
Now, there was only the EFL Cup final in 4 days, and the Premier League, where they still maintained an undefeated record.
Whether they can successfully achieve their goals on these two fronts will determine whether they can spend a happy summer vacation after this season.
For some people, it will even determine whether they can appear on the European Cup stage with confidence and pride.
"Now, everyone's eyes are focused on our EFL Cup final and the Premier League journey."
Mr. Wenger gathered everyone together after the game and gave a speech, "This will bring us a lot of pressure, but I hope we will not be crushed by these, and will not give others a chance to mock us.
"Don't relax, don't relax, and don't fall into a crisis of confidence! We are the best team in the English Football World this season, believe in this, and then launch an attack on those two fronts!
"Arsenal!!"
"Let's go!!" A burst of encouragement sounded, and the players encouraged each other. They had to do this every once in a while, to tighten their screws and make sure they knew what state they should be in at all times.
Maël clapped his hands, he knew that the real final stage of the game was coming.
In the next few days, the Colney Training Base was calm, as if nothing had changed.
"Pass it well!"
"Here it comes!"
"Van Persie! Here!"
The Arsenal players, wearing team vests of different colors, were conducting various training sessions in preparation, each player with a calm expression.
However, under this calm, there seemed to be a strong desire suppressed, that was everyone's desire to end the team's 7-year title drought!
And if you take the perspective away from here, you will find that the outside world is already a sea of fire, and all kinds of news about this game are overwhelming, and everyone is rendering the atmosphere before the final.
"BBC latest news! Wenger's team has entered the EFL Cup final for two consecutive years, and they will face EFL Championship team Cardiff City on February 28!"
In a BBC program, the host's voice was full of passion, "Another dark horse! We must be clear that this kind of team is not easy to deal with. They have challenged all the way to the end, and their desire to win and their mentality are beyond imagination!
"Last year, Arsenal lost to the dark horse team Birmingham, losing the closest championship in 6 years! This year, with the addition of Maël, Mertesacker, Arteta, Kyle Walker and others, I don't know if they can break the curse and win back this championship that the team has been waiting for for a long time!"
"..."
"Sky Sports reporter!"
In a Sky Sports program, a hot female reporter also talked about this game, "Wembley Stadium is about to witness the ownership of the first championship in the English Football World this season.
"This championship is extremely important for both teams. Cardiff City is eager to write a legend of a small club belonging to the second-tier league, and Arsenal is eager for a championship to sound the horn of revival!
"Before this, Cardiff City has never won the EFL Cup championship. Arsenal has won the championship twice, but both were in the last century, before Wenger took office.
"No matter which team wins the championship, it will be a championship that creates history!"
"..."
"French Team reporter, the hot EFL Cup final is about to start in two days, we have arrived in North London in advance to observe the Arsenal fans' preparations for this game!
"This is a good opportunity for Wenger to achieve the Grand Slam in the English Football World, a good opportunity for Maël to win his first first-line championship, and a good opportunity to end the embarrassment of 7 years without a championship.
"I believe Arsenal fans attach great importance to this game. Let's go to a fan pub on the spot and interview two fans."
"Hello, we are from France, what are your expectations for the upcoming final?"
"Win the championship, we must win the championship! We believe in Wenger and Maël, and Van Persie! They will lead us to lift the trophy!"
...
"Cardiff City's style of play is fierce, and the players will definitely fight Arsenal in the final, using crazy running to block space. Do you think they are an easy team to deal with?"
"An easy team to deal with wouldn't make it to the final. We are prepared for the difficulty of the game, but we know that Cardiff City was the opponent team when Maël made his professional debut, and he will definitely do his best to win."
"Are you saying that as long as Maël does his best, there is hope for victory in this final?"
"Yes, it has always been the case. I believe Maël is eager to win his first title against the team he debuted against, which has special significance."
...
"That's the report from the front. We can see Arsenal fans on the street raising banners to cheer for the game, and we can also see Cardiff City tourists coming to this area."
"Hopefully, it will be a wonderful game, see you on February 28th!"
...
"Spanish Broadcasting Television! Today is February 27th. Friends who follow Football know that tomorrow, a championship battle will be launched at Wembley Stadium in England! One team will take the lead over other teams and win a championship with relatively high gold content this season! This is a warm-up for the champions of the four major leagues, and also a signal that all the championship trophies in European Football will come to the final stage of competition!"
...
"German Daily."
With the groundwork laid by reporters from all over the world, many people have certain expectations for this game and began to look for the broadcast signal of the game in advance.
And time, step by step, came to February 28th, the day of the championship battle, is about to kick off.
"Buzzing!"
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the bus drove out of Colney Training Base all the way, heading towards a brand new section of the road, which was the direction leading to Wembley Stadium.
The players on the bus were wearing headphones, listening to music to relax.
Maël was also wearing headphones. He looked out the window all the way. After watching for a while, he felt a burst of sleepiness and closed his eyes for a nap.
"Arsennal! Arsennal!"
It wasn't until he heard a faint shout that he sat up, took off his headphones, and looked out the window.
"Everything was going Ma-ehl! Ma-ehl!
"Walking in a van Persie Wonderland!!"
The singing outside the window became clear. Arsenal fans appeared in groups, raising their hands and singing the "Hot stuff" that they had sung many times this season to the club's bus.
This is a song symbolizing victory. Whenever this song sounds, they always seem to be able to achieve victory as they wish.
Today, they are using this song to send Arsenal players to the expedition!
Looking further up, the magnificent Wembley Stadium has already appeared in front of you. An arched iron cable spanning the stadium is one of the characteristics of this stadium.
They've arrived!
Three hours later, the EFL Cup champion this season will be decided here! "Phew"
Maël took a deep breath, looked at the scene outside the window, and felt uncontrollably excited when he thought about stepping onto this stadium later.
This is recognized as the world's greatest stadium. Pelé once called it the church of Football, the capital of Football, and the heart of Football!
English legendary captain Bobby Moore called it the holy land of Mecca!
He has driven past here several times this season, and every time he would stare at this unassuming stadium for a long time. Even as early as the first time he stepped onto the Football game field, he knew that he would definitely go here one day.
Because this is a place symbolizing championships and honors, he knows that he will always get these things!
Today, the opportunity has come. Whether to walk out of the stadium laughing or walk out of the stadium in silence, there will be a result soon.
"keep telling us we're boring!
"we'll just keep on scoring now!"
Outside the window, the singing of Arsenal fans was deafening. Today, at least more than 50,000 Arsenal fans came to this area. They will accompany the team to witness the success or failure of this game.
"They can't be disappointed!" Maël waved to the fans, then put his headphones back on, taking advantage of the last few minutes to adjust his mentality and keep himself calm.
"The Arsenal!
Come on you Arsenal!
The Arsenal!!"
The bus drove into the underground parking lot amidst the Arsenal fans' singing, and the players took the elevator to the stadium for final preparations.
When Maël arrived on the field to warm up, it seemed that the fans had not yet entered, and the place seemed empty.
But it was very magnificent, very shocking, much more majestic than it looked from the outside, and everyone seemed particularly small under this behemoth.
Maël saw that the Arsenal coaching staff had not yet come out, so he took a few footballs onto the field first and passed the ball with Arteta beside him.
"Bang, bang...!"
He curled a ground ball with arc, and looked at Arteta and asked, "Have you been here before?"
"Not yet." Arteta shook his head, excitement in his eyes, "Besides playing in the Premier League for many years, my experience is similar to yours."
Maël smiled slightly and said nothing more.
After a pass, Arteta looked around the stadium and turned back to say, "I can't imagine what it feels like to lift a trophy here, listening to the cheers of the Arsenal fans."
"It's okay."
Maël passed the ball back with a kick, and also turned his head to look around, "It will soon materialize."
"Alright, welcome to the 11-12 season EFL Cup final brought to you by ESPN!"
In the broadcast booth at Wembley Stadium, Zhan Jun and Zhang Lu, two old partners, appeared here, both with a fresh look and excited smiles on their faces.
Usually, they commentate on games in the broadcast room in China, and it is rare for them to go abroad to the scene like today.
Being able to commentate here while witnessing a great battle is also a good life experience for them.
"The players from both sides have finished their warm-up activities and returned to the locker room to prepare for the entrance ceremony.
"Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both sides first. For Arsenal, the goalkeeper is Szczęsny, the left back is Kyle Walker, the two center backs are Koscielny and Mertesacker, and the right back is Sagna.
"In midfield, Alexandre Song is in the center, with Arteta and Ramsey on his sides.
"In the forward line, Van Persie is at the front, with Maël and Gervinho on both sides."
After speaking, he turned to look at Zhang Lu and asked, "Zhang, let me ask a question that everyone may be more concerned about. Why do you think Walcott didn't start in this game?"
Zhang Lu looked at the starting list and guessed, "I think Arsenal is still not careless. They are afraid that Cardiff City will start with a high ball and rush for a few waves at the beginning.
"Compared to Walcott, Gervinho has the attributes of a wing-back. Putting him in the right winger position will make the offense and defense more balanced."
Zhan Jun nodded and continued, "In other words, Arsenal has defensive tasks for him... Then I would like to ask, will Maël have defensive tasks in this game? We all know that the player's Stamina is extremely outstanding. In the game against Manchester United, he ran two records.
"Today is also an important game, will he fight?"
Zhang Lu laughed, thought for a while and said, "He will definitely fight, but whether he will defend is not certain.
"Cardiff City is definitely not comparable to Manchester United. Their players' individual abilities are not outstanding. It can be expected that they will fight with Arsenal with extremely strong fighting spirit and belief, and they can also get some counterattack opportunities.
"But if you say they put pressure on Arsenal and force Maël to defend, I don't think it is very possible.
"Moreover, after Kyle Walker came up, Arsenal's defense on the right has obviously improved. They lost 5 goals in the last Champions League game, 3 from the left and 2 from the middle."
"Haha..."
"Hey, right? Kyle Walker's defensive ability on this side is trustworthy.
"Wenger bought him to pair with Maël, so that Maël can attack more flexibly in the frontcourt and exert his threat."
Zhan Jun didn't answer, he picked up another information sheet, "Let's take a look at the starting lineup of the dark horse team Cardiff City. Today they are fielding a 4-3-3 formation.
"The goalkeeper is Heaton, and the defense line from left to right is Bentner, Hudson, Andrew Taylor, and McNaughton.
"The three midfielders are Whittingham on the left, Conway in the middle, and Gunnarsson on the right.
"The center forward is Kenny Miller, with Gestede on the left and Joe Mason on the right."
"A very aggressive formation arrangement." Zhang Lu immediately gave an evaluation after listening, "I watched a few games where they eliminated Premier League teams, and they usually played with five defenders.
"I didn't expect that they would field a four-defender formation after entering the final. This is to fight for their lives."
"Hehe..." Zhan Jun also made a lewd laugh, "No one doesn't want to make a splash in the final and soar into the sky. They must want to bring something special to this game."
Up in the stadium, inside a luxurious box.
"Pfft!"
Isabella generously opened a few bottles of beer, placed them on the table, and handed one to everyone present.
Today, not only were she and her best friend Aisha there, but also Gilbert and Maël's five-person team.
They would watch this great battle together, hoping to witness Arsenal lifting the trophy later.
Gilbert reached out, took a bottle, took two sips, burped, and put it down, curiously looking at Harry beside him, "Harry, did Maël have any unusual behavior the day before the final? Or this morning, was he particularly excited, or did he have any special prayer rituals?"
Harry was just about to drink, but after hearing his question, he put down the bottle and thought for a while, shaking his head, "It doesn't seem like it, he's been very normal, and often jokes with us."
"So confident?" Gilbert looked at the field and smiled.
"Probably." Davis had just had a private chat with Maël not long ago and confirmed, "He's always been very confident in these kinds of games, as if he never believes he can lose an important match.
"Plus, the player has seen a lot of big games now, so maybe he's more calm in all aspects.
"I've never heard him say, 'What if we can't win the championship,' or anything like that."
"Yes." Isabella helplessly curled her lips and interjected, "Except when it comes to rejecting my Ferris wheel invitation, he never seems to say those words."
"Haha..." Aisha laughed beside her, "So did you book the tickets?"
"I did." Isabella nodded, smiling and saying, "Once he wins this game, I'll take him to ride it."
Safina on the other side smelled the scent of gossip and quickly joined in, chatting with the two sisters.
As for José and Lewis, who were ignored, they sat in the corner, silently clinked their bottles, and took a couple of sips.
"Haven't seen him play before, have you?" José turned his head and asked, trying to start a conversation.
"I have." Lewis nodded woodenly, then shook his head, "But this is my first time seeing him live."
Seeming to guess what José was about to say, he quickly waved his hand, "Don't worry, I know what level of player he is. I mainly work in sports medicine, so of course I understand sports very well."
José laughed and raised his glass again, "Come on, let's pray for him together."
Lewis nodded and clinked glasses with him, only drinking a little bit at a time. He was already old, unlike José.
"Beep beep!"
"Oh!"
Not long after, as two sharp whistles came from the field, the stadium, which was already eight or nine tenths full, erupted in excitement.
The players from both sides were about to enter the field, and everyone's expectations had reached their peak!
"Wembley! Wembley!!"
The famous Wembley song immediately resounded throughout the stadium, and the fans from both sides briefly reconciled, warming up for the game together.
After singing a few more times, the people in the box couldn't help but join in.
"Wembley!"
Under the lead of Isabella, the atmosphere maker, several older people also raised their hands and stood up, joining in the pre-final carnival, "Wembley!"
Especially those who grew up in the UK, the feeling for this song was extremely strong.
In the midst of the cheers, they seemed to return to their childhood, watching Champions League finals and FA Cup finals here with their families.
"Alright, we see that the players from both sides are ready, and the game is about to begin! Let me introduce to you again, the two sides of the match are Arsenal, wearing red and white home jerseys, and Cardiff City, wearing blue jerseys! Their battlefield is at Wembley Stadium in London! There was a famous White Horse Final here, which was in 1923, between West Ham United and Bolton!
"At that time, Wembley Stadium, which was designed to accommodate 127,000 people, opened up the restrictions, allowing anyone who paid at the entrance to enter the venue, and more than 240,000 people poured in at once.
"They blocked the stadium, even standing inside the sidelines and inside the goalposts."
"Under duress, mounted police officer George Scorey rode a pure white horse back and forth along the sidelines, driving the fans back until they were squeezed out of the stadium, and the game could proceed.
"This is also the highest record for the number of people watching a single game live in the world. Later, people gave it a romantic name, the White Horse Final!
"Today, another final will be staged in this great stadium! Their winner will lift the Carling Cup here, which is engraved with beautiful patterns!"
"..."
"Beep beep!"
In the player tunnel, with the referee's whistle, the starting players of both sides led the children out onto Wembley Stadium.
Maël was holding the hand of a little boy wearing an Arsenal jersey. Calling him a little boy, his height actually reached an astonishing 1.7 meters.
If he wasn't tall enough, the pre-match photo session would have been very awkward. The little boy would have blocked his head, making people think Arsenal had temporarily replaced a winger to play.
"The Arsenal Come on you Arsenal The Arsenal!!"
Walking out into the clear Wembley Stadium, the Arsenal's singing rang in his ears again, which made him withdraw his other thoughts and concentrate on the game.
Before entering the field, he touched the turf of the stadium and jumped vertically twice to warm up.
Van Persie went to the referee for the coin toss, while he went directly to his position, waiting for the kickoff.
In the process, Maël also saw the fighting spirit in the eyes of the Cardiff City players from an inadvertent eye contact, as well as their complex emotions towards him.
He knew that this opponent was the one he faced in his first professional game, but he didn't remember the players inside.
They might remember him and be surprised by his Speed of progress in the past year or so.
But unfortunately, now is not the time to reminisce. They are going to have a real battle for the championship.
Soon, Van Persie ran back to his position with the ball, presumably having won the right to kick off in the first half.
As the game was about to begin, the entire stadium fell silent, and everyone looked at the referee in the middle of the field.
"10!"
At this moment, numbers appeared on the big screens on both sides of the field.
The fans of both teams quickly understood and shouted along with the numbers, "98765!"
When they shouted to 5, Maël took a heavy breath, raised his head, and showed a look of desire for the opponent's goal.
He had entered a state of battle, and next, he hoped to lead the team to victory with goals.
"4321!!!"
"Beep!!"
"Bang!"
At the moment the referee blew the whistle to start the game, Van Persie kicked the ball back from the center circle, then turned and rushed into Cardiff City's half.
Maël's emotions also instantly rose another notch, and he strode his powerful thighs towards the opponent's defensive midfielder position.
Arteta, who had the ball, seemed to understand, took two steps back, and then made a sharp turn, sending a half-high ball.
The same routine again! The Cardiff City players were very focused and had a good understanding of this kickoff tactic that had already appeared once in the Champions League.
"Bang!!"
Their center-back Hudson rushed in front of Maël and cleared the ball towards Arsenal's half with a diving header.
"Hey oh.!" This quickly caused the Cardiff City fans to shout, any beautiful handling of the ball in the final would be applauded and cheered by their own fans.
Maël smiled and gave Arteta a thumbs up, then turned and came to his position.
"Press! Press! Press!!"
Unexpectedly, Cardiff City's defensive line was very determined. Seeing the Football reach Arsenal's half, they quickly moved forward, raising the offside line.
He could only follow and run, and soon came near the midfield line.
"Deng deng deng!"
Immediately afterwards, he saw the opponent's three forwards and three midfielders rushing to Arsenal's backfield to carry out a high press.
Only four defenders were holding him, Van Persie, and Gervinho.
Very hard working.
But thinking about it, if he were a Cardiff City player, reaching the EFL Cup final with the level of an EFL Championship team, it would be strange not to fight the opponent to the death.
"Bang!"
"Pa!"
Under the opponent's pressing, Arsenal's backcourt could occasionally make some wonderful one-touch passing plays, and would occasionally be directly intercepted.
In the 2nd minute of the match, Cardiff City's center forward Kenny Miller surprisingly unleashed the first shot.
"Ah!" Seeing the Football fly over the crossbar, their fans erupted in regret, followed by encouraging applause, "Clap clap clap!"
"Yeah!" Kenny Miller clenched his right fist and slammed it into his left hand, looking extremely excited. Then, jumping up and down, he raised his hand to cheer on his teammates, "Come on! Guys!!"
"Come on!" A chorus of encouragement, with varying tones and volumes, echoed throughout the stadium, everyone's spirits were high.
Maël, watching their expressions, knew this match would be tough, but he wasn't worried.
As long as he had the chance to get the ball, he would let the opposing coach know the dangers of playing a desperate game.
His opponents were excited, and so was he. He was just waiting to pierce through their defense like a sharp knife. No one would back down in this match.
He stepped forward, pushing the opponent's defensive line back a bit.
"Szczęsny still opts for a short pass, they have great confidence in their footwork! Mertesacker passes to Kyle Walker on the wing! The opponent's pressing is quick, Kyle Walker can only hold his position for now!
"Trying to turn and break through, the ball goes out of bounds! Cardiff City's intention today is very clear, they want to keep the ball in Arsenal's half!"
Inside the commentary box, Zhan Jun finished this segment and turned to Zhang Lu, "Zhang, in this situation, shouldn't Arsenal be more decisive in moving forward? If the battle for possession is too far back, their goal will always be exposed to danger."
Zhang Lu shook his head and gave his opinion, "For a team like Arsenal that plays possession and attacking Football, it's still quite necessary to play the ball out from the back.
"Because we see that when their four defenders are in possession, one of the full-backs will move up, so it's a formation of three defenders plus three midfielders playing the ball out.
"And if Cardiff City wants to press them and have a chance to steal the ball, they need to commit at least 5-6 players to pressing.
"At this time, although Arsenal may lose possession due to mistakes, once they succeed in getting the ball smoothly to the forwards, those 5-6 players will most likely not be able to get back in time.
"So the attack in the front becomes a balanced one, at most with one extra player, and this kind of attack is very threatening.
"Of course, this is a relatively simple understanding based on numerical advantages and disadvantages. As for how to play the ball out specifically, and how to attack once it reaches the front, I believe Arsenal usually has more detailed drills in training."
"Hehe..."
Zhan Jun chuckled twice and joked, "I don't know how they play the ball out, but it's pretty obvious how they attack."
"Maël?" Zhang Lu guessed what he was referring to and laughed, "Haha, you could say that. As long as the ball is played out clearly from the back, the front is left to Maël to break through.
"If the problem can be solved with a breakthrough, then there's no need for complicated attacking routines. Just simply send the ball in."
He actually knew very well that Zhan Jun also understood Football very well, but sometimes he deliberately asked some silly questions and made some silly jokes.
To the former, he would seriously explain to the fans watching the broadcast; to the latter, he would drop his brain and joke around with Zhan Jun.
"The ball is out!" Zhan Jun looked at the field, a few glimmers of anticipation appearing in his eyes, "Will he get the ball?"
"..."
On the wing, Maël saw the ball being passed out from the middle and back, made a fake run forward, and then quickly ran back to receive the ball, pointing at his feet and shouting, "Here! Here!!"
Arteta glanced at him, wanting to pass to him, but his passing lane was quickly blocked by an opposing midfielder.
"Bang!"
Arteta helplessly passed the ball back to Kyle Walker, who simply sent a chipped pass towards Maël's position. The pass was accurate, but not easy to receive.
Maël arrived at the ball's landing point, looked around left and right before controlling the ball, and saw a defender lunging towards him.
"Pa!"
At the moment of controlling the ball, he changed his decision, tapping the bottom of the Football with the toe of his right foot and hooking it backwards.
Then, the moment his right foot landed, he pushed off the ground, turned around, and accelerated, the connection was very quick.
Flick over the opponent!
Bypassing the opponent without stopping the ball! Maël's figure was very agile, and the Football flew smoothly towards the direction he was running. At this moment, he was more like a midfield master, and a fast one at that.
"Bang!" Unexpectedly, the defender guarding him, named McNaughton, reacted quickly and jumped up the moment the Football was about to pass over his head, intercepting the ball.
Didn't get past! Maël stopped his forward charge and quickly shifted his weight to chase back.
He had to fight for the ball back if he lost possession. If the opponent managed to pass the ball out and complete the transition from defense to attack, the backfield would be in danger.
Maël caught up in two steps and made a tough block. Since the opponent had to protect the ball, there was no way to avoid it, and he could only collide with Maël head-on.
"Bang!"
The sound of impact echoed as McNaughton, as if greased, stumbled and slid towards the sideline.
"AahhOh!!" The arrogant voices of Arsenal fans resounded throughout Wembley Stadium, many rising to their feet and raising their arms in cheers towards Maël.
Maël retrieved the ball, turning his head to advance while simultaneously observing the situation on the field.
"Shirr!" A fierce tackle suddenly came from the right, the opposing midfielder rushing in aggressively, aiming for his feet.
Maël tried to jump, but it was too late. The opponent, after tackling the ball, didn't retract his leg, sending him tumbling to the ground.
His shinbone took a heavy blow, a piercing pain shooting through him, causing him to roll twice while clutching his leg.
"Aiya...!!"
"Xuxu~!" The cheers had barely subsided when the dissatisfied voices of Arsenal fans rose, this time almost all standing up and spreading their hands towards the referee.
The scene was spectacular, as if everyone was equipped with the same driving system, reacting in the same way to similar situations.
"Beep!" The referee ultimately ruled a foul against the Cardiff City player, but showed no intention of issuing a card.
"Hai hai...!" This further provoked the Cardiff City fans, who stood up and cursed at the referee, feeling it wasn't a foul.
Many Arsenal fans didn't return to their seats, and seeing the opponent's appeal, they became unhappy, arguing with the opposing fans.
The scene was chaotic, so chaotic that few fans from either team noticed that Maël had already stood up, bypassing the referee who was arguing with the Cardiff City players while holding the football.
He observed Gervinho on the far side, spotting an open space there, and immediately got up.
He wanted to take a quick free kick! This was a final, and any opportunity to create a goal couldn't be missed. Rather than pressuring the referee for a yellow card, taking the lead was the most important thing.
"Boom!!"
Maël's right foot hooked the bottom of the football, sending it towards Gervinho, who had already started running down the right wing.
The football whistled past the Cardiff City defense, landing near the edge of their penalty area.
The Cardiff City players, who were arguing with the referee, were stunned. When they looked back, Gervinho was about to get the football.
They opened their mouths to complain to the referee, but remembering that no card had been given and a quick free kick was allowed, they quickly turned and sprinted back.
Gervinho didn't give them the chance. After stopping the ball, he looked for Van Persie's figure in the center.
After a couple of glances, it seemed like Arteta outside the penalty area had a better opportunity.
"Boom!"
He passed a return ball, sending it to the open space at the top of the arc, setting up a cannon for Arteta.
Arteta followed up in two steps, his sharp eyes glancing at the goal before lowering his head, drawing back his leg, and unleashing a long shot.
"Boom!!" A shot that echoed throughout the stadium rang out. Arteta even rose into the air at the moment of the shot, pouring all his explosive power into this shot.
"Bang!!"
But the opposing goalkeeper, Heaton, actually reached out and blocked the ball, sending it flying back into the penalty area.
Not in!
"Ah"
"Ah"
Two surprised voices rang out, first from the Cardiff City fans, and then from the Arsenal fans.
However, they quickly saw an agile figure emerge in the penalty area, receiving the rebound.
It was Van Persie!
"Boom!"
After stopping the ball, General Van Persie, taking advantage of the goalkeeper not yet getting up, pushed a shot into the near corner. The football rose along the net, only slowing down and falling in the middle.
Goal! One to zero!
Arsenal took the lead!
"OhYeahhhh!!!"
Inside the massive Wembley Stadium, Arsenal fans stood up with tense bodies, waving their arms at a rapid Frequency.
In this final filled with uncertainty, they were the ones to score first! "Beautiful!!" Mr. Wenger on the sidelines jumped up, then quickly turned to find someone to celebrate with.
"Haha...!"
At the corner flag, Van Persie slid on his knees close to the Wembley Stadium's turf. Taking the lead for the team in such a match was exhilarating.
"Wow!" The entire Arsenal team ran towards him, even Mertesacker and others who were positioned furthest back.
Most of them slid on their knees, enjoying the wet softness of the Wembley Stadium's grass with Van Persie, savoring the fiery atmosphere on the field at this moment.
Maël didn't slide. After running to his position, he just excitedly high-fived everyone.
Sliding on his knees should be reserved for when he scores, sliding with his teammates. Otherwise, it would feel like a waste of passion.
He believed he could score and help the team get closer to victory! "Good shot."
Van Persie praised Arteta while high-fiving him, and when high-fiving Gervinho, he added, "Good Cross!"
When high-fiving Maël, he smiled and said, "Good fall!"
"Get lost." Maël said with a smile, swatting his hand away. The group happily walked back.
They were closer to the team's first trophy in seven years!
ps: I will finish writing the match today, from this awakening until the next time I go to sleep.
This month has been updated 470k words, the goal is 540k+ Alliance Master bonus update 47k, monthly ticket bonus update 87k.
Begging for votes, begging for votes, I will complete it!
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