From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Oh.....!” Wolves fans were ecstatic, and immediately started chanting their hopes, ”One more goal! One more goal! Three to three! Three to three!”

”I think you’re going up.”

Rosicky, a very cheerful person, kept talking and laughing with Ma’el even when the team was scored against.

Ma’el nodded. He soon saw Wenger submitting a substitution request at the sideline, calling him over, ”The odds are still quite good, but I want to play a safety line.

”Let Arshavin finish this match. You replace Walcott and partner with Van Persie as double forwards, playing more to the left.”

Ma’el had no objections. He quickly saw Walcott come over, exchanged high-fives and then ran onto the field.

”Ma’el! Ma’el....!” The cheers at the Emirates Stadium rose again, and Wolves fans deflated, with their head coach McCarthy showing unabashed fear, furrowing his brow and holding his forehead.

”The monster is coming.”

Wolves defender Zubal stood beside Van Persie, sighing as he worriedly watched Ma’el, ”He’s not even human.”

”Do you need to say that?” Van Persie grinned at him, responding with a question.

...

”Boom boom boom...!”

After Ma’el took to the field, Wolves pulled their formation back even though they were trailing, not daring to engage Arsenal in counter-attacks, only seeking opportunities for counterattacks.

The ball control in Arsenal’s midfield and rear court was relatively smooth. They frequently pushed the ball to both wings, seeking to create opportunities on the flanks, occasionally attempting direct passes through the center.

”Boom!”

”Clang!”

In the 71st minute of the match, Arshavin, who was in exceptional form today, cut inside and fired a low shot, the football hitting the outer post and bouncing out of bounds.

Arshavin already had a flushed face, regrettably slapping his thigh, gesturing to Ma’el and Van Persie in the center, indicating that passing for a shot earlier would have also been a good opportunity.

”No worries.”

Ma’el gestured back to him, recognizing the veteran’s desire to contribute and made a mental note.

His arrival had forced Arshavin out of position, and now he would soon make him leave, so in these last few matches, aim to let him play comfortably.

”Robin!”

He called out to Van Persie, ”I might fall back a few steps later, you push into the space between the defenders then.”

He wanted to create more receiving and breakthrough space for himself, to try out his variation dribbling in the field as this new ability hadn’t been used in matches yet.

”Should I drop back?” Van Persie said slightly uneasy, ”Wolves’ midfield and rear are very dense, dropping back might not get a good opportunity, staying here poses greater threats.”

”I’ll drop back, trust me.”

Ma’el waved him off, his decisions were always firm.

Van Persie had no choice but to nod slightly, starting to move towards space between the opponent’s central defenders.

”Boom.”

In the 74th minute of the match, Ma’el directly received an infiltration ball from center-back Vermaelen while retreating to receive a ball, taking possession and turning, seeing the opponent’s rear court defense revealing a desire for assaults.

He lowered his center of gravity and dribbled forward, the football not only sticking to his feet but with increased variation.

”Ma’el’s dribbling breakthrough, does he intend to directly challenge the opponent’s defense in the center? This is somewhat challenging.

”First one up is Forder, his defensive skills are weak, likely posing little threat to Ma’el; Stephen Hunt and Carl are providing cover behind!

”A series of diagonal changes! Forward breakthrough, rapidly accelerating the pace! Forder left behind!

”He tries to tackle for cover! Ma’el speeds forward continuing, accelerating once more! Wow! He gives Forder no chance at all!

”Now approaching are Stephen Hunt and Carl, positioning left and right, denying Ma’el a one-on-one opportunity, they’re going for a trap!”

On the field, facing a defensive sandwich between two, Ma’el felt even more excited, dribbling directly between the two.

He focused all his attention on the football at his feet, after reaching them, taking a step sideways to the right with his body leaning rightwards implying a rightward break.

Stephen Hunt and Carl didn’t underestimate, both pressed on Ma’el while closing the gap between them.

”Boom...snap!”

Yet after Ma’el took another rightward step, he suddenly changed direction towards variation between them and surged into the gap between them.

In a space barely allowing a football, he slipped through sideways, flashing past in an instant, leaving the two behind.

Passed two players consecutively!

”Top-notch!!”

In the broadcast room, Zhan Jun couldn’t help but exclaim, ”In such a densely defended central area, he’s consecutively bypassed three people!

”But this time the dribble is slightly large, upon catching up with the ball, he may have to slow down, with the opponent’s central defenders Zubal and Ward coming up!

”Zubal preemptively tackles, yet another slide tackle! Ma’el clearly avoids physical confrontations, still creating a tumbling impact!”

Ma’el continued forward, upon seeing opponent defender Zubal sliding out, he faked movement forward and suddenly slowed down to stop.

Variation doesn’t merely quicken the pace, slowing down pace, even abrupt stopping are included!

Zubal slid to a miss completely embarrassed, quickly supported on hands to rise, enclosing towards Ma’el, yet he’d already accelerated again towards their penalty area.

”Snap! Boom! Snap!”

At this moment, Ma’el felt extraordinarily nimble in his body, seemingly acquiring Hazard’s ability for agile maneuvers constantly changing dribbling speed, coupled with burst strength rendered him unfathomable.