Chapter 162 The First Round Against Arsenal! Attack!
Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta could only watch from the stands due to age and injuries. On the field, it was Spaniard Nacho Monreal who exchanged team flags and participated in the coin toss with Su Luo. The two didn't communicate much, just a brief handshake.
During the coin toss, fans from all over the world saw the starting lineups for both sides on TV.
The home team, Arsenal, used their customary 4-2-3-1 formation:
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Defenders: Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal
Midfielders: Ramsey, Flamini, Santiago Cazorla
Forwards: Sanchez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud
Union Berlin also used a four-back lineup:
Goalkeeper: Fabianski
Defenders: Pavard, Rudiger, Alex, Ake
Midfielders: Kimmich, Naby Keita, Forsberg, Mahrez
Forwards: Weghorst, Su Luo
Zhan Jun and Zhang Lu analyzed the lineups.
"Arsenal's starting lineup is quite standard. The return of Ramsey and Cazorla significantly boosts their combat effectiveness," Zhang Lu said.
"Cazorla's ability to distribute the ball from the midfield is crucial. He directs Arsenal's attacks."
"Union Berlin, on the other hand, has not opted for a three-back system, sticking with their familiar four-back formation," Zhan Jun added. "Against a team like Arsenal, this match could evolve into quick transitions between offense and defense. A three-back system might allow for more effective counterattacks."
"In a four-back setup, if Berlin's fullbacks can't assist effectively, their flanks could be vulnerable."
After the tactical analysis, Zhan Jun provided some context.
"Arsenal are still in the Premier League title race. Before this game, they defeated the league leaders Leicester City by 2 goals and are currently only 2 points behind Manchester United, sitting in third place."
"In the Champions League group stage, Arsenal won the second half; they defeated Bayern 2:0 and won against Olympiacos and Dinamo Zagreb 3:0 each."
"As their form has improved, their attacking firepower is considerable."
"It's possible that, as Director Zhang said, this game will become an offensive battle with frequent transitions!"
"Alright, the Polish referee's whistle signals the start of the first round of the UEFA Champions League knockout stage!"
"The home team, Arsenal, in their traditional red and white jerseys, kicked off, attacking from left to right. The visiting team, Union Berlin, in black jerseys, played from right to left."
"At the start, Arsenal didn't rush into the opponent's penalty area. They first passed around outside the box to test the defense."
"Union Berlin also played steadily, skillfully organizing their defense."
It was the first encounter between the two teams, and the first 5 minutes were not too intense. As per international practice, both sides made some passes, seeking 1v1 opportunities to test each other's defensive tactics and habits.
Once they had gauged the opposition, the real battle would begin!
Three minutes into the game, Arsenal attempted a long shot from outside the penalty area. Ramsey's effort went just over the bar.
Fabianski, preparing for the goal kick, glanced at the familiar Emirates Stadium, feeling a sense of nostalgia. For a moment, he forgot he was in a Champions League match and felt as if he was back playing for Arsenal in his first game.
However, the slogans from the fans quickly brought him back to reality. Some fans welcomed Fabianski, remembering his contributions to Arsenal. "Welcome home, Lukasz!" they cheered. But others, upset about his departure, held signs saying, "Go away, you traitor!"
Most fans, though, were kind and did not boo him. Fabianski quickly refocused and took the goal kick.
Pickford had been in better form recently and seemed to have become Union Berlin's first-choice goalkeeper. Fabianski's playing time had decreased due to inconsistent performances. Neuhaus chose him for this match mainly because of his familiarity with Arsenal's players and their shooting habits. Judging by his reaction to Ramsey's shot, Fabianski seemed confident and ready.
Only two minutes after Arsenal's shot, Union Berlin responded. Su Luo dribbled the ball in the front court, facing a double team from Ramsey and Flamini. He smirked slightly and activated his "Da Luo Possession!"
"Bloody hell!" Ramsey muttered, sensing danger and charging forward. But Su Luo's speed was beyond his imagination! With lightning speed, Su Luo slipped between them, leaving Flamini in the dust.
Su Luo's breakthrough flustered Arsenal. The whole team had studied his play for months, but they still weren't prepared for his speed. Gabriel and Koscielny rushed forward, only to see Su Luo deliver a perfect through ball in the opposite direction.
"Forsberg!!!"
Forsberg entered the box, not offside! But he was just a half-step too late, and his shot went over the crossbar, failing to test Cech.
Su Luo's through ball elicited gasps from the Emirates Stadium crowd. It was the first time North London fans had seen Su Luo's superb skills live.
"It's a pity! Su Luo's through ball was full of imagination! It threaded through Gabriel's legs!"
"Forsberg probably didn't expect Su Luo to pull that off. He started just a bit too slow," Zhang Lu commented with a smile.
"Su Luo's pass even shook his own teammates."
"Two seasons ago, he was just a pure scorer. It seems this season he's developed some impressive passing skills."
"Yes, according to German media, Su Luo practiced his passing privately last summer," Zhan Jun added, appreciating Su Luo's growth. "He isn't the party animal the media makes him out to be. Su Luo might appear carefree, but he works incredibly hard in private."
If Su Luo heard Zhan Jun's evaluation, he might feel ashamed. He does go to nightclubs a lot.
After a relatively calm start, the game reached the 10-minute mark. Arsenal, playing at home, finally launched a sharp offensive, taking advantage of Union Berlin's slight advance.
"Ramsey passes to Cazorla... Beautifully done!"
"Cazorla kicks the ball to the left! Sanchez is open!"
Neuhaus turned pale. Right back Pavard was a bit slow to cover, and Cazorla seized the opportunity!
Sanchez accelerated, dribbling the ball to the edge of the penalty area in an instant! Rudiger moved in to defend, while Keita and Kimmich desperately chased back. Alex clung to Giroud.
But Sanchez quickly changed direction, shaking off Rudiger like lightning! Just as the ball was about to roll off the bottom line, Sanchez sent a cross!
Alex, initially rushing to defend, now retreated quickly, but it was too late. Giroud leapt high and connected with the ball perfectly!
"Giroud's header!!!"
BANG! The powerful header aimed for the far corner, but at the last moment, a glove stretched out and touched the ball!
"Fabianski!! Fantastic save!"
"Arsenal won the first corner of the game!"
That attack scared Union Berlin into a cold sweat.
In a high-end apartment far away in Berlin, Sane stood up excitedly, then sat back on the sofa with a grin. Arsenal's attack had taken him by surprise, but this was just the beginning!
Oxlade-Chamberlain took the corner kick, and Giroud got to the ball again!
"Giroud! Another header!"
"Just over the crossbar by a little bit!"
"Arsenal's two consecutive attacks were quite dangerous!"
These attacks marked the beginning of Arsenal's aggressive assault. Their passes went behind Union Berlin's defense, constantly threatening key positions.
Under the orchestration of playmakers like Cazorla and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Union Berlin's defense faced frequent crises!
"Fabianski! Another flying save!"
"Luckily, the ball went just wide!"
Sanchez, quite active, passed Pavard again and took a shot!
"Oh, he should have passed! Cazorla was in an open position!"
Seeing his team under great pressure, Su Luo was not content with being on the defensive. Taking advantage of possession, Su Luo almost retreated to the central defense line.
"Goal kick, Arsenal pressing high."
"Huh? Su Luo has retreated almost to the penalty area!"
"He's caught the ball, turned around, and easily bypassed Oxlade-Chamberlain's block. Su Luo is dribbling forward!"
Su Luo activated his "Da Luo Mode"!
Among the active players, Su Luo was most proficient with Ronaldo's playing style. Ronaldo's role in counterattacks was significant, allowing him to quickly dribble the ball away from pressure and use sudden bursts of acceleration to catch opponents off guard, thereby creating passing opportunities.
Su Luo's sudden acceleration caused confusion in Arsenal's formation. Ramsey, who was marking him, was quickly left behind!
Su Luo faced central defender Gabriel. Gabriel retreated, lowering his center of gravity to prevent a breakthrough. Su Luo feinted, pretending to dribble forward but then switched to a pass with De Bruyne-like precision!
"Su Luo, is he going to pass? Beautiful!!! A diagonal pass!"
Su Luo's pass, over 30 meters away, pierced the defense from the left to the right! Mahrez received the ball and, taking advantage of the momentum, passed Monreal and broke into the penalty area!
In terms of ball control, Mahrez is one of the top players in the world, easily in the top 5! His quick succession of touches set him up to face Cech from the right!
"Mahrez, go for the shot!"
"Cech!!! A flying save to block Mahrez's shot!"
The former world number one goalkeeper showed a glimpse of his peak form. Mahrez aimed for the corner, but Cech blocked it!
At that moment, whether Arsenal fans or Berlin fans, and even many neutral fans, all experienced heart rates soaring over 150!
The fast-paced offensive and defensive transitions, the sharp attacks—simply thrilling!
Union Berlin vs. Arsenal, two teams with attacking blood, truly staged a thrilling confrontation!
"Su Luo's pass just now showed such clear thinking! That's exactly how it should be done!"
"I feel, if they keep playing like this..."
Zhang Lu habitually smiled.
"Goals are bound to come!"
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