From Arsenal to the Ball God

Just when he couldn’t understand Wenger’s mood at the moment, Wenger turned around and locked eyes with him.

Philip can guarantee that he hasn’t seen this expression for a long, long time. Mr. Wenger’s face, though full of wrinkles, displayed an unexpected vitality and defiance, as if he had returned to the time when he first arrived here over a decade ago.

With a slightly ostentatious lift of his head, the corners of Wenger’s mouth, filled with laughter, trembled slightly: ”In this light, fate has been kind to me.”

”I can’t quite agree with that.”

Philip shook his head with a smile, then spread his arms and rushed forward, ”But a standout performance... is too obvious! It’s really too obvious!”

The two embraced each other tightly; Philip almost tackled Wenger to the ground, but neither cared; they just laughed heartily in celebration.

Behind them, Tsar Arshavin propped his hands on the bench, a few hints of crisis flashing across his somewhat youthful face; he could feel the starting position for left-winger slipping away from him.

”Arshavin.”

Walcott, sitting next to him, turned his head with a smile: ”A strong opponent is here, will this make you quit alcohol?”

Arshavin didn’t answer him, just stared blankly at Mael’s back on the field, calculating his chances in the competition against Mael.

On the other side, in front of the Bayern Munich coaching area.

There was a silence here, head coach Heynckes stood at the edge of the pitch, very close to the position Mael just broke through.

He watched Mael’s dazzling solo performance in this attack up close, even feeling the breeze as Mael dashed past him.

”Badstuber!”

He lifted his head and shouted, then said after the other turned back: ”You need to get closer to Raphinha, guard against his charge, and provide effective protection for Raphinha, understand?”

Watching Badstuber nod, Heynckes then called Raphinha to his side and instructed, ”Defense isn’t your strong suit, don’t let him suppress you, you need to charge up aggressively on offense, press into their half.

”Force him to keep chasing back, consume his energy whilst distancing from our goal, okay?”

Raphinha nodded slightly, turned back to rush onto the field again, arriving at his position.

He inadvertently locked eyes with Badstuber, both expressions showing a slight sense of defeat, somewhat awkward — apparently recalling what he just said.

Trying is like dying... today’s youngsters are truly too extraordinary, their burst speed is naturally made for playing soccer.

”Beep!!”

The main referee blew the whistle to resume the match, Raphinha cast aside other thoughts, ran forward into the front field, prepared to follow the coach’s commands and showcase his talent in the attack.

Badstuber now drifted to a more left-leaning defensive position, leaning behind Mael.

For a moment, he felt this was alright, at least he could hold Mael off, not allowing him to directly turn around and pick up speed.

......

”Bayern’s threatening attack!

”Thomas Mueller has the ball, his overall advantages aren’t too apparent, but he’s very balanced, rarely losing possession!

”Not finding a good opportunity, long pass to transfer, Little Flying Hero Robben now has the ball, he left a regretful scar last year in the World Cup.”

On the field, Robben’s golden left foot rapidly contacted the soccer ball, his feints were mostly large and open, sometimes exaggerated, lacking refined small techniques and direction changes.

Because he’s fast!

”Bang!” Robben, after making a forward pass feint, suddenly cut the ball towards the center, the defending Gibbs clearly struggled, falling behind after just two steps.

”Robben!” Forward Gomez braced his back against Vermaelen, reaching out for the ball, prepared to support.

Robben glanced at the situation on the pitch, seeing Mueller had already started running, and kicked the ball to Gomez.

”Squeak.” Gomez received the ball without stopping, back-facing and flicking the ball with the outside of his foot towards the flank behind him.

There, Mueller charged up quickly, poked the ball into the box with a serious and calm face.

Third-man positioning!

The small tactic worked!

”Bang!”

Mueller, in an elegant posture, pushed the ball towards the far corner of the goal, in the shooting instant Sagna came from the side and bumped him.

The soccer ball bounced toward the far corner of the goal, but slid past about 10 centimeters from the goal.

”Ah...!” Bayern fans on-site clutched their heads, in disbelief.

Mueller, when shooting, had one foot on the ground, after Sagna’s bump fell in the box, noticed the ball missing.

He rolled forward with the momentum of his fall, got up without much regret, chuckling honestly at his teammates, signaling his apology with a shake of the head.

This year, they were in their prime.

......

”Alexander Song possesses the ball!

”He brings it to the center, wanting a quick advance, Rosicky coming back to support him... Rosicky, a beautiful spin! The Czech Republic midfielder has excellent footwork, though often troubled by injuries.”

At the midfield spot, Rosicky executed a wonderful heel flick to get past the rushing Toni Kroos, then drove the ball toward Bayern Munich’s rear field.

When Gustavo caught up, he kicked the ball to Ramsey on the right, who immediately swept it to the right wing to Gervinho.

Gervinho charged with the ball toward Lam, this time adjusting his mindset, excitedly wanting a challenge against the Bayern captain.