After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

Early November, Emirates Stadium.

Red and white flags billowed in the stands like burning flames, while deafening songs of "North London Forever" and "One-Arsène Wenger" mingled together.

In the latest round of Premier League matches, Arsenal will host Wolverhampton Wanderers at home.

Having experienced a draw in the previous match, Arsenal are determined to regain the advantage in this game.

Wolves are known for their tough defense and sharp counter-attacks. They started the game with a solid defensive approach, trying to stop Arsenal's attacking surge with strong physical play and a dense defense.

However, the Gunners, playing at home, were in high spirits and firmly controlled the pace of the game from the start.

In the 28th minute, Arsenal's attack on the left flank was thwarted, and the ball was passed back to Rodri in midfield.

This Spanish defensive midfielder, like a sophisticated radar, instantly spotted the huge gap on the right flank when he looked up.

Wolves' defenders were drawn in by Saka, leaving a gap in the flanks.

Rodri did not hesitate at all.

He adjusted his position, firmly planted his supporting foot, tightened the arch of his right foot, and delivered a powerful and precise long diagonal pass.

The ball seemed to have eyes, flying over most of the field before landing in front of Achraf, who was making a high-speed run down the right flank.

"Rodri! Long pass! Find Ashraf! Absolutely accurate!"

The Moroccan Flying Wing is like a cheetah unleashed from its restraints, taking off instantly.

He easily chested down the long pass and dribbled the ball down the right flank at breakneck speed.

Wolves' left-back rushed back, but Achraf's speed advantage was obvious.

He dribbled the ball to the right edge of the penalty area, facing the center-back who came to cover.

Instead of forcing his way down the wing, he seized the opportunity and delivered a perfectly powerful and perfectly curved cross with the instep of his right foot!

The ball, spinning sharply, traced a low, flat arc, bypassing the defender at the near post and flying towards the center of the penalty area!

The moment Ashraf launched his cross, Yan Yuan, who had been roaming around the edge of the penalty area, seemed to activate a radar that could predict the future!

He seized the opportunity when the Wolves' center-back was exposed, launching a highly concealed yet explosive diagonal sprint.

They instantly shook off Wolves' defense.

"Yan Yuan!! Advance!!!" The commentator shouted hoarsely.

He made a miraculous cut into the penalty area.

He leaped high near the penalty spot.

The body stretches to its limit in the air, unleashing the power of the waist and abdomen!

He met the ball head-on with a powerful and precise strike to the lower middle part of the ball.

"Headline!!!" the commentator shouted.

"Bang!" A muffled sound.

The ball flew like a cannonball, whistling through the air, straight into the top left corner of the goal.

The Wolves goalkeeper made a desperate diving save, but the angle was too tricky! He was out of reach.

"GOOOOOOOOOOALLLL!!!!!!!!!" The commentators went completely wild! "Goal!!! Arsenal 1-0 Wolves! Yan Yuan! A spectacular header! Rodri's precise long pass! Hakimi's high-quality cross! Yan Yuan's perfect positioning and top-class header finish! A textbook combination play from the wings and the center! Yan Yuan is still leading the scoring charts!"

The sea of ​​red and white at the Emirates Stadium created a massive wave.

Yan Yuan excitedly rushed to the corner flag area and slid down to celebrate.

His teammates rushed over to hug him, with Ashraf and Rodri excitedly patting him on the shoulder.

Yan Yuan's goal ignited the passion at the Emirates Stadium and disrupted Wolves' plans.

Arsenal pressed their advantage.

In the 35th minute, Arsenal executed a brilliant combination play on the left flank.

After a series of one-two passes between Saka and Cancelo, Cancelo crossed from the byline, but the ball was cleared out of the penalty area by a Wolves defender.

Pepe, the Portuguese center-back, demonstrated his prowess in making runs from deep into the box.

He charged into the edge of the penalty area like a tank and unleashed a powerful shot.

The ball hurtled toward the goal like a cannonball. Patricio made a desperate save, but Pepe's shot was too powerful.

The ball struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the net.

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLL!!!!!!!!!!" 2-0! Pepe! A world-class goal! Arsenal extend their lead!

Just before the end of the first half, Wolves pulled one back from a set piece, with Ruben Neves scoring a long-range shot!

2-1,

In the second half, Wolves tried to launch a counterattack, but Arsenal's defense became more solid.

In the 65th minute, Arsenal won a free kick in the attacking third.

Odegaard took the penalty kick, and the ball entered the penalty area, causing chaos.

Wolves' clearance was not far off.

Swiss midfielder Xhaka is like a powerful artillery emplacement.

He unleashed a powerful shot from just outside the penalty area.

The ball, like a cannonball, spun sharply and whistled as it flew straight into the top corner of the goal.

The Wolves goalkeeper could only watch helplessly as the ball went in.

"GOOOOOOOOOOALLLLL!!!!!!!!!!" 3-1! Xhaka! Victory secured! Arsenal have the win firmly in their grasp!

Arsenal ultimately defeated Wolves 3-1 at home, securing all three points.

Arsenal continue to hold the top spot in the Premier League standings.

Yan Yuan's header laid a solid foundation for the victory and allowed him to continue leading the top scorer list with an indisputable advantage.

……

After the competition, Yan Yuan even went out of his way to find Teacher Li and wrote him a signature, fulfilling his promise.

In the mixed zone, reporters had already surrounded Yan Yuan.

A barrage of flashes erupted, and microphones were thrust out in front of him like a jungle.

"Yan! Congratulations on your victory in this match! That header was beautiful! How does it feel?"

"Yan! Are you satisfied with the team's performance today?"

"Yan! How much trouble do you think Wolves' defense caused you?"

With a victor's smile on his face, Yan Yuan calmly answered one question after another about the competition, his tone humble yet confident.

"That header felt really good, especially after we had a draw in the last round..."

"Hmm... I'm fairly satisfied, but it's a little disappointing that I didn't get any assists."

"It wasn't just me who caused trouble for Wolves; Wolves also put some pressure on us. Both of us performed very well..."

Just then, a slightly gossipy reporter squeezed to the front, a smile on his face.

"Yan, congratulations on your victory. Also... we noticed that a couple of days ago, the media photographed you driving a young woman home at night? Could you tell us? Was she... your girlfriend?"

The scene fell silent for a moment, and the other reporters also perked up their ears, their faces showing a gossipy expression.

Yan Yuan's smile faltered slightly before returning to normal.

A slightly playful yet perfectly polite smile curved his lips as he looked at the reporter with clear eyes and spoke in a gentle voice.

"Thank you for your concern, but I think I should reserve my private time for myself and...that friend. Besides, it's a gentleman's duty to take a lady friend home."

Yan Yuan knew that these reporters would definitely portray Lin Jianwei as his girlfriend.

However, they have not yet confirmed their relationship.

Yan Yuan didn't want the media to put too much pressure on Lin Jianwei.

Therefore, they cleverly avoided the word "girlfriend" and used the broader and safer term "friend".

He thought for a moment and then added.

"I'd rather people focus on my performance on the field, like today, scoring goals for the team and helping them win. That's the most important thing for a player, isn't it?"

Yan Yuan's answer neither denied nor admitted anything.

This approach protected privacy while cleverly steer the conversation back to football itself, demonstrating exceptional emotional intelligence and maturity in handling the media.

The reporters at the scene exchanged knowing smiles and didn't press the matter further. The reporter who had asked the question also smiled and nodded, "Of course! Of course! We look forward to your even more brilliant performance next time!"

……

Shortly after Arsenal's victory over Wolves, two heavy sighs echoed through the world of football.

This heralds the end of a legendary era.

The first news item is...

Rafael van der Vaart, dubbed the "21st-century Cruyff" by fans, has announced his retirement.

The Dutch Football Association has officially announced the following: Rafael van der Vaart, the legendary Dutch midfielder, the first European Golden Boy, and hailed as the "21st-century Cruyff," has officially announced the end of his illustrious professional career after suffering a series of injuries.

Upon hearing the news, media and fans around the world offered their respect and remembrance.

Rafael van der Vaart, a brilliant attacking midfielder, is renowned for his unparalleled ball control, exceptional vision, precise passing, and imaginative shooting.

He rose to prominence in Ajax's youth academy and became an absolute core player for Hamburg.

From his time at Real Madrid to his stints at Tottenham Hotspur, he has always been one of the most elegant dancers on the football field.

His signature outside-of-the-foot passes and long-range shots are like works of art.

He made 109 appearances for the Dutch national team, scoring 25 goals, and was an important member of the Dutch national team's golden generation.

His retirement marked the end of an era of football brimming with inspiration and creativity.

Almost at the same time, another piece of news came like a bombshell.

This has caused a huge shock in the African continent and even in the world of football.

Didier Drogba, Chelsea legend nicknamed "The Beast," has officially announced his retirement from the sport in Ivory Coast.

Didier Drogba's retirement marks the end of an era for a legendary striker who perfectly combined strength, willpower, and leadership.

The most glorious chapter of his career belonged to Chelsea.

At Chelsea,

Didier Drogba became an unstoppable battering ram in Chelsea's attack, helping the team win countless honors with one crucial goal after another, including Chelsea's vital Champions League trophy!

In the 2012 Champions League final, it was Drogba who helped Chelsea score the crucial winning goal.

His physique as strong as an ox, his powerful shots, his terrifying aerial ability, and his "big heart" in crucial moments make him a nightmare for all defenders.

But Drogba's greatness extends far beyond club honors.

When faced with the choice of national team.

Drogba declined the call-up to the stronger French national team and resolutely chose to play for his home country, Ivory Coast.

He is not only the captain and spiritual leader of the Ivory Coast national team, but also a symbol of the entire country.

There is an even more legendary story about Drogba himself.

In 2005, amidst the looming threat of civil war in Ivory Coast, it was the image of Didier Drogba leading his team in a prayer for peace in the locker room after the national team qualified for the World Cup that touched the world.

Drogba used the power of football to call for a ceasefire and reconciliation.

Ultimately, a miracle happened: the two sides in the civil war actually announced a ceasefire!

Drogba proved through his actions the power of football to transcend sport.

He proved why football is the world's number one sport!

Later, he led Ivory Coast to a historic final appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations.

They have competed in the World Cup three times, allowing the flag of African elephants to fly on the world's highest stage.

When these two messages reached London.

Yan Yuan has just finished his post-match physical examination.

He sat on the sofa in the lounge at the Kearney training base, looking at the news notifications on his phone screen about the retirement of two legends, his eyes filled with respect and emotion.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately opened his social media editing page.

He carefully selected two sets of photos:

[This set features classic moments from Rafael van der Vaart's time at Ajax, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, and the Dutch national team, including his signature outside-of-the-foot pass, his passionate goal celebrations, and the glorious moments of lifting trophies.]

[The other set features Drogba's illustrious years at Chelsea, especially his wild celebration after scoring the crucial penalty in the Champions League final, leading his Ivory Coast national team teammates in a kneeling prayer for peace, and the awe-inspiring image of him wearing the national team jersey on the World Cup stage.]

Although Drogba is a Chelsea legend and Yan Yuan is a key player for Arsenal, this does not prevent Yan Yuan from paying tribute to a great player.

He simultaneously posted almost identical tribute posts on Twitter, Douyin, and Weibo:

[A tribute to the legend, Rafael van der Vaart, an artist on the pitch. Your passes were like magic, your shots full of imagination. You defined elegant midfield and are the reason countless people fall in love with football. Thank you for the wonderful memories! Wishing you all the best in your retirement!]

Didier Drogba, a fighter on the pitch, a national hero. You exemplified the passion of football with your strength, and proved with your actions the great power of football to transcend borders and eliminate differences. You are a role model for all players! We pay you the highest tribute! Your legend will never end!

#Van der VaartRetires #DrogbaRetires #Legend #Respect

The post immediately sparked a huge response among fans around the world.

Likes, comments, and shares skyrocketed!

"I'm a Liverpool fan, and like Yan Shen, I also want to pay tribute to Drogba."

"Manchester United fans pay tribute to two legends."

"Drogba is truly a legend; he stopped the war with football!"

"Although I'm a Chelsea fan, I support what Yan said today. He really meant it, and I wish him all the best in his future games."

"In my mind, Van der Vaart is the most elegant midfielder of this century."

"This is the kind of attitude a top star should have: respecting their predecessors."

It wasn't just fans who responded in the comments.

Furthermore, Arsenal and Chelsea FC's official media outlets promptly liked and shared Yan Yuan's post.

Although the two clubs are city rivals, they show each other no less respect.

Even more surprisingly, Didier Drogba himself, who was far away in Ivory Coast, actually left a comment on Yan Yuan's Twitter post.

Drogba (@didierdrogba) replied to Yan Yuan

"Thank you for your words, Yan. They are very heartwarming. You are an outstanding player with a bright future. Keep up the good work and create your own legendary career. Respect! [Tribute]"

Yan Yuan was equally pleasantly surprised to see Drogba's reply.

He replied immediately:

"Thank you for your encouragement, Mr. Drogba. Your legendary career and everything you have done for peace will forever inspire us who come after you! Respect! [Tribute]"

Van der Vaart also forwarded and replied to Yan Yuan's post.

He was the first "Golden Boy" in European football.

In his reply, he also mentioned it to Yan Yuan.

"Yan, thank you for your respect. Your performance on the field is equally worthy of respect. We look forward to the good news of you winning the European Golden Boy award in December."

This scene was captured and reported by countless media outlets, becoming a legendary tale in the football world.

[Player Van der Vaart's interaction level +15%]

Player Drogba's interaction level +15%

Yan Yuan's humility, sincerity, and respect for legends have earned him more fans' favor and respect.

He not only conquered the field with his goals, but also won praise off the field with his personal charm.

On this night of legendary players' retirement, the young Arsenal star paid his sincerest respects to two legendary predecessors in his own way.