Even though Nottingham Forest was only a newly promoted team and their opponent, Arsenal, was the defending champion, it would not be an exaggeration to say that this match was the most anticipated match in the English Premier League.
Sky TV chose to broadcast this match live across England. Even if they were not Arsenal fans, there were many who were interested in whether this dusty 25-year-old record could be broken.
"Forty-three. This is a very tempting number. As long as Wenger's team does not lose to Nottingham Forest here, they will create a new record. But Arsenal needs to be careful. This is also a honey trap. " Taylor sat in the commentator's box and began to work, telling his analysis of the match through the microphone to the audience. "I don't think Manager Tony Twain will watch his opponent get three points on Forest's home ground."
Andy Gray added, "That's right, he's like a bulldog."
"Andy, that's a very vivid comparison."
The pair laughed.
The two commentators could find time to crack jokes, but the players on the field did not even have time to catch their breath. The moment the whistle sounded, the game entered a state.
The result of the coin toss was that Arsenal got the right to serve. But they had just kicked the ball out for less than a minute before they lost the ball. Of course, Forest did not get it either …
Because he took over Vieira's position, the young Fàbregas had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of organizing the attack. Most of Arsenal's ball had to be passed to his feet, even more so when the ball was kicked off.
But just as Fàbregas stopped the ball, he saw the number 13, George Wood, rushing up from the opposite side.
Twain's task for this match was to watch Fàbregas and help Albertini if he had the strength to spare. Although Fàbregas was still young, and perhaps in the eyes of others, it was incomprehensible for Twain to care so much about the kid. But Twain himself knew the kid's ability. If he did not do anything, he would suffer sooner or later.
Albertini's task was also more focused on defense. After all, Forest's opponent in this match was Arsenal's powerful attack. The league had only started two rounds, and Arsenal had already scored nine goals, winning 4: 1 against Everton and 5: 3 against Middlesbrough.
The starting lineup that Arsenal sent out for this match was basically not much different from the previous two rounds. The goalkeeper was Germany's Lehmann and the left-back was Lauren. The centre-back had not recovered due to Campbell's injury. Cygan partnered with Toure and the left-back was Ashley Cole. In the midfield, Arsenal's four players were Pennant, Gilberto Silva, Fàbregas and Pires. In the forward line were their captain Henry and veteran Bergkamp.
This lineup needed to be full of vigor and vigor, as well as experience. Judging from the strength of both teams, Wenger did not think that the Forest team would be a strong opponent. What made him feel a little uneasy was that Arsenal was playing at Forest's home ground, and according to rumors, Tony Twain valued home matches very much.
In addition, judging from Twain's series of performances before the match, Wenger did not think that the Forest team would allow Arsenal to comfortably set a new record at home.
For this match, he hoped to get the pace into his own orbit from the start of the match. What happened next was very simple. His Arsenal team had always been good at controlling the situation, allowing the game to fall into their own rhythm, into Arsenal's rhythm …
However, it was clear that Tang En understood this very well. From the very beginning, he had no intention of surrendering the rhythm of the match to the opponent. Didn't Arsenal like to control the situation? Didn't they emphasize beautiful football? My team doesn't have any other abilities, but they're first-rate at causing destruction!
George Wood's physique was excellent, so he was put in charge of destruction. He targeted Fàbregas and dealt with him like he did in the youth team.
From the situation in the opening few seconds, Wood did a good job.
The young Spanish player had just stopped the football when Wood rushed in front of him. He agilely dodged and smashed the ball, intending to bypass this menacing opponent. However, Wood's left foot was dragged behind, hooking Fàbregas's foot. The football was smashed, but the player was left behind. The referee's whistle was very timely. The applause from the stands was not for him, but for George Wood.
Who would not like a player who had been nurtured by their own youth team and secured a stable position in the First Team?
Seeing Fàbregas being tripped by George Wood, Wenger glanced at Tony Twain from his seat in the manager's seat. He thought to himself, Will this be the key to the Forest team's tactics in this match?
He decided to observe for another ten minutes.
※ ※ ※
In these ten minutes, the Forest team thoroughly implemented Tang En's "destructive" tactics. He had never thought of overwhelming Arsenal in terms of offense or competing with Arsenal in terms of who had more ball possession or who could pass the ball more times. If Arsenal liked to play comfortably, the Forest team would not let them get what they wanted.
Tang En requested that everyone in the team, other than the goalkeeper, actively press for the ball. They had to start setting up layers of defense from the front field. They must not let Arsenal pass the ball, control it, or dribble it. Otherwise, the Forest team would only be left to chase after the ball from behind.
This was the only way for the current Forest team to compete with Arsenal.
In the tactical preparation lesson the day before, Tang En drew a red line on the tactical board, just in front of the opponent's penalty area. He told the players that this was the Forest team's first line of defense. "Defense starts from the opponent's penalty area." That was what he said, and the players did the same.
Ten minutes. A full ten minutes. When the score of the match was displayed at the bottom of the screen, it was still 0: 0. Arsenal had the upper hand in ball possession, 54% to 46%. Arsenal had two shots, and the Forest team had one. The number of fouls, the Forest team had four, and Arsenal had none.
This simple statistic was enough to summarize what had happened on the field in the past ten minutes.
The Arsenal fans in front of the television did not see the hearty victory they expected, or the typical Arsenal style of play. Mistakes, fouls, the whistle that interrupted the match from time to time, the Forest fans in the stands singing louder and louder … What else?
Highbury's King Henry's breakthrough from the left, and then cut inside to shoot? Pirès's skillful passing and running coordination with Henry on the left? Pennant's incisive breakthrough from the side? Bergkamp's amazing skills? Ashley Cole's assist from the back?
No, nothing at all.
Tang En was perhaps the person in the world who understood Wenger's trust and high regard for Fàbregas the most, other than Wenger himself. He knew that Vieira's injury might be considered bad news in the hearts of the Arsenal fans, but to Wenger, it was an opportunity for Fàbregas to properly establish his position.
Arsenal's offense had to be initiated by Fàbregas. All the balls in the offense would be given to him first, and then he would decide the direction and method of the offense. Whether it was a long pass to the back, or a short pass to penetrate and advance layer by layer; whether it was to seize the opportunity to quickly counterattack, or to first stabilize and wait for his teammates to support … These were all handed over to the only seventeen-year-old Francesc Fàbregas.
Such a heavy responsibility was not given to someone else just because he was young. Since he had taken over Vieira's position on the field, he had to fulfill Vieira's responsibilities.
Although Fàbregas did not score in Arsenal's first two rounds of victories, his role on the field was clear for all to see. There were already some media outlets who could not wait to put the title of "Vieira's successor" on the Spanish lad's head.
Tang En asked George Wood to implement a man to man defense against Fàbregas. No matter where the man was, as long as he received the ball, he had to rush up immediately without fear of losing his position. When Wood pressed up to defend against Fàbregas, Ribéry would have to fill in the middle.
First of all, they could not let Arsenal get into their familiar rhythm. Then, Forest would look for opportunities to counterattack in the chaotic battle … This would all depend on Albertini's standards. Tang En believed in the Italian, just like he believed in George Wood. Forest's first shot in the opening ten minutes came from Albertini's long pass after he had stolen the ball from the backfield.
※ ※ ※
Seeing the development of the game, Wenger could be sure what Tony Twain was thinking in his head. But he did not get up and walk to the side of the field to make any adjustments. Instead, he turned his head to the assistant manager, Pat Rice, sitting beside him and said, "What do you think, Pat?"
"I think Twain's tactics against us are no different from most other opponents." Rice voiced his opinion.
"If the game is only ten minutes long, he's doing better than other opponents."
"Do you want to make any changes, Arthur?"
"No …" Wenger rested his chin on his palm and shook his head. "No, it's still too early. Their tactics also have flaws. Every time that number 13 goes up to defend against Fàbregas, there will be an empty space behind him … Let's continue to observe. If Cesc can't handle it alone, let Dennis help him. "
Pat Rice nodded and noted down Wenger's words in the little notebook in his hand.
(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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