Chapter 814 - 146: Trading Blows! Flash Spirit Strike! Wang Shuo Dependency! San Siro’s Gate to Victory! Crazy North London Derby

Just like Modric’s long pass earlier, which allowed Gareth Bale to break into the left side of the penalty area, what about Saha? He was responsible for dropping back to receive the ball. The center forward excelled at holding the ball with his back to the goal and was equally adept at distributing it afterward. Adebayor served as the spearhead at the very front. This gave Tottenham Hotspur’s entire attacking third incredible depth and layering. No matter how they combined or what strategy they used, they could execute it flawlessly.

But there were also issues. Their attack relied heavily on overlapping runs from the fullbacks. Kyle Walker and Ekotto were practically playing as wide midfielders. With a two-goal lead, Tottenham Hotspur was playing with immense confidence and aggressive intensity.

And what about the Gunners? Their inability to maintain possession in the midfield was the critical flaw!

Conceding a goal just two minutes into the match—especially at home, and in a North London Derby no less—had left the players mentally rattled. As a result, the team played with a sense of frantic urgency. Coupled with Tottenham Hotspur’s relentless waves of attacks, the Gunners found themselves completely pinned back. Of course, the most significant factor was the Gunners’ defense, which was genuinely subpar.

Their backline for this match consisted of Gibbs, Vermaelen, Subotic, and Lichsteiner, with Alexandre Song deployed just ahead of them. Yet they still conceded goals. Playing Gibbs offered great attacking options, but his defense was a liability. And Vermaelen? His defense was solid, but his offensive contributions were lacking. Furthermore, shifting formations midway through the season left them with no time to properly gel, resulting in their current predicament.

"Wang Shuo is right!" assistant coach Pat Rice reminded Wenger as he approached his side. "We can’t just let them keep attacking like this. We have to find a way to regain the initiative, especially in the midfield." After a brief pause, he sighed. "Modric is incredibly strong!"

Wenger considered this for a moment before walking briskly to the touchline and calling Walcott over. "They are constantly switching play laterally. You and Hazard need to pay closer attention and be ready to press."

Walcott nodded in agreement.

Wenger then shouted toward Wang Shuo on the pitch. When Wang Shuo looked over, Wenger gestured for him to push further up the field. Wang Shuo raised his right hand to show he understood.

"Mikel," Wenger called out to Arteta next, signaling for him to push slightly forward and mark Modric closely. The opponent was dropping deep? Then press him all the way!

After making these targeted tactical adjustments, Wenger stood on the touchline with his hands in his pockets, observing the match.

In the thirty-eighth minute, Tottenham Hotspur launched another attack down the right flank. Having already tasted success, they knew Gibbs’s side was the weak link in the defense. But Arsenal was prepared this time, with Alexandre Song sliding over to provide cover. Kyle Walker passed to Kranjcar, but the latter had no opportunity to advance the ball and was forced to carry it backward. He glanced toward Modric, only to find the passing lane completely cut off by Arteta.

After a moment’s hesitation, Kranjcar attempted a lateral cross-field pass, looking to switch play to Ekotto on the left wing. This kind of long diagonal switch covered a great distance, but the ball traveled slowly. Walcott was already anticipating it. The moment the pass was launched, he suddenly sprinted forward, darting in front of Ekotto. Leaping before the Tottenham Hotspur left-back could react, he headed the ball away.

The moment he landed, the Little Tiger exploded into a sprint to chase it down. When it came to speed, Walcott was not in the slightest bit inferior to Gareth Bale!

By the time the Little Tiger crossed the halfway line and caught up to his own headed clearance, Wang Shuo was already sprinting ahead of him. Ledley King quickly shifted over to cover Walcott’s side, while Wang Shuo surged straight through the gap between the two center-backs. Seeing Ledley King stop to intercept Walcott, Wang Shuo instantly accelerated and made a diagonal run behind him.

"Theo, here!"

Walcott delivered a perfectly weighted through ball, sending it straight toward the right edge of the penalty area. Wang Shuo raced after it at top speed, initially slowing down just enough to deceive Caboul. Caboul mistakenly thought he could catch up to him. Unexpectedly, the moment Wang Shuo reached the ball, he explosively accelerated. In the blink of an eye, he left Caboul in the dust, taking a touch as he drove into the right side of the penalty area.

Goalkeeper Friedel decisively abandoned his line and rushed out to close down Wang Shuo. But Wang Shuo, having caught up to the ball, unleashed a furious strike. The ball rocketed past Friedel and drilled into the back of the Tottenham Hotspur net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

"In the thirty-eighth minute, the thirty-eighth minute, Arsenal has finally pulled one back! It’s 1-2! Wenger’s targeted tactical adjustments have paid off immediately. Countering a fast break with an even faster break! You have to admit, the Gunners are by no means slow!

"Right now, I have a very strong premonition. In the first North London Derby of the season, these two sides fought to a 4-3 finish. And today, it is highly likely that they’ll engage in another attacking shootout, running up a crazy scoreline once again!"