Before Chelsea's goal, even though Mourinho looked calm on the surface, he was terrified on the inside.
Arsenal's offense was smoother and more composed than before, and their creativity seemed to have risen to a new level. Chelsea's impenetrable defensive line was able to be found by Arsenal. If it had been a top-tier team, it would have been a fool's dream to find a great chance to shoot from Chelsea. However, Arsenal was able to create a threatening shot in just ten minutes after the start of the game, which in itself represented that Arsenal's offensive firepower had reached a certain level. However, Arsenal did not seize the opportunity. Instead, it turned into a counterattack opportunity for Chelsea to go straight for Arsenal's vital points. This was football. Nothing would happen naturally on the pitch.
A second ago, he was still worried about whether his own goal would be penetrated. The next second, he began to look forward to his players breaking through the opponent's goal. A few seconds later, the young manager threw away his concerns and celebrated wildly!
Wenger's expression was exactly the same as the expressions of Arsenal's players on the pitch: dignified.
Chelsea seized every opportunity to fight back, and they were sharper and more deadly than before. Their counterattack was indeed like a textbook. Perhaps Arsenal could also play with such power if they honed their counterattack for half a season.
But everyone had different philosophies and pursuits.
After the restart of the game, Qin Xiong knew that completing the task he undertook step by step in a game of this level would not have enough impact on the overall situation.
He needed to be more active than usual, running, posture, thinking, and improvising when playing football!
He had to concentrate on creating every offensive opportunity and actively run to get rid of Chelsea's midfield blockade. According to the speed of Chelsea's counterattack, Qin Xiong could not chase back to form an effective defense. Therefore, he had to counterattack on the spot and get close to the opponent's possible players as fast as possible. Then, he could delay the opponent's attack or directly intercept it.
The game was very intense from the start and the pace was very fast. Arsenal's first goal concede forced Vieira to retreat and lean more towards defense to contain Chelsea's counterattack storm.
Chelsea's offense was layered. If Drogba had a chance to move forward, he would definitely challenge Sendros one-on-one. If there was no such opportunity, Drogba would act as the fulcrum of the offense, creating opportunities for the winger, Gudjohnsen, or Lampard to plug in and attack.
Sendros was highly focused and didn't suffer any losses in the three direct confrontations with Drogba. However, being overly focused and attacked by his opponent made him more and more nervous.
On Arsenal's side, Pirès and Ljungberg began to play a role in breaking forward on the flanks, and then they also created opportunities for Qin Xiong, who plugged in from the back, or Henry, who was in front.
Qin Xiong plugged in later to attack Chelsea's defensive line, but it was difficult to break through Makelele. Makelele's one-on-one strength was definitely in the top three of all the defensive midfielders that Qin Xiong had experienced!
It could even be said that in a one-on-one, Qin Xiong felt that it was more difficult to break through Makelele than Vieira because Makelele was more flexible and cunning. Being entangled by Makelele was like being possessed by a ghost, and his actions seemed to be out of his control.
The two sides played several wonderful attacks and defenses back and forth. Henry's volley from a small angle in the penalty area was confiscated by Čech, and Drogba's header shot went over the crossbar.
Joe Cole's long shot in the dead corner was confiscated by Lehmann, and Ljungberg's header hit the side net from the back of the penalty area.
Henry saw that Qin Xiong's threat to the goal plummeted. He could see that Makelele's marking of Qin Xiong was very successful. After all, Chelsea played the defensive counterattack. There was no space behind Makelele, and Qin Xiong's choice of breakthrough opportunities could be counted on one hand.
When the 36th minute of the game arrived, Mourinho suddenly frowned on the sidelines.
He saw Henry retreat deep to receive, and then he dribbled the ball forward to attack Chelsea's back waistline!
This was an abnormal move, but it was normal for Henry to do so!
Henry had always been able to serve the team and activate his teammates.
This was the case before Qin Xiong's arrival. When Qin Xiong first came to the team, he had to wait for Wenger to determine how to use Qin Xiong before he could choose a way to play. As the two became more and more tacit, and even became the most efficient duo in the European top league, Henry was already prepared to sacrifice himself!
Activate Qin Xiong!
When he rushed to Makelele's defensive area, Qin Xiong suddenly ran diagonally in the middle of the area where Makelele and Lampard stood. At this fleeting moment, Henry passed the ball to Qin Xiong.
Qin Xiong did not stop the ball. He directly knocked the ball back to the area where Henry was running forward, and Qin Xiong went straight into the penalty area!
In a very narrow range, facing Chelsea's heavy blockade, Qin Xiong and Henry performed an incredible cooperation that Chelsea's players felt.
Henry did not stop the ball, but flicked the ball directly to the front right of the penalty area.
Qin Xiong successfully rushed through between Huth and Gallas from the offside position. The alert Čech abandoned the goal and rushed out to Qin Xiong. Qin Xiong glanced at the other side of the goal before the football landed. He knew that if Henry could run to receive, Henry would face an empty goal!
But Terry and Makelele were both retreating. The two men surrounded the space where Henry could plug in. Chelsea's defensive adjustment was absolutely quick and reasonable.
With no other choice, in a split second, Qin Xiong raised his leg and waited for the football to fall to the ground. Then he deliberately rolled the ball. He hoped that Čech would panic and block the air.
But he did not expect Čech to be as steady as Mount Tai. He decisively abandoned the goal and faced Qin Xiong's close-range shot. He directly lowered his center of gravity and blocked the ball out of the end line with his leg!
Qin Xiong exhaled, then raised his arm to wipe the sweat off his face. When he was ready to attack from the corner, he clapped hands with Henry. Although the attack did not result in a goal, the opportunity was created.
Wenger bent over on the sidelines to express his regret, but his gaze was still firm and fiery.
After a huge sigh, there was a burst of applause in the Highbury stands.
Arsenal attacked from the corner.
Pires went to take the corner kick. After everyone was ready, Pires took the corner kick.
The moment the corner was kicked, Pires cried out in his heart: It's low!
His corner kick was definitely not up to standard. It was a half-high ball, and the landing point was outside the front penalty area line.
Huth, who was defending the front of the penalty area, did not expect Pires' corner kick to circle into the penalty area close to the end line. But he was not too worried because the ball was too low and the landing point was not good.
It was Qin Xiong who was going to snatch this point!
He rushed to the landing point of the football, followed closely by Makelele and Lampard.
They knew that Qin Xiong could not form an immediate attack. Plus, he had his back to the fan-shaped area in front of the goal. If he wanted to pass again, he could only stop the ball, control the ball, and then pass the ball or pass the ball to the receiving point outside the penalty area!
In that case, Chelsea's defense this time would most likely be more daunting than dangerous.
But just as everyone thought so, Qin Xiong did something that made the entire audience feel incredulous.
When the football bounced off the ground and flew toward Qin Xiong, Qin Xiong used the heel of his left foot to knock back the football, which was less than half a meter off the ground!
Makelele and Lampard watched in shock as the football seemed to leap higher after bouncing off the ground. Then, the football bypassed their heads!
They turned their heads and saw Chelsea's defensive players were stunned. Čech hurriedly ran back from the front of the goal, but it was too late!
Touré was undefended at the back. Originally, there were people marking him, but after Pires' corner kick was kicked out, Chelsea's defensive line was readjusted. No one thought that Touré, who was originally impossible to touch the ball at the back, could easily head the ball in at this moment!
The football flew into Chelsea's goal without any obstruction!
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