From Arsenal to the Ball God

”Deng deng deng!”

He wandered up and down the left flank, actively fighting for the ball, relieving pressure on the left-back position.

Kyle Walker might need another two weeks to integrate into the team, so in this match, it’s still Gibbs playing on the left side.

It’s clearly unrealistic to let him face the combination of Nani and Valencia alone. If he doesn’t help with the defense, Manchester United can create at least 3 excellent opportunities from this side.

When it comes down to it, it’s purely up to fate, and Rooney and Welbeck could very well capitalize on such chances to score 3 goals centrally.

He can’t let this happen. He knows that this match should focus on defense first, stabilize the situation, and then seek opportunities for offense.

”Pa!”

In the 2nd minute, he helped Gibbs intercept a ball with a backward chase, sliding from the side to tackle the pass Valencia aimed at Nani.

”Papapapapa...!” Applause broke out at Emirates Stadium as the team’s top scorer engaged in defense, doing the dirty and tiring work, which is worth encouraging.

After getting up, Ma’el’s body also became excited. He actually always valued the contribution to defense, as this reflects the comprehensive value of a player.

If a player can score 40 goals in a season while helping relieve the team’s pressure in the backfield, his value will sooner or later break historical records and reach new heights.

This is what he has always pursued, except initially there was no physical ability to support it.

Now, there’s no doubt he has it.

”Bang bang bang...!”

Quickly, Manchester United threw an offside ball on their right front side and began passing.

Giggs and Carrick came closer, while Arteta and Alexander Song also moved in, forming a four-on-four situation in this zone.

Ma’el, as the left forward, is also the first line of defense during defensive plays, often tasked with marking Valencia.

Gradually, he also started to feel some defensive pressure, as the four Manchester United players are all excellent with their feet, making it very difficult to defend them one-on-one as they continuously move around.

”Boom!”

In the 6th minute, during his follow-up marking, Valencia delivered a crossing ball, and Welbeck nearly scored a header, almost putting it through Arsenal’s goal.

Ma’el’s heart skipped a beat and he only relaxed upon seeing the ball roll out of bounds.

He turned back to his position, glancing at Ferguson as he passed by him, thinking that he intends to wield a knife against Arsenal here.

Then it depends on whose blade is sharper, whose blade has more tenacity.

”Boom!”

In the 8th minute, Arteta won a fifty-fifty ball in the middle and passed it to Ma’el on the flanks.

After receiving the ball, Ma’el looked around, seeing Valencia still at a distance, but Giggs was coming up.

He truly admired this veteran. At 38 years old, he can still play the free role in midfield, maintaining his physical ability exceptionally well.

”Bang bang bang...!”

Ma’el didn’t fear Giggs. He couldn’t compare with Ma’el’s build; Ma’el forcefully cut inside, breaking towards the center right in front of Giggs.

Giggs followed for a few steps, finding himself unable to keep up, then seeing Ma’el approach the central position quickly.

”Scratch!”

He stretched a foot to hook Ma’el’s foot from the side, felling him to the ground with one kick.

”Ouch!”

During the fall, Ma’el complained to the referee, clutching the ball as he fell to prevent a Manchester United counterattack if the foul wasn’t called.

”Beep!” The referee blew the whistle, penalizing Giggs for the foul.

Ma’el sighed in relief, rose holding the ball, and checked the position of the free kick.

The distance is a bit far from the players, but he could try a long shot... He trusts his shooting ability, worth a try.

”Haha!”

In the broadcast studio, Zhan Jun and Zhang Lu burst into laughter at the replay.

This time, Zhang Lu laughed first: ”Ma’el, is he the Premier League player fouled the most this season?”

He’s fouled for a reason, always sticking to defenders and playing around, with a strong build, defenders can’t get past him... Anyone would lose their temper.”

The normal commentary took a turn towards irreverence with ’Anyone would lose their temper’.

As the broadcast replayed the footage, Zhan Jun laughed and joined the banter, ”See, he’s always shifting around in front of others, do you stretch your leg or not!”

”Not doing so feels humiliating, doing so is a foul... His hip is so perky, really too sexy.”

”Hehehe...” Zhang Lu’s quirky laughter made the broadcast atmosphere even more light-hearted.

When Zhan Jun watched the replay again, he couldn’t help but lower his voice, humorously yet seriously exclaiming: ”This is, the temptation of Leon Maerel!”

”Hehehehe...” Zhang Lu’s laughter grew more eccentric, even slightly crazy.

”.....”

”Boom!”

From 30 meters away from the goal, Ma’el unleashed a heavy cannon strike towards the near corner of the goal.

”Poof!” Unfortunately, this shot was too low, hitting directly near Phil Jones’s chin, knocking down this diligent Manchester United defender.

Regrettably, Ma’el sucked in a breath of cold air, patting Phil Jones on the shoulder before turning away.

Phil Jones took over a minute to recover, getting up still coughing painfully, not much different from being struck by Carlos.

Life is tough.

...

As the match time surpassed the 15-minute mark, the probing period ended—real steel-on-steel battling is about to begin.