After concentrating on the left flank, Arsenal's offense quickly presented the threat that Wenger had anticipated, but it was completely different from the ideal situation.
When Pires seized the opportunity to cut inside the penalty area to tear apart the opponent's defensive line, Robin van Persie did not form a receiving point on the right flank, which led to Arsenal's offense being too extreme. In other words, if the opponent were to counterattack, they could choose any of the two flanks to launch a long-distance attack directly into Arsenal's danger zone.
While considering offense, it was necessary to take into account defense. Offense and defense as one was the foundation of football tactical design and could not be shaken.
However, Sunderland did not seem to realize that they could make the counterattack faster and more accurate according to the situation. If it were a top team, they might have to react more quickly and accurately according to the situation of the game.
In the 36th minute of the game, Fàbregas passed to Pires on the left flank. Pires knocked the ball back behind him in the process of cutting inside. Qin Xiong, who had moved behind him, stopped the ball and controlled the football. Pires continued to cut forward into the penalty area, attracting the attention of Wright and Breen.
Qin Xiong dribbled the ball for a sudden horizontal attack. After passing Miller, he directly sent out a straight pass.
Henry was originally running in a narrow space. After the center back, Breen's attention was diverted by Pires, he relaxed his defense on Henry's side.
After Qin Xiong's straight ball was sent to Henry's feet, Henry half-turned and directly volleyed the ball. The football was firmly held in the arms of the goalkeeper, Davies.
Three minutes later, Pires cut inside again. Qin Xiong passed the ball to Henry from the left side of the front field. Henry retreated and passed the ball to Qin Xiong. Qin Xiong stopped the ball in front of the penalty area and directly raised his leg to shoot. The football brushed the outside of the top corner of the goal and flew into the stands. He clapped his hands, slightly unwilling. The opponent's defensive line was too tight. In order to prevent the football from being blocked, he naturally had to take the risk of shooting from a tricky angle.
Sunderland's defensive system was already a little flustered.
Arsenal's new tactical play showed a certain unexpected effect.
Pires' cover was very effective.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that if Sunderland's defenders did not care about Arsenal's wingers cutting into the penalty area, then Qin Xiong would probably penetrate the opponent's side.
This was actually the area where Arsenal's offense was the most incisive from the very beginning. The center forward acted as a cover, and the wingers inserted diagonally into the penalty area. Then, they received the straight pass from the back row and easily broke through the goal.
However, Arsenal now wanted to create more opportunities for Henry and Qin Xiong. There were many reasons. The most important reason was that Henry and Qin Xiong had a high scoring efficiency. Pirès and Ljungberg were no longer in the same condition and strength as two years ago.
Sunderland could see that Arsenal's left flank was a huge threat!
They were able to open up a gap in the attack from the left flank and create threatening shooting opportunities.
As a result, Sunderland's defensive line began to lean towards the left side.
Van Persie was a little disappointed after 30 minutes of the game, but he still tried his best to run and pose a threat.
However, his teammates would not take the initiative to pass the ball to his side, and he did not have the courage to complain to his teammates.
Until the 43rd minute of the game.
Qin Xiong still ran to the left flank to cooperate with Pires. After Pires passed the ball to Qin Xiong, he decisively cut diagonally into the penalty area.
Sunderland's defense was concentrated in the middle and on the side where Pires cut in.
They wanted to absolutely contain Arsenal's attacks on this side.
Miller, Nosworth, and Robinson also formed a circle around Qin Xiong in the middle and the penalty area.
Qin Xiong was not flustered. He even had a kind of satisfaction that his conspiracy had succeeded.
Playing on the left flank was a must, but it did not mean that it was a must.
If it could be a success, it would be a success. Even if it could not be a success, it would create a result, which was the current situation.
He rubbed the ball on the outside of his right foot and made a 45-degree pass!
The football brushed past the head of the defensive midfielder, Miller, and flew into the penalty area. The Sunderland players turned their heads to look. The defender, Cadwell, could not touch the football that flew over his head.
The goalkeeper, Davies, quickly moved to the back of the goal. He saw clearly that a diagonal curveball was sent out from outside the penalty area, bypassing the back of the defensive line and flying to the back of the goal.
It was not a pass to Pires, nor was it for Henry!
It was for Van Persie!
Perhaps even Van Persie himself was surprised. He did not expect Qin Xiong to suddenly "remember" to pass the ball to him.
His running position was normal, but because Sunderland's defense was lax, his running position to the back of the goal became an excellent opportunity.
The football suddenly flew in front of him. He was at a loss because the football was at an awkward height. It looked high with his head, but he could not reach it with his feet!
Under the eyes of the crowd, Van Persie used his thigh to head the ball into the goal. Instinctively!
Sunderland's defensive line players immediately raised their hands to signal that Van Persie was offside. At least when many of them turned their heads to look, Van Persie did indeed cross the defensive line a little too far.
But the linesman did not raise his hand to signal that Van Persie was offside.
Replay in slow motion. It was a good goal!
"Arsenal equalized the score! The scorer is Van Persie! Qin Xiong's imaginative assist is still as beautiful as a painting. It's too surprising. How could he pass such a ball there? Oh, we shouldn't be surprised. He's Europe's king of assists! "
Wenger smiled on the sidelines and applauded the team's goal.
Although Van Persie did not contribute much other than the goal and his performance was not good, Qin Xiong's assist allowed him to reverse the situation.
Now Van Persie could run wildly to the sidelines to celebrate.
Qin Xiong also ran to Van Persie's side. Van Persie turned around and hugged him. He even carried him on the spot.
As his teammates walked to the backfield together, Van Persie whispered to Qin Xiong, "I thought you wouldn't pass the ball to me."
He knew in his heart that before Arsenal lost the ball, Qin Xiong tried to create a lot of opportunities for him. But because of his own reasons, he either did not grasp the opportunities or missed them.
When the team began to focus on the left side, Van Persie subconsciously felt that he was no longer trusted by his teammates.
But Qin Xiong's pass at the crucial moment was very surprising to him.
Qin Xiong smiled at Van Persie and said, "In your eyes, I'm the kind of person who would shirk the responsibility to my teammates for no reason, right?"
Van Persie was stunned and speechless.
It was not that he was right, but he really did not know what to say.
Qin Xiong laughed and ran to the backfield. While he was joking with him, he was actually telling Van Persie to maintain a good mentality.
It did not mean that you were isolated by your teammates when they stopped passing the ball to you.
Just like now, he had barely touched the ball for the past ten minutes. Suddenly, he scored a goal. Was it not good?
Van Persie was stunned. He lowered his head and smiled. When he raised his head again, his expression was extremely serious. His eyes were full of confidence and his heart was filled with a stronger fighting spirit!
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