If Ajax were to attack from the left flank, Arsenal would definitely focus on defending their right flank.
On the other hand, Arsenal's right flank defense had the low-key and steady Lauren as the fullback and Ljungberg, who was always running back to defend. This side's defense was definitely stronger than the other side's.
However, Qin Xiong repeatedly attacked from the left flank in the second half. He also frequently moved to the left flank to coordinate with Snede.
In Wenger's eyes, this was unwise.
In a football match, how could there be a need to overcome the opponent's strongest defense to win?
If that was the case, why didn't the superstars try to achieve the feat of 1v11?
Offense and defense were originally a game of cat and mouse. To attack, one had to hide, and to defend, one had to catch. If one was not childish, then what was?
Wenger no longer deliberately paid attention to Qin Xiong. Even if he could occasionally send out an accurate pass, he lacked the "shrewdness" of taking the initiative to attack. Such a commander only had football skills and occasional flashes of inspiration. In terms of the long-term stability of the team's offense and defense system, he was not the best choice.
Ajax's forceful attack on the left flank was not effective, but Qin Xiong was still stubborn. Moreover, he only passed the ball and never passed it!
Although he ensured the fluidity and stability of the offense, he lacked creativity and the acceleration effect of tearing apart the opponent's defense.
When Arsenal put on a stable defense and only focused on counterattacking, Ajax lost the possibility of successfully passing the ball and accelerating forward.
He had to create opportunities with his individual ability, especially when Ajax weakened the number of attackers in the second half.
When the 68th minute of the game arrived, Ibrahimovic failed to receive Snede's pass in the penalty area and was accurately intercepted by Campbell. Arsenal launched another wave of counterattacks!
Ashley Cole bravely stepped forward with a determined look in his eyes. His thoughts were simple: one more goal, Ajax, goodbye!
If they were to win 2: 0 in the away game, Arsenal might not just have one foot in the top eight of the Champions League. Instead, they would have almost secured a spot in the top eight. One had to know that there were only a handful of teams in Highbury who could defeat Arsenal this season. In the Premier League, it would be difficult for them to win even once!
As Ashley Cole strode forward with the ball, Qin Xiong also returned to defend. His eyes were observing the defense in his own half of the field. At the same time, his footsteps gradually slowed down and he turned back to observe the changes in Arsenal's defensive formation.
Ajax's defensive formation was tighter this time. The four defenders were in their positions, and Derong and Galasek were guarding the danger zone in front of the penalty area.
Ashley Cole pressed up and passed the ball to Pires. He wanted to go down, but was completely followed by Grygera. Grygera let go of his concerns because Ajax had an additional defensive midfielder. There would be someone to fill the position in the penalty area.
Pires did not pass the ball to Ashley Cole. He glanced at the positions of Henry and Bergkamp and frowned slightly.
Ajax had increased the number of defenders. When guarding against the opponent's quick attacks, it was very reasonable to cut the opponent's offensive formation and not give the opponent too much space.
Heitinga stood calmly in front of Pires. Pires tried to go past Heitinga. As soon as he made his move, Derong rushed over ferociously. Pires passed the ball to Bergkamp, but Galasek, who was already prepared, intercepted the ball in advance.
Ajax successfully defended!
At this moment, Qin Xiong's eyes focused slightly. He turned around and started to move!
On the sidelines, Wenger's heart skipped a beat. But when he saw Qin Xiong run to the left side of the midfield again, he was slightly relieved. Ljungberg was back at full speed to defend, and Lauren was also in a defensive position.
You're still attacking from the left side?
You've wasted a God-given opportunity!
Silly boy!
Arsenal's quick attack did not succeed. They turned around and Ajax immediately launched a quick attack.
Ashley Cole would not be able to return to his position as long as Ajax's attack was fast enough!
Galasek passed the ball diagonally. The ball went to Maxwell's feet on the flank, and the latter passed straight to Qin Xiong in front.
When Qin Xiong moved to the left side, Arsenal's defensive midfielder, Silva, also moved to this side. If Qin Xiong wanted to attack alone, even if Vieira did not come over to help defend, he would have to face Lauren, Silva, Ljungberg, and the sidelines on his own flank. It would be a four-sided pincer!
But the moment Qin Xiong received the ball with his back, he kicked the ball back, then changed direction and ran to the right front!
He was rational and calm.
In the second half, he had been attacking from the left side. On the one hand, there were no good opportunities in positional play. In fact, the effect of attacking from either side was not much different. On the other hand, as the offensive commander, he affected the whole situation and gave Arsenal a bewitching potion!
Look, didn't Silva instinctively move to this side?
After Qin Xiong passed the ball, he ran to the right side. Galasek kicked the ball and passed the ball back to the direction where Qin Xiong ran.
When Qin Xiong crossed the midfield to the right side of the front field, he was about to encounter Vieira. Again!
Vieira moved toward Qin Xiong and gestured with his right hand to the back to signal Silva not to follow. In this defense, Arsenal was five against four. If the two defensive midfielders were attracted by Qin Xiong alone, then the defensive line would be three against three, and the situation would be very passive.
Vieira's gesture seemed to be silently saying: Don't worry, leave this kid to me!
When the two were about to meet, Qin Xiong did not stop. The outer instep of his left foot met the football rolling from behind. The outer instep gently flicked the bottom of the football. The football bounced behind the two players, slightly over the heads of the two players and fell to the right front.
A rainbow pass!
Vieira did not expect Qin Xiong to make such a smooth and natural move.
However, he had a ferocious look on his face and calmly followed Qin Xiong.
If I let you pass like this, it would be a shame!
When the football passed over the heads of the two players and was about to fall, Qin Xiong and Vieira were neck to neck. Qin Xiong took the initiative to run in the direction of the football. He was sure to be able to touch the ball first, and Vieira was bound to steal the ball after he controlled it.
In the face of the world-class defensive midfielder, Vieira, Qin Xiong certainly knew that it was not enough to get rid of the other party with just a change.
In particular, Vieira did not take the initiative to lose his body's center of gravity from beginning to end.
Therefore, when the football fell, Qin Xiong's second change in possession appeared.
When the football fell, Qin Xiong deliberately took a step forward, and then the football was kicked back to the middle of the midfield by his heel!
Vieira put his foot down. It missed. He was shocked!
He immediately turned his head to look in the direction of the rolling football, but after turning his head, he immediately came to his senses. He gritted his teeth and turned back to chase Qin Xiong.
And Qin Xiong's burst of speed, he had never seen anyone who could catch up with him!
Galasek did not hesitate to pass the ball back to Qin Xiong in the midfield. Straight pass!
At this time, Wenger's eyes suddenly widened on the sidelines. He was frightened.
Arsenal's left defensive zone was too empty!
Ashley Cole did not come back in time to assist. In other words, Ajax's wave of attack was as fast as lightning. He only made two return passes in the midfield.
Qin Xiong controlled the football in the right position in front of the penalty area. In order to fill Ashley Cole's defensive zone, Touré pulled away from Campbell's defensive distance. It could not be helped. It had to be done. Otherwise, he could not restrict Van Der Vaart.
Silva rushed to the middle in front of the penalty area. Of course, his target was Qin Xiong.
Qin Xiong dribbled the football in front of the penalty area and suddenly took a step to the middle!
This step forced Touré to move back to the middle. He instinctively wanted to snipe Qin Xiong in the front.
At this critical moment, Qin Xiong was about to face a three-sided siege.
Touré, Silva, Vieira.
But he was extremely calm. When the three were about to surround him, he made a Marseille spin in the high-speed dribbling!
However, this Marseille spin was not to pass people.
It was to pass the ball at the first moment!
He deliberately increased his strength when he turned to pull the ball. The football rolled past Touré's left side when he was completely frozen in place.
At the same time, a figure followed the football's rolling trajectory and rushed into the penalty area!
The Dutch golden boy, the captain of Ajax, Van Der Vaart!
Single-handedly!
Touré, Vieira, and Silva all looked terrified. Campbell could not put out a nearby fire, and Ashley Cole was in disbelief as he chased after them.
Lehmann left the goal!
At this moment, Van Der Vaart rushed into the penalty area. At the right side of the penalty spot, he did not stop the ball. Without hesitation, Qin Xiong used the Marseille spin to pull the ball to send the ball over. It was extremely comfortable!
Bang!
The Dutch golden boy used his left foot to directly volley. He aimed at the left side of the goal, the far corner!
It was too late when Lehmann made the save. The football shuttled past him like a meteor. When he turned his head to look, he saw the football spinning rapidly in the goal.
Arsenal's goal was lost!
Ajax equalized the score!
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