Arsenal tried to regain the initiative in the match within five minutes of the start of the second half. Henry was more active than in the first half, frequently going to the flank to seek cooperation with Pires and then trying to break through from the flank. They almost succeeded once. Henry and Pires did a two-on-one cooperation on the flank and then cut into the penalty area. Matthew Upson, who came up to defend against him, slipped when facing Henry and suddenly fell!
Henry did not expect such a sudden situation. As a result, he shot the ball into the stands at the back.
The Nottingham Forest people gasped. Even Tang En, who was sitting in the manager's seat, was so shocked that he almost jumped up.
Upson climbed up from the ground and turned to look at the goal in shock. Hierro came up and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.
On Arsenal's side, Henry held his head in his hands. He did not expect his ball to fly. When Upson fell, there was only the Forest goalkeeper and the huge goal in front of him. Such an opportunity was in the bag during normal training or even in a match.
Wenger looked even more regretful than Henry. He stood up from his seat and saw that the ball did not go in. He waved his hands violently and sat back down helplessly.
Arsenal's luck did not seem too good today.
Forest, who had escaped a calamity, launched an attack. Tang En told them during the halftime interval that one goal was the least secure. He had almost hit the mark just now. The Forest players also understood this logic.
Albertini was responsible for organizing the attack. Bergkamp came up to intercept. Albertini did not choose to break through, even though he was confident he could get past the Dutchman in front of him. But he glanced at George Wood, who was standing not far from him.
He remembered a private conversation Tang En had with him after a certain training session.
"Demetrio, what do you think of George?"
"Not bad, very good." His English was still not very good and he could not say too much.
"I believe you can also see that I value him very much. Right now, his defense is impeccable, but he lacks too many things in offense. I hope you can help him. "
"I understand, sir."
…
Bergkamp saw Albertini move the ball to the right and thought he was going to break through. He hurriedly shifted his center of gravity over. His opponent did indeed run that way, but he also passed the ball to George Wood with his heel at the same time.
Wood received the ball, but Albertini was entangled with Bergkamp. What should he do?
When Fàbregas saw Wood take the ball, he gritted his teeth and rushed up. He wanted revenge. He couldn't always let this kid pressure him. You rob me, I rob you!
After receiving the ball, Wood did not know what he should do next. He wanted to pass the ball to Albertini, but he realized that there was someone next to Albertini, so he dismissed the idea. Just when he was at a loss, Fàbregas rushed over!
Without a doubt, George Wood, who was not good at ball control, lost the ball …
"Counterattack! Beautiful! Fàbregas's interception created a chance for Arsenal to fight back. The Forest team pressed forward and did not have time to return to defend! "
Taylor was right. After the Forest players saw Albertini get the ball, they boldly pressed forward, especially on the two flanks. They all rushed up to interrupt the team's offense.
Unexpectedly, Albertini did not pass the ball to Ribéry or Ashley Young, but to George Wood, who rarely participated in the team's offense! This time, Baines and Chimbonda had to run back desperately, just like in sprint training. Their stamina was wasted just like that.
Wood saw a flash in front of his eyes, and there was nothing under his feet.
He lost the ball?
At this time, Wood would not ask himself "what to do" in his heart. Almost by instinct, he quickly turned around and stuck close to Fàbregas, using his superior physical fitness to suppress his opponent, so that the Spaniard could not speed up and shake him off.
Fàbregas was hit by Wood from the side. His body lost balance, and his footwork became chaotic. The football was knocked out of control by him. Hierro came up in time to receive the football, and the ball returned to the feet of the Forest team.
Tang En, who saw the scene in the technical area, shook his head and said to David Kerslake, "Looks like we should strengthen Wood's offensive training …"
Kerslake nodded in agreement. "Compared to defense, his offense is simply amateur-level."
The first time he appeared in an official match for the Forest First Team, he indirectly assisted Freddy Eastwood to score a goal from sixty meters away. That never happened again in subsequent matches and training. People had to admit that Wood might really have been possessed by God that day.
Hierro passed the ball to Albertini, who had retreated to receive. This time, the Italian did not pass the ball to Wood, but directly passed it forward to Viduka. Viduka could not turn around under Touré's pressure, so he could only pass the ball to Ashley Young on the flank. Faced with Ashley Cole's defense in place, the young Young could do nothing. He chose to pass the ball to the right back, Chimbonda, who had plugged in. The Frenchman had just received the ball when his compatriot, Pires, pressed forward, so he could only pass the ball to Albertini in the middle. Albertini's ingenious leak …
After the football made a big circle, it returned to George Wood's feet.
As a result, everything that happened on the field was like a repeat of what had happened more than a minute ago — Fàbregas went forward again to intercept the ball. George Wood lost the ball, but he immediately used his defensive instincts and superhuman physical fitness to intercept the football again …
"I really don't understand! Since when did Wood become the core of Forest Team's organization? " There were disgruntled complaints from the stands. Perhaps they thought that if Albertini had the ball, the team would have long attacked into the opponent's penalty area. Why would there be a need to tangle with the opponent in the midfield without any technical content?
Even Kerslake could tell that Albertini was deliberately giving the opportunity to take the ball to George Wood. He turned his head to look at Tang En. Tang En also looked at him, and then shrugged, indicating that it was not his idea.
In reality, Tang En knew very well that Albertini's actions must have something to do with him wanting him to teach Wood.
What did Albertini think of that?
Tang En propped his chin on his hand and watched Albertini's running figure.
※ ※ ※
Albertini believed that there was no better way to teach someone like Wood than to force him into a situation he had to face. He passed the ball to Wood time and time again, forcing Wood to think about how to pass the ball forward, and not how to pass it horizontally or return it.
Wood received the ball again. He saw Fàbregas pouncing over, so he reflexively passed the ball back.
Albertini waved at him and shouted, "Forward!"
Wood froze for a moment. He was sure that the shout was directed at him, and then he obediently ran forward, brushing past the pouncing Fàbregas. At the same time, Albertini passed the ball in front of him — a two-versus-one!
The Arsenal players did not expect George Wood to dribble the ball and plug in to attack. Even Fàbregas did not react. He looked sideways at Wood, who was still very clumsy with the ball, and even forgot to return to defend at the first instance.
There was not a single person wearing Arsenal's yellow away jersey within five meters of Wood. What should he do now?
Albertini ran up from behind and waved at Wood. "Here!"
Wood obediently passed the ball to him, and Albertini shouted again, "Forward!"
Wood continued to plug forward. The Arsenal players reacted. Forest was planning to break through through the coordination of the two players in the middle!
How could they let them get what they wanted?!
Cygan rushed up to block Wood's running route, and Touré was on the flank to protect Cygan's back at any time. Arsenal's two center backs focused their attention on George Wood, who had suddenly plugged in forward, and ignored everything else at that moment.
Albertini made a feint and suddenly pushed a straight pass from the middle!
No one thought that Viduka would receive the ball in a position that was not offside, and then … a one-on-one strike!
The City Ground stadium burst into deafening cheers. This opportunity … Everyone had the same thought in their minds at the same time: If we lead by 2: 0, we'll definitely win!
Lehmann attacked, and Viduka received the ball and turned around. He did not have time to aim at the goalkeeper's position, and raised his leg to shoot!
A striker's instinct made him choose the angle of the shot, hoping to bypass Lehmann. But when the tall German fell, the tip of his foot still rubbed against the football. The ball bounced a bit, brushed against the goalpost, and rolled out of the end line …
"The ball didn't go in! This is the Forest team's best chance in the second half so far, even better than Henry's chance! It's a pity that Viduka didn't catch it … "Taylor shook his head and sighed." Lehmann saved the team and Wenger. "
Taylor was right. Seeing the team's heart being pierced by the opponent from the middle, Wenger could no longer sit still. He abruptly stood up from his seat and strode towards the field. The team's performance did not improve. The Forest team's oppressive defense completely restrained Arsenal's tactics.
He turned his head and glanced at Tang En, who was also standing by the side of the field. The other was focused on the match and did not notice him.
Wenger walked back again and said to his assistant, Pat Rice, "Let Ljungberg and Reyes go warm up."
His old partner, Rice, could tell that the professor's voice no longer had the gentleness from earlier.
※ ※ ※
Viduka's shot just now only resulted in a corner kick, but it caused Tang En's heart to experience a huge shock. He felt like his heart was about to jump out of his throat at that moment …
Rushing to the side of the field, he realized that the ball did not go in and scratched his head awkwardly.
But he was not disappointed, because he saw a scene full of hope.
Albertini was using his own two feet to lead George Wood forward, teaching him step by step how to pass the ball and how to position himself. Wood also did well.
He rarely emphasized the offense in the middle. The Forest team was a team that focused on offense in the flanks. But if Wood could quickly develop, the middle would also become an important firepower point.
Viduka wasted Albertini's exquisite pass. It was almost impossible for such an opportunity to appear a second time in this match, because an opponent of Arsenal's level was very good at self-adjusting.
But Albertini did not complain about Viduka. Instead, he went up and patted the Australian's shoulder and scratched his short hair. Without saying anything, he ran to the corner kick spot. At the same time, he was also the Forest team's first set piece server.
During the set piece attack, the task Tang En gave Wood was to stay at the back and defend. Hierro and Upson both ran up, while Wood turned around and ran back. Standing in his position and looking at the crowded penalty area, he was still reminiscing about his own insertion.
Tang En wanted him to learn the Italian's way of playing and how he handled the ball. So, he paid close attention to Albertini during the match. He remembered the scene when Albertini asked him to insert but did not pass the ball to him. Instead, he passed it to Viduka's feet. To be honest, he did not expect it, because he did not see Viduka's position at all. He was still facing Viduka, while Albertini's back was facing that direction. How did he know Viduka was in the penalty area?
And that long pass in the first half … it was too accurate! He never played a pass more than 15 meters, and the captain's pass was probably 50 meters, right? It was as if he knew in advance that there was no opponent in that area, knew in advance that Ashley Young would run up, and then calculated the time to pass the ball … How amazing!
Wood almost never admired people or said good things about them. But at this moment, he admired his captain and teacher, who did not speak much English, from the bottom of his heart.
Just as he came back to his senses, the Forest team's corner kick had already been sent out.
Lehmann was not too assured with Cygan, the center back. With two players between them, he sent Albertini's corner kick out. Fàbregas beautifully unloaded the ball outside the penalty area. George Wood was still in the Forest team's half of the field. Now that no one could threaten him, he could finally handle the ball at his feet comfortably …
Henry started to move!
He saw it from the corner of his eye and immediately pushed out a straight pass, accurately sending the football to the captain's feet.
"Arsenal's counterattack! It's very fast! "
The Forest players ran back desperately, but a veteran like Hierro was really powerless even though he wanted to …
"The Forest team's one-on-one shot just now boosted the players' morale. Almost everyone rushed up for a corner kick. Maybe they thought they were already very close to scoring … But now, the Forest team's massive pressure makes the Arsenal players feel that they're closer to scoring!"
"Now, other than the goalkeeper, Darren Ward, the only Forest players in the back half of the field are the full-back, Leighton Baines, and George Wood! Arsenal's counterattack was very fast. Other than Henry, Pennant and Pires quickly followed up. Three against two! Arsenal's great opportunity … not to be missed! "
Taylor shouted excitedly. Twain was not excited at all. He scolded, "Damn it!"
He suddenly remembered one of Henry's goals. Arsenal played Tottenham Hotspur, and Tottenham Hotspur's out-of-bounds kick was headed out by an Arsenal player. Then Henry received the ball in the midfield and began a long-distance attack. Through changes in speed and rhythm, he consecutively bypassed the interceptions of many Tottenham Hotspur players such as Etherington, Carl, and Ledley King. Finally, he shot the ball into the Tottenham Hotspur goal and helped Arsenal win that North London derby by 3: 0.
That was in November 2002. Was he going to replicate it again in the City Ground stadium in 2004?
Ribéry chased after Henry at full speed. Risking a red card, he threw a flying tackle at Henry's back.
Henry, who was dribbling the ball, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He accelerated the ball forward and then jumped just in time to avoid Ribéry's tackle. He continued to move forward!
Everyone in the stands, whether they were Forest fans or Arsenal fans, stood up from their seats.
Would this be another great goal that the Arsenal fans would be talking about? Or would it be a moment of shame for the Forest fans?
"Henry broke through Ribéry! Now the man in his way is George Wood! "
※ ※ ※
George Wood looked up and saw Henry dribbling the ball towards him. He did not appear to be at a loss or panic … or rather, there was no time for him to do such a thing — Henry arrived like the wind.
Fouling? Or …
Henry did not give Wood time to make a choice. He suddenly slowed down, making Wood think that he was going to try to do a feint to pass. His opponent was fooled … George Wood lowered his center of gravity.
Henry was very pleased to see this scene. He was the most depressed person in this game. Arsenal's midfield was completely limited by the Forest team's destructive play and could not effectively support him. It was not easy to get the ball. Forest players were all around him, and it was difficult to break through. Now it was all good … As long as he got past this kid in front of him, the sky was wide open in front of him!
Just as Wood lowered his center of gravity, he saw Henry suddenly poke the ball outside and then accelerate! He overtook him from his side!
"He passed!"
Forced breakthrough!
Wood's reaction was fast enough. The Arsenal fans had just started cheering when he turned around and chased after Henry.
He did not give up. He did not know what giving up meant. He only knew that Tang En had told him to protect the defensive line and not let the opponent easily break through in front of him. I have to do it … This is my job. If I can't even do this, what right do I have to get a salary?
With this thought in mind, Wood pounced towards Henry.
"Oh no! He didn't shake him off! The distance between George Wood and Henry is not widening! " Andy Gray exclaimed. Even he did not expect George Wood's speed to not lose to Henry, the widely recognized speed forward.
"Get past him!!" The Arsenal fans leaned forward and shouted from the stands.
"Stop him!" The Forest fans waved their fists and roared.
Henry was a little surprised to find himself entangled again. He knew it was that number 13, but he did not expect the man to be so tenacious. He decided to change his speed again, so he made a sudden stop and gently poked the ball to the left with the outside of his left foot. Wood missed and rushed over his head. Henry started again, intending to catch up with the ball. He thought that he should have completely shaken off this annoying follower now, right?
No!
After Wood realized that he missed, he similarly made a sudden stop and then turned around, using his fastest speed to shovel the ball.
He did not have any experience or technique that surpassed Henry, but in terms of physical fitness, he would not lose to anyone!
The ball was rolling in front of Henry. As long as he made his way over, he would be able to do it alone …
Suddenly, a foot crossed in front of him. The ball was swept by that foot and flew out!
Damn it!
Who is this?!
When Henry raised his leg and jumped to avoid it, he saw that the person lying on the ground was that number 13!
How — is — this — possible?! Where did he come from? He was clearly shaken off by me! There's no way he can appear in front of me again!
The battle-hardened Henry stared at George Wood with widened eyes. He watched him get up from the ground and stagger as he kicked the ball that was bouncing in front of him out of the sideline … Even though there was no Arsenal player beside him, other than himself. He could completely control it and then seize the opportunity to give Arsenal a counterattack …
"Hero — George Wood!!"
Gray shouted Wood's name with the vigor of cheering for the goalscorer.
When Henry began to speed up to dribble the ball past Ribéry and rush through the center circle, who would have the slightest confidence in this kid and think that he could stop the Arsenal King's pace?
When Henry forcibly broke through him by changing the pace of his speed, who would believe that the kid could still turn around and stick to him?
When Henry relied on a sudden stop and change of direction to let Wood rush past, how many people did not think that Henry had already succeeded?
This kid did it. Although they didn't know how he did it, he shocked everyone. When he defended one-on-one against Henry who dribbled the ball at high speed, he successfully defended against the world-class striker.
When they saw him turn around to shovel from an impossible position and force Henry to jump to avoid, the moment was more exciting than seeing a goal!
The fans felt the same way. "Wood! Wood!" rang out over the City Ground stadium. The shouts were louder than the sound of Eastwood's goal.
Albertini, who had rushed back, hugged Wood and patted him on the back. He kept shouting, "Well done! Well done! "
He, who was still running in front, almost gave up. He believed that there were many teammates who thought the same as him. But George Wood's performance stimulated them, and they sped up their originally slow pace. One by one, they gritted their teeth and ran back to their defensive positions, panting.
In the face of Albertini's praise, George Wood did not have a happy expression on his face, but he was a little excited in his heart.
This feeling is great!
(To be continued. If you want to know what happened next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. COM. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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