Chapter 62: We Need Goals!

Chapter 62: We Need Goals! [Fifth Update]

The Champions League draw, which paired Arsenal with Real Madrid, provided Li Mo with quite a bit of comfort over the past few days.

Yes.

The vast majority of people believed Arsenal were facing insurmountable odds.

Family members were busy comforting Li Mo, telling him that there was always next year and the Champions League came around every season anyway.

Both Inzaghi brothers called to tell Li Mo that every professional football player would inevitably experience failure and elimination.

Out on the team's training ground these past few days, the players also seemed indifferent to the Champions League.

The topic of conversation studiously avoided the European competition.

Li Mo was extremely annoyed.

It seemed the entire world believed that Arsenal were destined to be eliminated—that because they had drawn Real Madrid, they would be knocked out just as surely as if they had faced Bayern Munich or Barcelona.

This defeatist attitude, this trembling before a battle had even begun, filled Li Mo with a bellyful of suppressed fury.

However, the Champions League matches would not kick off until late February of next year.

There were still more than two months to go.

Therefore, Arsenal could currently pour all their energy into the domestic competitions.

The upcoming festive fixture congestion of the Christmas period posed a rigorous test for the players of any Premier League club.

While players in the Bundesliga and La Liga enjoyed comfortable holidays, the Premier League remained blazing hot.

This was precisely why, during the latter half of the season, many clubs near the top of the table—such as West Bromwich Albion or Everton that season, teams lacking sufficient squad depth—would quickly fall behind.

Playing seven or eight matches a month meant no team could possibly use the exact same starting eleven from start to finish.

At times like this, the advantage of the clubs with deep pockets and multi-million-pound bench options became astronomical.

Faced with the impending fixture pile-up, especially the upcoming home match against Manchester United, the entire Arsenal squad had to focus their attention squarely on the league.

The historical grievances between Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League era were truly worth writing volumes about.

Although the two teams were not traditional local rivals, the fierce competition between them during the early years of the Premier League fostered a deeply antagonistic atmosphere among their respective fan bases.

However, Arsenal had lacked the strength to contend for the title for several years now, while Manchester United's primary rivals had shifted from Arsenal to Chelsea, and later welcomed the addition of Manchester City.

Arsenal increasingly seemed to have been reduced to the role of title spoilers.

Especially last season, when Manchester United thrashed Arsenal 8–2 at Old Trafford.

Coupled with the summer transfer window, during which Manchester United directly poached Arsenal's captain and star player, Robin van Persie.

This left Arsenal fans in unimaginable agony.

With their talismanic player directly dug out by Manchester United, many media outlets proclaimed that Arsenal had forfeited the right to compete with United altogether.

In pre-match press conferences, Manchester United's players were clearly far more confident than their Arsenal counterparts.

After all, the head-to-head record between the two sides spoke for itself.

In their last eight league encounters, Manchester United had claimed six wins, one draw, and just one defeat.

They held an absolute upper hand in the historical matchup.

Even though this game was away from home, Manchester United still appeared somewhat aggressive.

Sir Alex Ferguson wielded immense influence in the Premier League.

He was perhaps the manager most adept at utilizing media narratives to affect his opponents' psychology.

Back in the mid-1990s, when Newcastle United was challenging Manchester United for the title, Newcastle's manager Kevin Keegan suffered a psychological collapse under Ferguson's mind games, leading to a catastrophic collapse in the final stretch of the season.

After Arsène Wenger entered the fray, Ferguson's primary target for psychological warfare naturally became Wenger.

The antagonistic atmosphere between the two accumulated steadily.

From the "Battle of the Buffet" sparked by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Martin Keown, to the slice of pizza famously hurled by Cesc Fàbregas.

The hostilities between the two clubs had almost reached their absolute zenith.

However, with the rise of Chelsea and Arsenal's gradual descent from their peak, Ferguson's psychological spearhead began targeting other rivals. Moreover, with Ferguson advancing in age, his temper was perhaps not quite as fiery as it once had been.

Consequently, no new large-scale psychological campaigns had broken out in recent years.

Perhaps it was Arsenal's recent run of form that had triggered Ferguson's vigilance, though.

The aging but still formidable Ferguson fired the first shot in the media once again.

"Arsenal? Are you talking about that team whose wins rely entirely on a kid?" Ferguson remarked to reporters.

Wenger was profoundly dissatisfied with Ferguson locking his psychological target onto Li Mo.

"We possess an exceptionally brilliant youngster, but our victories are built upon the collective strength of the team."

Wenger's response appeared somewhat weak.

Yet, this was simply Wenger's hallmark.

Tactically, he might surpass Ferguson in sophistication, but winning matches sometimes required more than just meticulous tactical arrangements.

Faced with a master of mind games like Ferguson, Wenger chose not to escalate the blaze further.

Nonetheless, he also utilized the situation to motivate his players: Manchester United were so arrogant that they simply had to be taught a lesson.

Reporters also sought out Li Mo for his thoughts.

"Is that really what he said?"

Li Mo gave a slight nod.

He revealed no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.

This left the reporters deeply disappointed.

The war of words initiated by Ferguson had been met with no response.

For a time, Manchester United fans rejoiced, madly mocking Arsenal's perceived softness.

"Arsenal will forever remain pinned beneath Manchester United's boot!"

"Oh-oh-oh, Arsenal, where's your mummy? Go cry in mummy's arms!"

Across the internet, the relentless mockery from Manchester United fans made Arsenal supporters grit their teeth in frustration.

There was no helping it.

When your results fell short of your rival's, you simply lacked the voice to talk back.

On December 5th, for the 13th round of the Premier League, Arsenal's home fixture against Manchester United kicked off during the prime local time slot of 7:30 PM.

By 6:00 PM, an hour and a half before kickoff, the Emirates Stadium was already packed to absolute capacity.

This blockbuster clash was an intensely sought-after ticket.

Many local North London Arsenal fans without season tickets found themselves completely unable to purchase entry.

Coupled with the Premier League's highly successful commercial operations, fans flocking to London from all corners of the globe rendered ticket availability agonizingly scarce.

Revenge, breaking into the title-contending pack—these narratives left Arsenal fans feeling a volatile mix of anticipation, excitement, and nervous tension.

They longed to see their team end their losing streak against Manchester United on home turf while continuing their ascent up the standings.

Simultaneously, they dreaded a home defeat to United that might shatter this favorable momentum.

Along both sides of the road leading to the stadium, Arsenal fans waved flags, cartoon illustrations of the players, and various banners to voice their unwavering support.

This was the first time in many long years that Arsenal fans felt genuine excitement and pride in their team!

The Arsenal players gazed out at the crowds lining the streets.

Suddenly, Li Mo stood up, clenched his fists, and declared, "Lads, beat them, and we enter the title race!"

He craved victory.

And who didn't?

Many Arsenal players who had endured the agonizing pain of last season's 8–2 defeat joined in, shouting, "Kill Manchester United! Let's fight for the title!!!"

The players roared in unison.

Inside the team bus, the atmosphere was crackling with fervor.

Wenger wore a subtle smile.

Well, that saved him the trouble of a pre-match speech.

Amidst the excited cheers of the players, the team bus rolled into the stadium tunnel.

Under the flashing lights of the media pack, the players all held their heads high and marched purposefully toward the pitch.

They were going to fight Manchester United to the death on their own turf!

Li Mo cared not a whit about what the other players were thinking.

Nor did he care what Wenger was thinking.

He refused to tremble before the battle; he refused to raise the white flag before a ball had even been kicked.

That would be utterly shameful!

Drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League, people said Arsenal's European journey was over.

Facing Manchester United in the league, people said Arsenal's good run of form was about to be snapped.

Seeing these remarks, even within Arsenal's own dressing room, such defeatist sentiments were far from rare.

Contending for the title?

That phrase seemed entirely too distant for Arsenal.

Certain players felt that simply securing a Champions League qualification spot was more than enough to justify the wages paid by the club.

This infuriated Li Mo.

The suppressed rage inside him was bubbling to the point of explosion.

Therefore, right from the opening whistle, he gave everything he had.

He was brimming with attacking desire.

As his very first long-range shot from outside the penalty area was tipped around the post by David de Gea, Arsenal's home attack, propelled by Li Mo, came surging forward in wave after wave!

The atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium instantly skyrocketed to a crescendo.

"Lee! What a brilliant long-range effort! Not even a full minute into the match, and De Gea is already tested!!"

"The game has barely begun, and Lee has slotted straight into peak form! He looks exceptionally sharp!"

"This is likely tied to the opponent he faces; when he first arrived at Arsenal, numerous media outlets mocked him as 'Van Persie's replacement.' Yet now, Lee actually sits above Van Persie on the goalscoring charts!"

The broadcast cameras cut to a close-up of Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman had meticulously styled his hair with hair gel.

He looked sharp and focused.

"Lee with the sliding shot!! Oh, oh, oh! De Gea! De Gea! De Gea is a god!!"

"De Gea's reaction speed is breathtaking!!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! De Gea preserves his clean sheet! If Manchester United manage to win this match, De Gea will undoubtedly be the primary hero!"

"Barely ten minutes into the match, Arsenal have already registered three shots! All three came from Li Mo, and all three hit the target, forcing De Gea into saves!"

"Especially that last sliding effort—from such close range, for De Gea to still react in time is simply miraculous!"

"Li's confidence is bound to be shattered by De Gea!" declared the commentator from MUTV with vicious glee, naturally relishing such a scenario.

The television broadcast cut to a close-up of Li Mo.

Li Mo, who had been fully prepared to celebrate a goal, stood with his hands clutching his head.

He stared in sheer disbelief at the ball that De Gea had managed to palm away.

Moments earlier, he had met a powerful cross whipped across the box by full-back Bacary Sagna, sliding in to redirect it.

Yet, somehow, De Gea had managed to keep it out.

Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla, and Sagna ran over to pat Li Mo on the back.

"Don't worry, we'll get another chance!"

"Just keep going!"

They offered words of mutual encouragement.

From the opening moments, Arsenal played with incredible fluidity.

They practically pinned Manchester United back in their own half.

This completely unlocked the confidence of the Arsenal players.

From the ensuing corner kick, Laurent Koscielny rose high to header the ball goalward, only for it to sail narrowly over the crossbar.

"Arsenal's fourth attempt since kickoff!"

The commentators gasped in amazement.

"Arsenal's blistering start has left Manchester United's defense looking somewhat panicked!"

"Ferguson needs to do something."

Ferguson indeed could no longer sit still.

He strode to the edge of the technical area, chewing his gum furiously, clumping his fists, and roaring instructions at his Manchester United players.

He was thoroughly displeased with his team's defensive frailties.

They had actually allowed Li Mo to get away shot after shot.

If not for De Gea's supernatural display, Manchester United would already be trailing.

Furthermore, Ferguson realized that this particular combination of Arsenal starters genuinely posed a severe threat in the attacking third.

Giroud provided physical presence and aerial control while holding up the ball well—a fine focal point for the attack.

Cazorla and Jack Wilshere deployed as wide midfielders essentially operated as dual attacking midfielders, meaning dangerous deliveries could flood into the box from both flanks.

Mikel Arteta controlled the rhythm of Arsenal's buildup through the center.

Within this tactical framework, all Li Mo needed to do was constantly hunt for spaces and deliver the finishing blow!

With Wilshere, Cazorla, Arteta, and Giroud all capable of playing killer passes, Li Mo—a striker with razor-sharp movement, sublime predatory instincts inside the box, and exceptional composure in converting chances—was completely in his element.

It was an absolute dream setup for him.

However, while Arsenal could orchestrate magnificent attacking phases, the Achilles' heel of this system lay in their defense.

The midfield structure possessed relatively thin layers.

There were numerous defensive vulnerabilities ripe for exploitation.

Before the match, Ferguson had meticulously analyzed the defensive dilemmas inherent in Arsenal's tactical system with his players.

Yet, while easier said than done, translating theory into practice on the pitch was subject to a multitude of unpredictable factors.

Presently, Manchester United were under immense duress from Arsenal's ferocious onslaught.

The opposition's wave-after-wave pressure forced United into a passive, retreating defensive posture.

Robin van Persie lingered near the center circle.

His regular strike partner, Wayne Rooney, had dropped deep to assist with defensive duties, leaving the Dutchman looking rather isolated.

Under these circumstances, even if the ball were played to Van Persie's feet, he was not the type of player to leave defenders in the dust with raw pace and burst through on goal alone—Van Persie had possessed decent speed in his youth, but at thirty years of age, he no longer relied on pace, nor did he harbor any illusions about trying to physically outrun central defenders.

The modern Van Persie relied on his exquisite shooting technique and his golden left foot.

Yet, right now, the ball wasn't even reaching his feet.

That golden left foot had nowhere to ply its trade.

Wenger also stood at the edge of the technical area.

He looked composed, yet anxiety churned fiercely within him.

He knew Ferguson's team possessed immense resilience.

If United managed to weather the storm and regain their composure, Arsenal were going to be in deep trouble.

He was also acutely aware of his team's defensive loopholes.

This was precisely why Wenger had never dared to make bold proclamations about winning the title—if he possessed a prime Patrick Vieira anchoring his midfield right now, he might boldly talk title contention.

Instead, what he had was Abou Diaby, and even then, a strictly limited-edition, fragile Diaby.

Title contention?

Far too difficult.

For this match, he had placed his gamble squarely on Li Mo.

He was betting that Arsenal would score first!

Once they secured the lead, Arsenal would have much more breathing room to maneuver against Manchester United.

Yet, their relentless pressure during the opening phase had been neutralized by De Gea.

This filled Wenger's heart with a creeping sense of foreboding.

Time was running out for Arsenal.

They could not sustain this high-intensity press indefinitely.

Once their attacking pressure subsided from its previous overwhelming levels, Manchester United would inevitably turn the tables and suppress Arsenal instead.

Goals! Goals! Goals!

We need goals!!

Wenger glanced toward the attacking third.

His gaze locked onto Li Mo.

At that moment, a new shadow was casting itself over the striker.

Kobbie Mainoo! Wait, no—Clive? No, Cleverley!

Everywhere Li Mo moved, Cleverley followed, shadowing him relentlessly, utterly unconcerned with maintaining his own positional zone.

Wenger turned his head to look at Ferguson.

His venerable rival had finally made his move.

"A shadow-marking cancellation?!"

Wenger drew a sharp breath.

The moment had finally arrived.

Cancellation.

Someone had finally deployed a shadow-marking tactic to neutralize Li Mo!

Five updates, twenty thousand words in total!

(End of this chapter)