Turning the Tide 2.0
"Louis heads it over to Giroud!! Beautiful!!! Two to one!! Arsenal take the lead!!"
"Arsenal crafted a beautiful sequence through the middle! Arteta with a precise pass, Giroud flicks it on, Louis heads it over, and Giroud finishes!"
"Schalke 04 is in trouble now. They scored first, but Arsenal have come back with two goals. If Arsenal score another, Schalke 04 could find themselves behind in the group standings due to an inferior head-to-head record!"
"Arsenal's chances of finishing first in the group have significantly increased!"
While the commentators celebrated Arsenal's brilliant play, Schalke Stadium fell silent. Tens of thousands of Schalke 04 fans watched anxiously. This goal not only put them behind but also threatened further damage given Arsenal's momentum.
On the pitch, after scoring, Giroud sprinted towards Louis excitedly. "Thanks, thanks!!" he shouted, grateful for Louis's perfect header which allowed him to regain his position in the starting lineup.
"Your heading skills are really good!" Giroud praised.
Louis grinned, knowing that much of his heading technique was influenced by practicing with Giroud.
On the sidelines, Wenger hugged his assistants, relieved and excited. The recent shift to a 4-4-2 formation seemed to provide Arsenal with a competitive structure. However, Diaby's injury had set them back, causing turbulence within the team. Giroud's role in midfield offered a new solution, allowing Louis to focus on scoring.
"We've found a new approach!" Wenger announced enthusiastically to his staff.
In contrast, Schalke 04 head coach Stevens was frustrated. He was preparing to make adjustments when Arsenal scored again. His assistant asked, "Do you still want to make a substitution?"
"Yes! Absolutely!" Stevens replied through gritted teeth. "Tell the players: Defense! Defense!"
Having beaten Arsenal 2-0 at home previously, Schalke 04 needed to maintain their lead to stay ahead on aggregate. If Arsenal scored another goal, the total score would be tied, but Arsenal would advance due to their away goals advantage.
Stevens chose a conservative strategy. "No more midfielders! Change forwards! Replace Farfan!" he commanded. With Papastathopoulos coming on, right winger Farfan was substituted, signaling Schalke's defensive posture.
The Schalke stands erupted in song, hoping to inspire their team. Fans always fight alongside their team!
Stevens would later regret this decision. With Farfan off, Schalke adopted a purely defensive stance, which galvanized Arsenal. They knew that scoring one more goal would secure their place at the top of the group. So, they launched a relentless attack in the final moments of the game.
In the 87th minute, an exhausted Louis received a pass in the penalty area, managing to send it towards the goal. Substitute forward Podolski was perfectly positioned to score.
1:3! Arsenal had extended their lead, ensuring a head-to-head advantage over Schalke 04.
After the goal, Podolski turned to celebrate with Louis, only to find him lying on the ground, cramping. "Damn, I'm having a cramp!" Louis groaned.
"Arsenal has once again taken destiny into their own hands!!" The North London Evening Standard headline read the next day. This ordinary Champions League group match became significant as Arsenal and Schalke 04 tied on points, but Arsenal led the group due to their head-to-head record. However, they still needed to win their remaining group matches to ensure first place.
For Arsenal fans, securing the top spot in the group was crucial. "We want to go further in the Champions League!" one fan declared in a post-match interview.
While the media and fans were ecstatic, the Arsenal team remained focused. Wenger gave the team half a day off before refocusing them for the next match. "Forget yesterday's victory, let's start over," he told his players.
Victories and defeats quickly become history for players and coaches. The next game is always the most important. Louis knew this well. He understood he wasn't a "superman" and that his current form could easily fade without continuous effort.
After training, Louis planned to stay and practice more, only to find several teammates with the same idea. Giroud, Walcott, Chamberlain, Cazorla, Ramsey, and Wilshere all stayed behind.
Everyone looked at each other, a bit embarrassed. Walcott hadn't expected so many others to have the same idea. It was clear everyone wanted to build a better understanding with Louis, knowing that whoever could connect with him on the field would likely secure a starting position.
Cazorla suggested, "Let's make a schedule. One person stays each day to practice with Louis. How about that?"
The proposal was quickly accepted. Wilshere created a roster, ensuring that Louis had a training partner every day. With this new arrangement, Louis's extra training sessions became even more productive.