From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 312: Chapter 97: Judging the Situation Upgrades to Level 4! The Massacre Arrives! Didier Deschamps’s Elegy! (2)

The race between the two started from the sideline, with both sticking close to each other chasing the ball.

After two steps, Ma’el realized he might not be able to get the ball first and head towards the center, so he sought physical confrontation, leaning his body to the side.

”Whizz!”

Azpilicueta just felt the force from Ma’el’s body when he suddenly stopped and changed direction, bypassing his body and chasing the ball from the outside.

This was completely unexpected for Ma’el, who staggered slightly, steadied himself but found himself two positions behind. Fortunately, he could still pressure Azpilicueta.

At this moment, Azpilicueta reached the ball first, looking at it rolling towards the end line, his eyes filled with surprise and hesitation.

He had just performed a beautiful dodge and then quickly chased the ball from another direction, thinking it would force Ma’el to concede the ball. Unexpectedly, Ma’el was still following behind.

He didn’t lose his balance?

Suddenly, he felt that his moves against those strong forwards were not working at all.

Now, the ball in front of him was undoubtedly a hot potato. Taking the ball and turning might lead to being tackled; kicking it out for a corner would make him look cowardly; guarding the ball out for a goal kick was basically impossible.

”Bang... Bang!”

Azpilicueta ultimately decided to trust his footwork. He heel-tapped the ball with his right foot, sending it behind him, and swiveled with the outside of his left foot to change direction.

McCarthy turned!

Master of evading while back-facing!

”Smack!”

But the foot that Ma’el extended next made everything awkward. After Azpilicueta’s beautiful turn, he found that he had merely spun around and done nothing else.

Ma’el had stolen the ball, having anticipated Azpilicueta’s possible turn and was prepared in advance.

”Boom!!”

He immediately swept a cross ball towards the center without looking, not because of a reckless pass, but because a dizzying feeling arose in his mind, causing his vision to blur involuntarily and his ears to ring.

What’s going on?

Upgrade of Judging the Situation?

Ma’el guessed why, he could feel his brain changing, many things seemed to be shattered and recombined.

He quickly crouched on the ground pretending to tie his shoelaces, almost toppling forward several times, but he camouflaged it as having an unstable back foot weight.

[Skill: Decision Level 4]

[Skill Level: (1/5000)]

[Utility: After extensive research and practice, you seem to understand everything on the field, possessing strong judgment and decision-making abilities in any situation, often making the most correct decision in an extremely short time!]

Decision!

At first glance, it seems ordinary, but upon closer inspection, it’s undoubtedly the most crucial mental ability.

Decision!

It’s about making a firm decision instantly after assessing the situation!

It is certainly the best choice in that situation, the most accurate choice!

The importance of this ability on the field is self-evident, as football is ever-changing, and no one can predict what will happen next.

With the ability of instant decision-making, Ma’el’s way of playing will become more logical, even nearing perfection.

He can better play to all his strengths, avoiding weaknesses, becoming a more mature player!

After all the negative feelings dissipated, Ma’el stood up again, made a couple of small hops, and saw the opposing goalkeeper getting ready to take a goal kick.

It seems a teammate won this point, but unfortunately didn’t score.

”Bang!”

After the goalkeeper’s goal kick, he turned around, ran back a few steps, positioning himself on the offside line.

Azpilicueta looked at him with panic in his eyes, Ma’el had already brought him almost suffocating pressure, now he dared not leave even half a step away.

His offensive capability would be abolished here; just containing Ma’el was already a great success.

...

The first half of the game progressed steadily for a while, past the 30-minute mark, and the rhythm of the attacking and defending of both teams quickened once more.

This was bound to happen, Marseille wanted to press forward to push Arsenal back, but Arsenal never retreated, leaving them no choice.

An alternating round of offense and defense then, to see whose defensive line cracks under pressure first and concedes a goal!

In the 34th minute, Marseille forward Andre Ayew bypassed Jenkinson, who was rotating in for the day, suddenly rushing into the penalty area, creating a threatening opportunity.

”Oh.....!” The long-silent Marseille fans finally saw hope, some standing up from their seats.

Ayew wanted to progress further, but Koscielny’s fierce gaze on the ball under his foot gave him immense pressure.

”Bang!”

Helpless, he could only choose to make a fast-paced ground pass to the goal area.

With anticipation, Ayew looked towards the center, thinking that if anyone touched this ball, it could create an opportunity.

Even after teammate Remi missed the ball, his anticipation didn’t drop. Mertesacker, with his large stature, could possibly make an own goal due to clumsiness.

”Leave it!” But Mertesacker shouted, not only without any intention of kicking, but also reminding the following Andre Santos not to kick.

Unbeknownst to Ayew, Andre Santos had a fuller observation; upon spotting there was no one left or right, he didn’t clear the ball, instead stopped, turned, and took the ball, pushing forward to the midfield.

Ayew’s hope shattered, relentlessly tracking back in defense, he spat on the ground in frustration.

...

”Bang Bang... Bang Bang!”

In the 38th minute of the match, Arteta and Rosicky performed two beautiful wall passes in the center, with the latter then swiftly penetrating into Marseille’s central dangerous zone.