Chapter 273 Arsenal’s helpless Adou
Before the seventh round of the Premier League, the "Blue Fox" Leicester City had won six games and accumulated 18 points, ranking first in the league.
The second place is "Blue Moon" Manchester City, which lost an upset loss to West Ham United in the last round, with five wins and one loss, and accumulated 15 points.
The third place is the "Red Devils" Manchester United, which has recently regained its form and defeated Liverpool and Southampton successively, with 13 points.
Fourth is the "Hammer Gang" West Ham United, which has performed impressively since the introduction of Payet this season
Arsenal, who have had a slow start to the season, are ranked fifth.
The showdown between the top and fifth in the league is definitely the focus of this round!
However, earlier in another focus battle, Tottenham faced the menacing Manchester City at home and took the lead in deciding the outcome.
Tottenham returned to the locker room with a score of 1 to 1 in the first half. After Pochettino’s passionate midfield speech, they suddenly burst out with amazing energy in the second half and scored three goals in a row. Directly defeat Manchester City.
This season, Manchester City has had an extremely smooth start.
The most popular player in Europe, De Bruyne, was brought from Wolfsburg to share David Silva's organization to a certain extent. Coupled with the "happy boy" Sterling who transferred from Liverpool, the team's There is also one more explosive option on the wing.
The team's offensive firepower has been strengthened to the greatest extent, which has also led to Manchester City's impressive record of winning five consecutive games without conceding a goal. It is almost unstoppable!
However, in the subsequent strong dialogue, Manchester City showed the confused state of a "pseudo-strong team".
First, they lost an upset at home to the outstanding West Ham United, and then were humiliated 4-1 by Tottenham on the road. Manchester City's state suddenly declined like a cliff.
Unknowingly, Blue Moon, the team that Xia Chuang invested the most in, had suffered two consecutive defeats.
However, while most Manchester City fans feel disappointed, they also think this is the "curse" of the Coach of the Month award.
Compared to the match between Tottenham and Manchester City, which had a somewhat unexpected result, the match between Leicester City and Arsenal had higher ratings.
Before the game, many people made predictions that this game would definitely be very exciting.
Arsenal’s ball control tactics and small-scale passing and cutting cooperation are the best in the Premier League.
Leicester City’s defensive counterattack efficiency ranks first in the Premier League.
The two teams each represent two different tactics.
In the eyes of many people, Arsenal will take the lead in this game, dominate the rhythm of the game, and firmly control the ball at their feet.
Leicester City, on the other hand, is looking for opportunities in the defense, and then kills it with a fatal blow!
With such a focus battle, it is natural to have a good commentator.
Therefore, Sky Sports specially invited the respected Mr. Martin Taylor to be the commentator.
When the deep voice that is extremely familiar to countless Premier League fans sounded, it heralded the countdown to this much-anticipated battle:
“Welcome to the seventh round of the Premier League red and blue battle, the Blue Fox is at home Ushering in the Gunners..."
"Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both sides."
"The home team Leicester City."
In this game, Leicester City still adopted a 4231 tactical formation, and all the main players started.
The goalkeeper is Schmeichel Jr.
The four defenders are Simpson, Huth, Morgan and Fuchs.
The double defensive midfielder partnership is Drinkwater and Kanter.
Two wingers, Albrighton on the left, Mahrez on the right, and Ling Feng in the center.
The single arrow is Vardy!
It is worth mentioning that, except for Ling Feng who replaced Shinji Okazaki, this Leicester City team is already the complete Blue Fox team that created miracles!
And with Ling Feng, a very creative midfield master, this Blue Fox will only become more powerful!
“As for Arsenal, compared with the previous round of games, Wenger has made several position changes”
Arsenal has only introduced players who have lost their main position at Chelsea this season. Hey, the main lineup structure is basically the same as last season.
In this game, Cech continued to serve as the patron saint of the goal line.
The four defenders are Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Monreal.
Flamini and Cazorla serve as the defensive midfielders, with Ergo ahead.
The left winger is "Thigh" Sanchez, the right winger is Ramsey, and the "little tiger" Walcott is in the center!
Lingfeng and Leicester City are very familiar with this lineup of the Gunners.
It is worth mentioning that Wenger chose Tiger Tiger as the starting center instead of Giroud in this game, which is a very targeted tactical arrangement.
Because Wenger knows very well that against Leicester City's two slightly bulky central defenders, the faster Walcott will be more lethal!
Under the rapid passing and cutting, compared to Giroud, who can't move much faster even if his wheelchair is smoking, Walcott can hit the back of the Blue Fox defense at the fastest speed.
However, in Ling Feng’s view, Wenger was a bit too much.
Facing the Blue Fox, which has the highest offensive firepower and counterattack quality in the Premier League, the defensive interception in the midfield is very important.
Once you can foul Ling Feng or intercept the pass directly in the midfield at the moment of transition between offense and defense, you can directly kill the counterattack in the cradle.
However, Wenger did not let Coquelin, the main midfielder, continue to start, forming a double defensive midfielder with Flamini.
Instead, let Cazorla, an organizational midfielder who is not good at defense, play as a defensive midfielder, and then pair it with a defensive midfielder Flamini.
Obviously, Wenger's purpose is very clear, which is to let Cazorla serve as the core of the deep-lying organization, and then control the rhythm of the game through the backcourt, while using long passes for scheduling.
In short, it is to add a stable ball point in the midfield and use offense to suppress the Blue Fox's counterattack.
However, such tactics have advantages and disadvantages.
Especially facing the Blue Fox, who counterattacks very quickly, the risk is very high.
Once Cazorla moves forward or pulls out to participate in the organization and planning, Flamini is the only one left in the huge midfield!
And this "rich second generation" who would have to go back and inherit hundreds of millions of fortunes if he didn't play football well, was once the most trusted "snake oil" of Arsenal and Wenger
However, as After wasting several years in Milan, Flamini, who returned to Arsenal two years ago, is already a veteran who has begun to decline.
The current Flamini is not as good as Coquelin in terms of foot skills and defensive ability.
Moreover, his physical fitness is average, and his confrontation and hardness are not outstanding enough.
Even the running ability that he was proud of in the past has declined a lot.
A weak waist has been Arsenal's biggest problem since Vieira left.
It is also a key factor that has always restricted the team from competing for the championship.
The best defensive midfielders on the market are rare.
However, except for a very few important players of the team, as long as you are willing to make an offer that is difficult to refuse, you can still buy some good players.
Of course, Wenger’s chosen strategy is to rather nurture than buy.
I would rather discover some little monsters and reuse young people such as Coquelin and Ramsey in the team than buy finished stars at high prices in the market.
What's more, the owner of Arsenal Club is not willing to give money!
In the summer of 2009, the Kroenke family of the United States became the largest shareholder of Arsenal.
Over the years, Arsenal, like most American-owned Premier League clubs, operates with multi-shareholder capital, and the pursuit of profit has become the first goal. Not only does the team have a salary cap, but its annual transfer investment is also the least among the BIG6.
Coupled with the debt incurred in building the stadium, Wenger has only been able to discover young monsters and train young people over the years.
Then watch the food and eat, and try your best to play the cards in your hand.
However, that is all in the past.
In the past few seasons, as the bank debts have been paid off, Arsenal's income has been getting higher and higher every year, and its investment has also increased visibly.
And Wenger, who has been holding the piggy bank, is also generous.
Last season, he bought the former Real Madrid No. 10 and European assists leader Ergo with a record transfer fee. Last season, he bought Barcelona’s winger Sanchez, a net investment of two summer windows. Definitely one of the best in recent years.
This can be regarded as the launch of the one-star-per-year transfer policy.
As for this summer window, Arsenal actually has enough reserve funds and can also carry out certain installment operations.
Anyway, buying people in installments has always been Arsenal's traditional skill in buying people.
But why did only one Cech come in during the entire summer window?
There are many reasons, such as there are no good choices in the market, such as the management's poor recruitment ability, etc.
However, in the eyes of many fans in later generations, this was all due to Wenger's character.
First of all, Wenger is used to living in poverty and does not dare to spend lavishly.
As the last Premier League manager of this era, in his view, spending the club's money is the same as spending his own money.
Indeed, for Wenger, who regards Arsenal as his home, every penny needs to be carefully considered.
Secondly, he believes that the current lineup is enough to compete for fourth place.
Moreover, he was unwilling to give up on the little monsters he had cultivated in the formation.
Because, once high-priced new players are purchased in the transfer market, the playing time of the young people in the team will definitely be reduced.
However, in sports competitions, food is the original sin.
Wenger believed too much in the young people in the team, believing that these young people could realize their talents and lead the team to win the championship.
But time has proven that these young people in the formation are the ones who cannot help them.
. .
"Okay, the game starts right away. Whether the Blue Foxes have won an astonishing seventh consecutive victory, or whether the Gunners are back on track to win, will be revealed after the ninety-minute game."
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"Let's wait and see!"
With the referee's whistle, this classic game that is destined to be remembered in the hearts of countless fans kicked off
Just like the major players before the game As commentators and football experts predicted, both sides quickly entered the state after the opening game.
Wearing the golden away jersey, Arsenal firmly controlled the ball and quickly advanced into the frontcourt.
However, facing the Blue Fox's defensive formation, the Gunners did not have a good solution. They could only continue to make moves from the outside in an attempt to stretch the defense and create a larger passing space.
But Blue Fox didn't let them fall down so easily.
Like the decision-maker during counterattack, it is Ling Feng who decides when to press when defending.
As soon as they see Ling Feng suddenly accelerating to grab the ball, other teammates will immediately follow, forming a group of two and double-teaming the ball holder in a fan shape.
Their targets are mainly Arsenal's backcourt organizer Cazorla and the attacking midfielder Ergo who retreats to catch the ball.
These two are technical midfielders with average physical fitness and not good at confrontation.
In the face of the pressing, Arsenal remained calm and used small-scale passing and receiving cooperation and one-shot kicks to keep the ball under their feet.
Possession of the ball is the foundation for Arsenal to gain a foothold in the Premier League.
It’s not just a random grab that will lead to mistakes.
What's more, Leicester City's defensive strategy is like a hedgehog that doesn't offend others.
Only when the opponent crosses the center line and enters the territory of his own half, will he suddenly raise the spikes of his body and launch a wave of pressing.
Once the Gunners' ball carrier moves slightly away, the Blue Fox players will not continue to pursue, but quickly shrink back, keeping the formation tight.
Therefore, the situation of the game switched back and forth between the Gunners patiently carrying out counterattacks and Leicester City stepping forward to grab the ball from time to time.
This season, with the arrival of Ranieri, Leicester City's tactical philosophy has changed.
That is to defend first and then attack!
So, even if they were beaten by Arsenal at half-time at home, the Blue Fox players did not rush to grab impetuously.
Even if this situation continues, eventually making peace with Arsenal is a completely acceptable result for Leicester City.
However, with the constant back and forth, seeing that the pass could not penetrate, it was Arsenal who took the lead and lost their composure:
Seventeenth minute of the game , Sanchez on the left, after passing the ball back to the nearby Ergo, suddenly accelerated and made a diagonal plunge, rushing towards the Blue Fox's penalty area!
Egou, who was on the left side of the penalty area, sent a short through ball with his left foot.
Sanchez's movement is very bad, just in the blind spot behind the right back Simpson.
In addition, Simpson turned a little slowly, and Sanchez took the lead in getting stuck in the penalty area and got the ball.
As the player with the strongest personal ability in Arsenal, Sanchez stepped on a bicycle and headed towards the bottom line.
Then, as Simpson desperately chased after him, he made a move to shoot with his left foot.
Seeing this, Simpson was shocked and stretched out his leg without hesitation, intending to block the shooting angle.
However, Sanchez unexpectedly slammed his left foot!
"Beautiful fake shot and real dunk!"
"Sanchez was in the penalty area, as if he was in no one's land!"
After sending Simpson flying, Sanchez glanced at Xiao Shumei Chel's position almost blocked the entire near corner.
So, with his brain running at high speed, he did not choose to shoot. Instead, he looked at the back point and directly made a small cross with his right foot.
The ball just bypassed the two Blue Fox center backs in the middle and flew to the back of the goal.
And Ramsey, who came in at high speed, before Fuchs stepped forward to make a rescue, he threw his whole body out and made a diving move to attack the goal!
"Cross."
"Ramsey!!!"
The next second, only a "bang" sound was heard, and the ball flew out without any bias. The ground hit Schmeichel Jr. in the face and then bounced out.
Being hit in the face, Schmeichel was so painful that he couldn't open his eyes for a while.
The two central defenders, Morgan and Huth, rushed to the ball immediately, trying to clear it.
At this moment, a sudden change occurred!
A yellow figure rushed to the goal like a ghost, got ahead of the two Blue Fox central defenders, stretched out his foot and poked the ball into the goal!
Behind that figure, there was a big number seventeen printed on it!
(End of this chapter)