"Three of Arsenal's main players are absent in this game, which will affect their fighting power at home.
Arsenal's starting 4-5-1.
Goalkeeper: Almunia.
Defenders: Lauren, Seegan, Campbell, Ashley Cole.
Midfielders: Ljungberg, Vieira, Qin Xiong, Flamini, Pires.
Striker: Henry.
Manchester United's starting lineup is also 4-5-1.
Goalkeeper: Carroll.
Fullbacks: Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze.
Midfielders: Ryan Giggs, Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Keane, Ronaldo.
Striker: Rooney.
Well, the game is about to start. Let's enjoy the battle between Arsenal and Manchester United! "
Although Arsenal did not put out two defensive midfielders with conflicting styles, Flamini's strength was not enough to cope with such a battle.
Therefore, Qin Xiong was not in a hurry to attack after the game started. He passed more passes to Flamini to let him adapt to the atmosphere and pressure of the game.
Manchester United's side was a little more conservative because of the away game. Their frontline wingers, Ryan Giggs and Ronaldo, swapped positions for the game.
In the previous match, Cristiano Ronaldo had played on the right flank. Giggs, of course, had played on the left flank, which he was best at. In this match, Ferguson, in order to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from being restricted by Ashley Cole again, let the more experienced Giggs play on the right flank.
When Qin Xiong thought that Flamini was completely in the zone, he began to launch an attack on Manchester United's defensive line.
In the tug-of-war between attack and defense, Qin Xiong's starting position was able to leave Scholes behind. He would have to face the sniping of the two defensive midfielders, Keane and Fletcher, in the middle.
In the 11th minute of the game, Qin Xiong strode forward with the ball and decisively broke through between Keane and Fletcher. Fletcher was blown away by his speed!
But just as he passed Fletcher, Keane fiercely knocked Qin Xiong to the ground.
Qin Xiong rolled on the ground, which was a self-protection move after he lost his balance.
The referee blew his whistle to signal that Keane had committed a foul.
Keane walked over to Qin Xiong's side, his entire body filled with hostility. After Qin Xiong stood up, Keane used his finger to point at a place just past the center line. He coldly said to Qin Xiong in a deep voice, "Stay behind that line. If you dare to cross that line, I will make sure you die miserably!"
Qin Xiong walked away expressionlessly. He couldn't ignore Keane's threat.
But of course, he was not afraid. The reason why he forced a breakthrough was to test the defensive strategy and individual ability of Manchester United's defensive midfielders.
He hadn't fought against Keane or Fletcher in the last match.
It was hard to say whether Keane would target Qin Xiong or not. If it had been Vieira, perhaps he would have also taken his opponent down a notch and threatened him verbally.
That was to make the opponent feel fear, retreat, and cower!
Qin Xiong understood Keane's purpose and was even less afraid.
Arsenal's attacking fluidity in the front field was better than Manchester United's. Furthermore, they were fighting at Highbury, so they had the home advantage.
Keane's technical ability had not deteriorated, but his physical condition had deteriorated significantly. His increasing age and injury made it possible for the Red Devils captain to block Qin Xiong in a small area without much problem. But when Qin Xiong actively avoided him and moved in a wider area, it was obviously impossible for Keane to appear at key points every time in the midfield to contain Qin Xiong.
When Vieira decisively cut in to attack, the confrontation between Keane and Vieira became obvious.
Vieira also consciously provoked Keane and went head-to-head with the other side!
The fiery confrontation between the two defensive midfielders was the epitome of an era in the Premier League. It was the representation of the fierce battle between Arsenal and Manchester United.
In the 17th minute of the match, Qin Xiong and Vieira advanced side by side in the front field. Vieira dribbled to the front and back and passed the ball to Qin Xiong. Qin Xiong was facing Fletcher from the side and Vieira from the front. He raised his right foot and pretended to pass the ball to Vieira. Fletcher didn't dare to rush up to snatch the ball, but his attention had clearly shifted to Vieira. He was worried that Vieira would cut between him and Keane.
Qin Xiong's right foot feinted in front of the football and then he used his heel to pass the ball behind him!
Fletcher was suddenly caught off guard. Qin Xiong immediately cut in from his side and took the lead to break out in a second to shake off his opponent!
The competition on the football field was a race against time!
Pires received Qin Xiong's heel pass on the left side and directly kicked the ball out. After Qin Xiong did a one-two pass, Qin Xiong dribbled the ball directly to the Manchester United defensive line!
Keane did not expect Fletcher to be so easily deceived by Qin Xiong and get rid of him.
His chasing back appeared to be powerless. Qin Xiong was clearly faster than him, even if he dribbled the football.
Ferdinand was as steady as Mount Tai. He did not rush to snatch the ball. He paid attention to Henry's running position from beginning to end.
Qin Xiong, with a determined look in his eyes, made a horizontal dribbling change in front of the penalty area. He quickly ensured that he and the ball were connected and then looked for the best angle to shoot.
It only took three steps to dribble the ball from the left side of the penalty area to the right side of the position. He could not take the fourth step because Keane would snipe him there!
Qin Xiong looked for an opening and suddenly shot a cold arrow. He spun the ball inside and shot out.
The football scurried past Silvestre's side. The Manchester United players turned their heads to look. When they fixed their eyes on it, they broke out in a cold sweat.
Qin Xiong's internal spinning ball shot went around the far post. The football's arc was already obvious, but it was still a little off. When it finally went around the goal, it brushed the outside of the goal post and flew out of the end line.
"Arsenal almost let Qin Xiong open the scoring! Fletcher looks nervous. He was defeated by Qin Xiong and Pires' one-two pass against the wall. This is also a game to test Fletcher. "
A minute later, Ryan Giggs created an opportunity for Rooney from the right side. Rooney headed the ball in front of Nishioka. Unfortunately, his header was too straight and Almunia confiscated the ball.
Objectively speaking, as the core figure of Manchester United's next generation, Rooney's performance this season was more stable and eye-catching than Ronaldo's. However, Ferguson was always full of confidence in Ronaldo. After all, he personally handed Manchester United's traditional and legendary number 7 jersey to Ronaldo.
Two minutes later, Manchester United successfully defended against Pires' cut inside from the left side and spurred a quick counterattack. Scholes, who was a headache for Vieira, broke free from the blockade. After receiving Heinze's pass, he successfully broke through horizontally in front of Flamini. He suddenly sent a straight ball from the right side in front of the penalty area. Ronaldo cut inside from the left side and the explosive Portuguese genius shot the ball towards the goal before Lauren could break free. Unfortunately, the shot was wide!
Manchester United and Arsenal's games were never short of passion and attacking stances.
Vieira's awareness of playing against Keane in this game was very strong. However, the captain did not want to compete with Keane. The two had fought for so many years that individual victory and defeat had long faded away. Leading the team to win was the way of the king!
Keane was very passive when defending. He could not let Vieira go. Vieira took the initiative to go forward. His purpose was clear at a glance: to release Qin Xiong!
He would be the one to contain Keane.
In the 26th minute of the game, Ashley Cole passed a half-high ball to Qin Xiong in the backfield.
Qin Xiong received the ball with his back. Fletcher was slightly nervous as he came forward to close in and snatch the ball.
Qin Xiong used his body to lean against the opponent to resist. The football bounced on the ground and was removed by his chest.
When the football was about to fall under his feet, Fletcher intended to directly steal it. He had just bypassed Qin Xiong to seize the position when he saw that Qin Xiong's right foot did not swing much. Instead, he suddenly used his foot to pick up the falling football!
The football rose into the air again. This time, it flew from the front of Qin Xiong, bypassing his head and flying behind him!
At the same time, Qin Xiong bypassed Fletcher's side and completed his turn!
One went forward, the other turned. The moment they brushed past each other, Fletcher broke out in a cold sweat. Qin Xiong's expression was cold. His eyes were blooming with a surging fighting spirit!
After Qin Xiong used his back to pick the ball past Fletcher, he faced the falling football in the air and once again used his right foot to remove the ball. The football seemed to be glued to his foot. He lifted it as if it was light and extremely elegant!
He dribbled a step forward and decisively sent out a threatening pass.
As his bypass caught Manchester United off guard, in the next two seconds, when Ljungberg cut inside the penalty area, Heinz did not follow him!
Qin Xiong's threatening pass was diagonally over the top and straight!
Ljungberg quickly cut into the penalty area, rushed to the end line, and jumped to complete the header!
Arsenal's wave of attack was fast and fierce. When the Manchester United defender turned around to chase, it was already too late!
How could Henry, in the middle, just watch Ljungberg cut in quickly?
The football was sent to the front of the penalty area by Ljungberg's header. Henry did not wait for the football to fall to the ground and directly volleyed the ball!
Carroll rushed to save, but he pounced in the opposite direction of the football. He went to save the far corner, but the football went straight in from the near corner of the goal!
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