Becoming a football god from Arsenal

Chapter 194: The unfinished goal! The English League Cup final is coming! The final battle at Wembley Stadium!

"Pop."

In the Arsenal coaching booth, Wenger was smiling and clapping his hands as he admired Maher's celebration, his eyes full of love.

His favorite player can often bring surprises to the team. Who would have thought that Arsenal would take the lead so quickly after coming on!

At a certain moment he was in a trance, and in front of him seemed to appear the scene of this team rising all the way up from this front line and rushing towards the finals.

They had reached the Champions League final in the 05-06 season. That season, the team was already more than ten points behind the top three teams in the league. With no hope of winning the championship on the home front, they turned to the Champions League.

This is due to the fact that there is still some glimmer of youth left in the team just after its peak, as well as the emergence of young people such as Fabregas.

They overcame all obstacles along the way and were on the verge of winning the first Champions League trophy in the club's history.

However, in the final they faced the Dream Team II Barcelona who were at their peak. The team's goalkeeper Lehmann was sent off early due to an attacking error, and they eventually lost 1-2.

It was a painful experience. The team ended up losing all four major titles. Key players such as Henry and Pires left soon after, which accelerated the team's decline.

"Philip."

Wenger looked aside, wanting to ask Philip something, but when he saw Henry, he couldn't help but ask his former favorite player, "Henry, if this team continues along this path, where do you think it will end up?"

Henry looked at the Arsenal team on the field, thought for a while and said: "It's hard to say, the Champions League is too accidental.

"Just like that year, we made so much preparation and felt that we could definitely beat Barcelona and fulfill our dream, but the red card in the 18th minute was a big blow to us.

"In cup competitions, there are too many uncertainties, and a small misjudgment can lead to a team being eliminated and failing to win.

"But if I'm just guessing, I think with the fighting power and stability the team has shown, there should be a good chance of reaching the quarterfinals and semifinals."

At this point he raised his shoulders and smiled: “But if that happens, I am not sure about the League Cup, but the league will definitely be affected.

"If we go through a situation like we did in January again, the title race will suddenly become very tight, as we were only a few points ahead."

Wenger nodded slightly. The advantage of a few points was indeed not that big, and there were many cases where a lead of more than ten points was overturned.

It’s just that they have been in good momentum recently, and their five-game winning streak seems a bit easy. There will definitely be many challenges in their championship race.

"and"

Henry looked at the Arsenal expeditionary team in the far stands, recalled the past, and smiled, "Mr. Wenger, do you remember what you said to us at the end of the 0304- season?
"The team's defense back then was the same as it is now, always distracted and allowing the opponent to grab a goal or two early on. The unbeaten 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 occasionally achieves a little success.

"Or maybe you want to do something special and become immortal."

The smile on Henry’s face grew even brighter, as if he remembered the joy he had at that time, “We wanted to be immortal, so we survived.

"The undefeated championship and the 49-match unbeaten streak will always be revered as a miracle and our name will go along with it."

He turned his eyes to the court, to Maher wearing the No. 7 jersey, and his eyes were filled with nostalgia for the past, as if he saw his former self, "This team now has a new backbone, a better backbone.

"They have a hope of achieving this again and recreating what we have achieved.

"Then let them go for it. The only thing that is as disappointing as losing the championship is winning the championship but losing the undefeated record at the last moment.

"By then, the joy of winning the championship may hardly dilute the regret of not being able to achieve immortality."

"And." He looked at the AC Milan uniforms on the field and recalled his past regrets. "Mr. Wenger, if the team can go undefeated this season, they may be able to complete what we have not completed."

Wenger turned and followed Henry's gaze and saw a group of Milan players.

Milan also remembered something. After the unbeaten season ended, they continued their unbeaten streak in the first half of the 04-05 season, raising this record in English football to 49 games.

But this is not the best. The world's best record is the 91 league games unbeaten achieved by AC Milan from 93 to 58.

Originally, they actually had hope of catching up. With Arsenal's spirit at that stage, winning another 9 games was not a fantasy.

But the injustice that happened against Manchester United made them stop in their tracks with great regret and anger.

Looking back now, that was also a turning point for the team from prosperity to decline.

"You're right." Wenger nodded. If this team can win the championship undefeated this season, perhaps they will have a chance to challenge AC Milan's record.

This time, they have better 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 think about playing in the Champions League again. He shrugged and said: "We haven't won the league championship for so many years, and the fans are looking forward to it.

“For them, the league must come first, which symbolizes the glory of the local community.

"If we win the championship and do it undefeated, then these seven years of waiting won't be 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 is best for the team and I have already made the choice.

"However, once this Champions League is over, if this season goes as planned, I will fully prepare for next year's Champions League.

"After we win the league title again, it will be time to challenge for some trophies that have never been won in the club's history."

"I hope I'll be there by then." Henry pointed at Wenger expectantly and jokingly asked him to sign him.

"Haha." Wenger laughed twice and said nothing. Henry will leave at the beginning of next month. No one can say whether they can meet again at Arsenal in the future.

Turning our attention back to the field, the game between the two teams had already restarted, and AC Milan lost the ball after just a few possessions.

It seems that they knew Arsenal's sharp attack, so they unexpectedly chose the tactic of counterattack today. Even Ibrahimovic, the leading player, retreated to the attacking midfielder position to assist in the organization.

"Oh!"

In the 19th minute of the game, AC Milan seized a conversion opportunity. Ibrahimovic cut in from behind Sagna and received a through ball from Seedorf.

He dribbled the ball all the way to the baseline and made a precise short cross with his left foot to find Robinho who was moving forward.

Everyone who saw this scene was a little surprised. Ibrahimovic made a cross and Robinho went to head the ball. This was definitely a reversal of the situation.

"Oh!"

Robinho took the lead in getting into position in the middle, headed the ball towards the back post and hit it.

One to one!

Robinho's goal!
"Oh!" Amid the cheers of more than 70,000 Milan fans at San Siro, the cycling king Robinho blew a kiss in celebration. He is no longer young, but he can still make use of his remaining energy.

"Oh!"

This was not the end. Just 7 minutes later, Robinho received a pass from Ibrahimovic and shot from the front of the penalty area.

The football flew into the far corner and Milan overtook!

Two to one!

In the 35th minute of the game, Arsenal seized a counterattack opportunity and passed the ball to Mahel on the left.

"Bang bang bang!"

When he got the ball, the full-back on the same side had not returned yet. Thiago Silva, who was still in his prime, lowered his center of gravity and followed him.

He saw some viciousness in the opponent's eyes, as if he had no intention of stealing the ball from his feet. He just wanted to wait for him to make a move and then knock him down on the grass of San Siro.

Maher's fighting spirit was aroused, and the more so, the more he wanted to play with the defender.

He pulled the ball to the left with his right foot, and then his left leg took an inward step, and then stepped back outward, shifting the center of gravity of his body back and forth.

“Pah, pah. Pah!”

He then kicked the ball to the right with his left foot, and pushed the ball outward with the outside of his right foot, and moved his body weight forward as if he was going to rush forward.

At the critical moment, he retracted his center of gravity and slammed the ball to the front left.

The whole process was smooth, without any stagnation or disharmony, and even included changes in rhythm.

Thiago Silva was not there to defend. He always wanted to kick the ball. Seeing Maher swaying around, he kept raising his foot to kick, but accidentally lost his composure.

"Pfft!"

The moment Maher changed direction, he sat down on the ground in embarrassment.

Knocked down!

"Pa, pa!" Applause from Arsenal fans sounded from behind. Thiago Silva is definitely one of the best defenders in the world at this moment.

His market value reaches 4000 million euros, which is not easy for a central defender.

Even he was knocked down by Mael, so they would naturally feel excited and proud.

"Bang bang bang!"

Maher dribbled the ball past Thiago Silva and ran towards the more dangerous area of ​​the opponent's backcourt with determination in his eyes.

He looked up and found that the other defenders were not too panicked. They just retreated steadily and waited for the midfielders to chase back.

Footsteps sounded behind his ears, and it seemed that Seedorf and Van Bommel were catching up.

"Oh!"

He passed the ball to Gervinho on the other side, asking him to find a one-on-one opportunity with the full-back and then he penetrated into the penalty area.

Gervinho finally got a starting game and he was very excited to play. He rushed to the end line in two steps and kicked a cross across the middle.

The quality of the ball was very good. It passed through Antonini in the middle and Seedorf who was chasing back, and went all the way to the back point.

"Stab!"

Maher just rushed over at this time, and when he felt he couldn't reach the ball, he threw his body out and slid to kick the football.

"Swish!" The football hit the instep of his foot, changed its trajectory and bounced into the goal.

The ball was less than 1.5 meters away from the goalkeeper and Abbiati had no time to react.

The ball went in again!

Two to two!
"Yeah!!" Maher shouted all the way and rushed towards the corner flag area with his blood boiling.

Scored twice!

The 7th goal in the Champions League!
After reaching the wing, he suddenly threw his center of gravity forward, without any leverage, and completed a front flip to celebrate.

"Aaahh!"

He didn't stop after landing. He jumped high on the spot, waved his right fist and shouted a few times.

The Milan fans who were very close to him stared at him blankly, not knowing what to say. Many of them had envy on their faces, as if they were drooling over Maher.

If only they had such a young striker, they wouldn't have been suppressed by Juventus all this season.

"Beep!"

In the 39th minute of the game, Robinho, who was in hot form today, used his dribbling to cause Sagna to foul, and the referee awarded a penalty.

Ibrahimovic then took the penalty and scored, repaying Robinho's kindness.

Three to two!
The star players of both teams are in hot form, and the defenses are under great pressure.

"Bang!!"

Before the end of the first half, Seedorf bypassed Kyle Walker in the chaos of a corner kick and shot the ball into the goal.

Four to two!
A 6-goal battle in the first half!

"Aaaaght!!" The San Siro Stadium went crazy. Countless AC Milan team flags were waving wildly in the stands, and the fans then pulled out a banner that read "Target Championship".

Seedorf and Robinho slid down to their knees on the sidelines, and Ibrahimovic rushed over to knock them down. They will continue to write their own stories.

At the center line, Maher put his hands on his hips and looked around the huge stadium, then glanced at the UEFA Champions League logo and the star logo under the scoreboard.

He understands that he may have to say goodbye here this season, but he also knows very well that one day he will return to this arena that symbolizes the highest level of competition.

"Beep--!"

The first half of the game then ended and players from both sides walked towards the player tunnel.

Alexander Song and Ramsey were wearing substitute vests, waiting for Maher on the sidelines with water and towels.

After Maher came off the field, he wiped the sweat off his body, put on his coat and prepared for a break.

"Beep!"

Before the start of the second half, Henry replaced him, Benayoun replaced Van Persie, and Chamberlain also replaced Arteta, so the three main players were able to rest.

In the 73rd minute of the game, the opponent's midfielder Kevin Boateng made a forward run into the penalty area, received a through ball from his teammate and pushed the ball into the goal to 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 and kept defending intensively.

"Beep! Beep! Beep--!"

"Yeah!"

When the referee blew three long whistles, the cheers of the San Siro fans seemed to be enough to pierce the clouds and split the rocks, and tens of thousands of people on the scene celebrated together.

Before leaving the field, Maher took one last look at the beautiful stadium, or rather, he took one last look at the stage of the European Champions League.

7 goals and 4 assists are his excellent results in this field this season. He is only behind Melo and Bayern's Mario Gomez in the scorer list.

He really wants to keep going and continue to fight on this stage, but now is obviously not the best time, it is time to say goodbye.

He will be back next year!

We will reappear on this field in a better and stronger posture!

At that time, he hoped that he could be crowned the king of Europe on this field.

"Ha ha."

"Yes, that's a great opportunity."

After returning to the locker room, Maher heard people talking and laughing, and even Wenger was chatting with Philip in a relaxed manner.

But it is obvious that a heavy atmosphere hangs over the place. After knowing that they have basically bid farewell to the Champions League, the players are under considerable pressure.

Now, there is only the League Cup final in four days and the Premier League where the team still maintains an unbeaten record.

Whether they can successfully achieve their goals on these two fronts will determine whether they can have a happy summer offseason after the end of this season.

For some people, it determines whether they can appear on the European Cup field with confidence and pride.

"Now, all eyes are on our EFL Cup final and Premier League campaign."

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 defeated by these and will not give others the opportunity to laugh at us.

"Don't relax, don't relax, and don't fall into a crisis of confidence!
"We are the best team in English football this season, believe it and attack on both fronts!

"Arsennal!!"

"Come on!!" A burst of encouragement rang out, and the players cheered each other up. They had to do this every once in a while to tighten the screws on themselves and make themselves clear about what state they should be in at all times.

Maher clapped his hands, knowing that the real final stage of the game had arrived.

For the next few days, everything was calm at the Kearney training base, as if everything was normal.

"Pass it on!"

"coming!"

"Van Persie! Here!"

Arsenal players were wearing team vests of different colors and conducting various preparatory training. Every player looked calm.

But beneath this calmness, there seems to be a strong desire suppressed, which is everyone's desire to end the team's 7-year championship drought!

But if you change your perspective from here, you will find that the outside world is already very excited. All kinds of news about this game are overwhelming, and everyone is creating the atmosphere before the final.

"Latest news from the BBC! Wenger's team has reached the EFL Cup final for two consecutive years. They will face Championship team Cardiff City on February 2!"

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 challenged all the way to the finish line, and their desire and spirit for victory are beyond imagination!

"Last year, Arsenal lost to the dark horse team Birmingham and missed the closest championship in 6 years!
“With the addition of Maher, Mertesacker, Arteta, Kyle Walker and others this year, I wonder if they can break the curse and take back the championship that this team has been waiting for for so long!”

"."

"Sky Sports reporter!"

In a Sky Sports program, a hot female reporter also talked about this game, "Wembley Stadium is about to witness the first championship of English football this season.

"This championship is extremely important to both teams. Cardiff City is eager to write the legend of a small club belonging to the second-tier league, while Arsenal urgently needs a championship to blow the horn of revival!

"Before this, Cardiff City had never won the League Cup, and Arsenal had won it twice, but both times were in the last century, before Wenger took over.

"No matter which team wins, it will be a championship that makes history!"

"."

"L'Equipe reporter, the hot English League Cup final will start in two days. We have come to North London in advance to observe Arsenal fans' preparations for this game!

"This is a great opportunity for Wenger to achieve the English domestic grand slam, a great opportunity for Maher to win his first first-team title, and a great opportunity to end his seven-year title drought.

"I believe Arsenal fans attach great importance to this game. Let us go into a fan pub and interview two fans on the spot."

"."

"Hello, we are from France. What are your expectations for the upcoming finals?"

"We must win the championship! We believe in Wenger, Maher and Van Persie! They will lead us to lift the trophy!"

"."

"Cardiff City plays fiercely. The players will definitely fight hard with Arsenal in the final and use crazy running to block the space. Do you think they are an easy team to deal with?"

"Easy teams don't make it to the final. We are prepared for the difficulty of the game, but we know that Cardiff City is the opponent team when Maher makes his professional debut, and he will definitely try his best to win."

"You mean, as long as Maher tries his best, there's hope of winning the final?"

"Yes, it has always been like this. I believe Maher is eager to win his first championship with the team where he made his debut. There is a special meaning in this."

"."

"That's the report from the front line, we can see Arsenal fans holding up banners for the match day and we can see tourists from Cardiff City coming to the area.

"Hopefully it will be a great game, see you on February 2th!"

"."

"Spanish Radio and Television! Today is February 2th. Friends who follow football know that tomorrow, a championship match will be held at Wembley Stadium in England!
"One team will be one step ahead of the others and win a more valuable championship this season!
"This is a warm-up for the four major league championships, and it is also a signal that all the championship trophies in European football will come to the final stage of competition!"

"."

"German Daily."

With the preparations made by reporters from all over the country, many people had certain expectations for this game and began to look for the broadcast signals of the game in advance.

And time gradually came to February 2th, when the championship battle was about to begin.

"Buzz!"

At two o'clock in the afternoon, the bus drove out of the Colney base and headed towards a new road, which was the direction leading to Wembley Stadium.

The players wore headphones in the car and listened to music to relax.

Maher was also wearing headphones. He looked out the window the whole time. After a while, he felt sleepy and closed his eyes for a while.

"Arsennal! Arsennal!"

It was not 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 clearer, and Arsenal fans appeared in groups, raising their hands and singing "Hot Stuff" to the club bus, which had been sung many times this season.

This is a song that symbolizes victory, and whenever this song is played, they always seem to achieve victory as they wish.

Today, they used this song to send off Arsenal players!

Looking up, the magnificent Wembley Stadium appears before our eyes. An arc-shaped iron cable across the stadium is one of the special features of this stadium.

They've arrived!

In three hours, this season's English League Cup champion will be decided here!
"call"

Maher took a deep breath, looked at the scene outside the window, and felt uncontrollably excited when he thought about stepping onto the stadium soon.

This is recognized as the greatest stadium in the world. Pele once called it the cathedral of football, the capital of football, and the heart of football!

England's legendary captain Bobby Moore called it the Mecca!

He drove past here several times this season, and each time he would stare at this unremarkable stadium for a long time. Even as early as his first football game, he knew that he would go here one day.

Because this is a place that symbolizes championship and honor, he knows that he will always get these things!

Today, the opportunity has come. Whether we walk out of the stadium laughing or walking out of the stadium in silence, the result will be known soon.

"keep telling us we''re boring!"

"we''ll just keep on scoring now!"

Outside the window, the singing of Arsenal fans is deafening. Today, at least 5 Arsenal fans have come to this area and they will accompany the team to witness the success or failure of this game.

Can't let them down!
Maher waved to the fans, then put his headphones back on, using the final few minutes to adjust his mindset and stay calm.

"The ArsenalCome on you ArsenalThe Arsenal!!"

The bus drove into the underground parking lot amid the singing of Arsenal fans, and the players took the elevator up to the stadium to make final preparations.

When Maher came to the field to warm up, it seemed that it was not yet time for the fans to enter, and the place seemed empty.

But it is extremely grand and shocking. It is much more majestic than it looks from the outside. Everyone seems particularly small under such a behemoth.

Seeing that Arsenal's coaching staff had not come out yet, Maher took a few footballs and went on the field first, passing the balls with Arteta beside him.

“Bang, bang!”

He kicked a low curve ball and looked at Arteta and asked: "Have you been here?"

"Not yet." Arteta shook his head, with excitement in his eyes. "Except for playing in the Premier League for many years, many of my experiences are similar to yours." Maher smiled slightly and said nothing more.

Arteta looked around the pitch after a pass and said: "I can't imagine what it feels like to hold the trophy here, listening to the cheers of the Arsenal fans."

"fine."

Maher kicked the ball back and looked around. "It soon became concrete."

"Well, welcome to watch the 11-12 season English League Cup final broadcast by ESPN!"

In the broadcast studio in Wembley Stadium, two old partners, Zhan Jun and Zhang Lu, appeared here. They both looked brand new and had excited smiles on their faces.

On weekdays, they usually commentate on the games in the domestic broadcasting studio, and there are not many who go abroad to the scene like today.

For them, being able to witness a decisive battle live while commentating here is also a great life experience.

“The players from both teams have finished their warm-up activities and returned to the locker room to prepare for the on-field ceremony.

"Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both teams. For Arsenal, goalkeeper Szczesny, left back Kyle Walker, double central defenders Koscielny and Mertesacker, right back Sagna.

“In midfield, in the middle is Alexandre Song, and on either side of him are Arteta and Ramsey.

"As for the forward line, Van Persie is at the front, with Maher and Gervinho on both sides."

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Zhang Lu and asked, "Director Zhang, let me ask a question that everyone may be concerned about. In your opinion, why didn't Walcott start in this game?"

Coach Zhang Lu looked at the starting lineup and guessed: "I think Arsenal is still not careless. They are afraid that Cardiff City will play high and high from the beginning and rush in a few times to get the start.

"Compared to Walcott, Gervinho has the attributes of a wingback. Putting him on the right winger position will make the offense and defense more balanced."

Zhan Jun nodded and continued: "That is to say, Arsenal has given him a defensive task. Then I would like to ask, will Maher have a defensive task in this game?
"We all know that the player's physical fitness is excellent. In the game against Manchester United, he ran two records.

"This is also an important game today. Will he fight hard?"

Zhang Lu laughed, thought for a moment and said, "I will definitely fight, but I am not sure whether I can defend.

"Cardiff City is definitely not comparable to Manchester United. Their players' individual abilities are not outstanding, but we can expect them to fight with Arsenal with great fighting spirit and belief, and get some counterattack opportunities.

“But you said they played pressure on Arsenal and forced Maher to go back to defend, which I think is unlikely.

"Also, after Kyle Walker came on, Arsenal's defense on the right side has obviously improved. In the last round of the Champions League, they conceded five goals, three from the left and two from the center."

"Ha ha."

"Hey, right? Kyle Walker's defensive ability on this side is trustworthy.

"Wenger bought him to accompany Mahel, so that Mahel can attack more flexibly in the front field and play a threatening role."

Zhan Jun didn't respond. He picked up another sheet of information and said, "Let's take a look at the starting lineup of the dark horse team Cardiff City. Today they are in a 4-3-3 formation.

"The goalkeeper is Heaton, and the back line from left to right is Bendtner, Hudson, Andrew Taylor, and McNaughton.

“The midfield three had Whittingham on the left, Conway in the middle and Gunnarsson on the right.

"Kenny Miller, center, Garstead on the left, Joe Mason on the right."

"It's a very competitive formation." Coach Zhang Lu commented immediately 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 we would make it to the finals and they would actually line up a four-back formation. They are fighting for their lives."

"Hehe." Zhan Jun also laughed obscenely, "No one doesn't want to make a splash in the finals. They definitely want to bring something special to this game."

Above the court, in the luxury box.

"Pfft.!"

Isabella generously opened a few bottles of beer and placed them on the table, handing a bottle to everyone present.

Today, not only she and her best friend Aisha are here, but also Gilbert and Maher's team of five people are here.

They will watch the big battle together and hope to witness Arsenal lifting the trophy later.

Gilbert took it, drank two sips, burped, put it down, and looked at Harry curiously, "Harry, did Maher behave abnormally the day before the final?
"Or was he particularly excited this morning, or did he make any special prayer movements?"

Harry was about to drink, but after hearing his question, he put down the bottle and thought for a while, then shook his head and said, "It seems not. He has always been normal and often jokes with us."

"So confident?" Gilbert looked at the court and smiled.

"It should be." Davis had just had a private chat with Maher not long ago and confirmed: "He has always been very confident in this kind of game, as if he never believes that he can lose an important game.

“Plus, the players have seen a lot of big scenes now, so they may be more calm in all aspects.

"I've never heard him talk about what would happen if he couldn't win the championship."

"Yes." Isabella curled her lips helplessly and continued, "Except for rejecting my invitation to the Ferris wheel, he never seems to say these words."

"Haha." Aisha laughed at the side, "So have you booked the ticket?"

"I have booked it." Isabella nodded and said with a smile, "When he wins this game, I will take him with me."

On the other side, Safina smelled the gossip and quickly came over to chat with the two sisters.

As for Jose and Lewis, who were ignored, they sat in the corner, clinked the bottles silently and took two sips.

"You haven't seen his game, have you?" Jose turned around and asked, just to make conversation.

"I've seen it." Lewis nodded dully, then shook his head, "This is my first time seeing it live."

As if he had guessed what Jose was about to say, he waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I know what level of players they are. I major in sports medicine, so of course I know a lot about sports."

Jose laughed out loud and raised his glass again. "Come on, let's pray for him together."

Lewis nodded and raised his glass with him, drinking only a little at a time. He was old, unlike Jose.

“Beep!”

"Oh!"

Not long after, with two sharp whistles coming from the sidelines, the stadium, which was already about 80% full, erupted in excitement.

The players from both teams are about to take the field, and everyone’s expectations have reached their peak!

"WembleyWembley!!"

The famous Wembley song soon resounded throughout the stadium, and fans of both teams briefly reconciled and warmed up for the game together.

After singing a few more times, everyone in the box couldn't help it.

"Wembley!"

Led by Isabella from the atmosphere group, several older people also raised their hands and stood up, joining in the carnival before the finals, "Wembley!"

Especially those who grew up in the UK feel very strongly about this song.

Amid the cheers, they seemed to have returned to their childhood, watching the Champions League final and FA Cup final here with their families.

"Well, we see that the players on both sides are ready, and the game is about to start!
"Let me introduce you to the two teams in the match. They are Arsenal, wearing red and white home jerseys, and Cardiff City, wearing blue jerseys!
"Their final battle site is at London's Wembley Stadium! There was a famous White Horse final here in 1923, between West Ham United and Bolton!

"The Wembley Stadium was designed to accommodate 127000 people at the time, but because the restrictions were lifted and anyone could enter the stadium by paying at the entrance, more than 240000 people poured in.

"They blocked the field and even stood on the sidelines and inside the goal frame."

"As a last resort, police officer George Scollay rode a completely white horse and drove the fans back and forth on the sidelines until they were squeezed out of the stadium, and the game could continue.

"This is also the world record for the highest number of live spectators for a single match. Later, people gave it a romantic name, the White Horse Final!

"Today, there is also a final being held in this great stadium! The winner will hold the Karlin Cup with beautiful patterns engraved on it!"

"."

"Beep!"

In the player tunnel, as the referee blew the whistle, the starting players of both teams walked out of Wembley Stadium holding the ball boys.

Maher was holding the hand of a little boy wearing an Arsenal jersey. Although he was called a little boy, his height was an astonishing 1.7 meters.

If he wasn't of decent height, the pre-match photo session would be very embarrassing, with the little boy blocking his head, making people think that Arsenal had temporarily replaced a winger.

"The ArsenalCome on you ArsenalThe Arsenal!!"

Walking out of the sunny Wembley Stadium, Arsenal's singing rang in his ears again, which made him withdraw his other thoughts and focus on the game.

Before entering the field, he touched the grass and did two vertical jumps to warm up his body.

Van Persie went to the referee's office for the side selection ceremony, and he went straight to his position, waiting for the kick-off.

During the process, Maher also saw the fighting spirit in the eyes of Cardiff City players and their complex emotions towards him from the inadvertent eye contact.

He knew that this opponent was the one he faced in his first professional game, but he couldn't remember the players.

They probably remember him and are probably surprised at how fast he has improved over the past year.

But unfortunately, now is not the time to reminisce, they have to have a real championship showdown.

Soon, Van Persie ran back to his position with the ball, probably having won the serve in the first half.

When the game was about to start, the whole stadium became silent and everyone looked at the referee in the middle of the field.

"10!"

At this time, numbers appeared on the big screens on both sides of the venue.

The fans of both teams quickly understood and shouted along with the numbers, "98765!"

When they shouted 5, Maher took a deep breath, raised his head, and showed a look of desire for the opponent's goal.

He has entered the fighting state, and next, he hopes to lead the team to victory with goals.

"4321!!!"

"Beep!!"

"Oh!"

The moment the referee blew the whistle, Van Persie kicked the ball back out of the center circle, then turned and rushed into Cardiff City's half.

Maher's emotions instantly rose to a higher level. He moved his powerful thighs and rushed towards the opponent's midfielder.

Arteta, who was holding the ball, seemed to understand. He took two steps back, turned quickly, and kicked a half-high ball.

Let’s do the same routine again!
The Cardiff City players were very focused and were already familiar with this kick-off tactic that had already appeared once in the Champions League.

"Bang!!"

Their center back Hudson rushed in front of Maher and cleared the ball towards Arsenal's half with a diving header.

"Oh!" This quickly caused Cardiff City fans to shout. Any beautiful handling of the ball in the final would receive applause and cheers from their own fans.

Maher smiled and gave Arteta a thumbs up, then turned and went to his seat.

"Press, press, press!!"

Unexpectedly, Cardiff City's defense line was very determined. After seeing the ball reach Arsenal's half, they quickly moved forward and raised the offside line.

He could only run after him and soon arrived near the midfield line.

"Boom!"

Then he saw the opponent's three forwards and three midfielders rushing towards Arsenal's backcourt and applying high pressure.

There were only four defenders to stand against him, Van Persie and Gervinho.

Very hardworking.

But think about it, if he was a Cardiff City player, and as a Championship team reached the League Cup final, it would be strange if he didn't fight to the death with the opponent.

"Oh!"

"Snapped!"

Under the opponent's pressure, Arsenal's backcourt occasionally made some wonderful one-touch passes, but they would occasionally be directly intercepted.

In the second minute of the game, it was Cardiff City's center forward Kenny Miller who took the first shot.

"Ah!" Seeing the football fly over the crossbar, their fans burst into regretful sounds, and then clapped their hands in encouragement, "Pa pa pa!"

"Ah!" Kenny Miller clenched his right fist and smashed it against his left hand, looking extremely excited. Then he jumped and raised his hand to cheer for the other players, "Come on! Guys!!"

"Come on!" A burst of cheering voices of different tones and volumes rang out in the stadium, and everyone was in high spirits.

Maher looked at them and knew that this game would be difficult, but he was not worried.

As long as he has the opportunity to get the ball, he will let the opposing coach know the dangers of using a life-and-death tactic.

The opponent was excited, and he was excited too, waiting to penetrate the opponent's defense like a sharp knife. No one would be soft in this game.

He took a step forward and pushed the opponent's back line back a little.

"Szczesny still uses short passes, they have great confidence in their own skills!
"Mertesacker passed the ball to Kyle Walker on the wing! The opponent's pressing was very fast, and Kyle Walker could only get stuck in position!

"Trying to turn and break through, the ball went out of bounds! Cardiff City's intention today was very clear, which was to keep the ball in Arsenal's backcourt!"

In the commentary studio, after Zhan Jun finished speaking, he turned to look at Zhang Lu, "Zhang Zhi, in this situation, wouldn't it be better for Arsenal to move forward more resolutely?
"If the ball is fought too far back, their goal is always exposed."

Zhang Lu shook his head and expressed his opinion, "For a team like Arsenal that plays possession and offensive football, it is quite necessary to pass the ball from the back.

"Because we see that when their back four is in possession of the ball, one of the full-backs will move forward, so it is a configuration of three defenders and three midfielders.

"If Cardiff want to press them and have a chance to steal the ball, they need to have five or six pressing players.

"At this time, although Arsenal may lose the ball due to a mistake, once the ball is successfully passed to the players in the frontcourt, these 5-6 players will most likely not be able to return.

"So the front court becomes an even-strength attack, with at least one player left, and the threat of this attack is very high.

"Of course, this is a relatively superficial understanding based on the advantages and disadvantages of numbers. How to pass the ball and how to attack in the front court, I believe Arsenal will have more detailed drills in training."

"hey-hey."

Zhan Jun laughed sinisterly twice and joked, "I don't know how he passes the ball, but it's pretty obvious how he attacks."

"Maer?" Zhang Lu guessed what he was referring to and laughed, "Haha, that's true. As long as the backcourt passes are clear, the frontcourt will be left to Maher to break through.

"If you can solve the problem by breaking through, then there is no need for complicated offensive routines. You just need to get the ball in and it's done."

He actually knew very well that Zhan Jun also knew a lot about basketball, he just sometimes deliberately asked some stupid questions and made some silly jokes.

When it comes to the former, he will seriously explain it to the fans watching the broadcast; when it comes to the latter, he will forget his brain and joke around happily with Zhan Jun.

"The ball is out!" Zhan Jun looked at the sidelines, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes, "Will he get the ball?"

"."

On the wing, Maher saw the ball being guided out from the midfield, made a fake run forward, then quickly ran back to receive the ball, pointing at his feet and shouting, “Take it!”

Arteta took one look at him and tried to pass the ball to him, but his passing route was quickly blocked by an opposing midfielder.

"Oh!"

Tazi helplessly knocked the ball back to Kyle Walker, who simply passed the ball to Maher's position. The pass was accurate, but not easy to receive.

Maher came to the place where the football landed, looked back and forth before stopping the ball, and saw a defensive player rushing to grab the ball.

"Snapped!"

The moment the ball stopped, he changed his decision, pointed his right toe at the bottom of the football, and hooked it backwards.

Then, the moment his right foot landed, he pushed off the ground, turned around, and started to speed up, with a very quick transition.

Extraordinary challenge!

Get rid of it without stopping the ball!
Maher's figure was very agile, and the football flew smoothly in the direction of his running. At this moment, he was more like a midfield master, and a fast midfield master.

"Bang!" Unexpectedly, the defender named McNaughton who was defending him reacted quickly. He jumped up and intercepted the ball just before the football passed over his head.

Didn’t pass!
Maher stopped charging forward and quickly shifted his focus to chase back.

If you lose the ball, you must grab it back. If you let the opponent pass the ball to complete the transition from defense to offense, the backcourt will be in danger.

Mahel followed up with two steps and then made a tough block. Since the opponent had to protect the ball, he had no way to hide and could only confront Mahel head-on.

"boom!"

There was a collision sound, and McNaughton's feet seemed to be greased, and he stumbled towards the sideline.

"AahhOh!!" The arrogant voices of Arsenal fans rang out in Wembley Stadium, and many people stood up and cheered at Maher.

Maher retrieved the ball, turned around and wanted to move forward, while looking up to observe the situation on the field.

"Swish!" A fierce tackle suddenly came from the right side, and the opponent's midfielder rushed over fiercely and tackled towards his feet.

Maher wanted to jump, but it was too late. The opponent did not retract his foot after tackling the ball and knocked him to the ground.

His shin bone was hit hard, and he felt a piercing pain, which made him roll over twice while holding his leg.

“Hit, hit.!!”

"Xu Xu~!" As soon as the cheers died down, the dissatisfaction of Arsenal fans rang out. This time, they almost stood up together and spread their hands towards the referee.

The scene was very spectacular, as if everyone was equipped with the same drive system and would perform the same actions when encountering similar situations.

"Beep!" The referee finally penalized the Cardiff City player for a foul, but did not intend to issue a card.

"Hey hey..." This again aroused dissatisfaction among Cardiff City fans. They stood up and pointed at the referee and cursed. They felt that this was not a foul.

Many Arsenal fans did not return to their seats. They were unhappy to see the other side getting justice and started arguing with the other fans.

There was chaos in the stadium, so chaotic that not many fans of either team noticed that Maher had stood up, holding the football and walking around the referee who was arguing with Cardiff City players.

He spotted Gervinho at the far end, saw the gap there, and immediately stood up.

He needs to take the free kick quickly!
This is the final, and any opportunity that may create a goal must not be missed. Compared to putting pressure on the referee to give the opponent a yellow card, taking the lead first is the most important thing.

"Bang!!"

Maher's right foot was at the bottom of the football, and he kicked the ball to Gervinho who had already started to move on the right side.

The football whizzed through Cardiff City's defense and landed on the edge of their penalty area.

Several Cardiff City players who were arguing with the referee were stunned. When they looked back, Gervinho was about to get the ball.

They opened their mouths wide and wanted to complain to the referee, but when they remembered that they had not been given any cards just now and that it would be time to give them out, they turned around and ran away.

Gervinho did not give them this opportunity. After stopping the ball, he looked for Van Persie in the middle.

After taking a closer look, Arteta outside the penalty area seemed to have a better chance.

"Oh!"

He passed the ball back to the empty space at the top of the arc, setting up a position for Arteta.

Arteta followed in two steps, glanced at the goal with sharp eyes, then lowered his head, drew his bow and shot a long shot.

"Bang!!" The sound of a volley echoed throughout the stadium. Arteta even jumped into the air at the moment of shooting. He poured all his explosive power into this volley.

"boom!!"

But the opponent's goalkeeper Heaton stretched out his hand to block the ball, and the football flew back into the penalty area.

Didn't make it!

"what"

"what"

Two exclamations of surprise were heard one after another, the first one coming from Cardiff City fans, and the second one coming from Arsenal fans.

However, they soon saw an agile figure rushing out of the penalty area and receiving the second penalty kick.

It's Van Persie!

"Oh!"

After General Fan stopped the ball, he pushed the ball into the near corner before the goalkeeper stood up. The ball rose along the net and only began to slow down when it reached the middle.

The ball went in!
One to zero!

Arsenal is leading!

“OhYeahhhh!!!”

Inside the huge Wembley Stadium, Arsenal fans stood up with their bodies tensed and waved their arms at a very fast frequency.

In this final full of uncertainty, they were the ones who scored first!
"Beautiful!!" Wenger jumped up on the sidelines, then quickly turned around to look for his partners to celebrate.

"Ha ha.!"

In the corner flag area, Van Persie slid down on his knees along the turf of Wembley Stadium. It was exciting to be the first one to take the lead for the team in such a game.

"Wow!" All the Arsenal team members ran towards him, even Mertesacker and others who were at the back.

Most people slid out on their knees and enjoyed the softness of the Wembley Stadium grass with Van Persie, and the fiery atmosphere in the stadium at the moment.

Maher didn't slide on his knees. After he ran to his position, he just excitedly high-fived everyone.

Of course, sliding on his knees should be reserved for when he scores a goal. If he slides with his teammates, it feels like a waste of passion.

He believes that he can score a goal and help the team get one step closer to victory!
“Nice shot.”

Van Persie praised Arteta when he high-fived him, and said to Gervinho: "Good pass!"

As he high-fived Maher, he smiled and said, "Good fall!"

"Get away from me." Maher smiled and pushed his hand away, and the group walked back happily.

The team is getting closer to its first championship in seven years!

ps: I will finish writing about the competition today, from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed next time.

本月已更新47w，目标54万+盟主加更4*7k，月票加更8*7k。

Please vote, please vote, it will be done!
(End of this chapter)