Chapter 117: Pendulum + Thunderbolt, Simply a Brace
"Ah! Phil Jones couldn't hold back — there's a scuffle on the pitch."
"Manchester United players are getting a bit heated."
"Balotelli's a true brother! He rushed in when he saw Xia Qi being bullied."
"Xia Qi is calm! Actually Xia Qi is very loyal too.
But his loyalty differs from Balotelli's; he isn't one to shout — he acts directly.
When Wenger was humiliated by Robin van Persie, Xia Qi was the first to respond: he knocked Wayne Rooney flying, and then humiliated the opponent with a goal — that's how he strikes back."
On the sideline, Sir Alex Ferguson's face went pale as he stormed to the fourth official: "Red card! That Italian oaf hit someone — red card!"
In stark contrast, the hot-tempered Ferguson, Arsène Wenger quietly walked to the sideline, put his right hand over his heart, using that gesture to tell his players: I stand with you.
"Haha, George, did you see that? The professor said, 'Let's fight together!' Brothers, let those damned Mancs see what united Gunners look like!"
"Brothers, fight! Let these coarse folks fully understand who the real softies of the Premier League are."
A loud chant rose from Arsenal fans' throats:
"Once the season starts, we are unstoppable; Xia Qi is our everything, Balotelli is your nightmare… Arsenal, march on!"
Xia Qi and Mario Balotelli… completely ignited the passion of every Arsenal supporter; they praised every player on the pitch with song, urging them forward!
On the pitch, when the players clashed, the referee quickly separated Phil Jones and Balotelli and killed the larger confrontation with two yellow cards.
Finally the captains — Wayne Rooney and Mikel Arteta — were called over and told to control their teammates' emotions.
"Don't accuse Xia Qi of scoring to humiliate — did Robin van Persie's embrace not humiliate? I don't concern myself with actions allowed by the rules, but if the rules prohibit something, don't let it happen. Don't make me the deciding factor in the Premier League, OK?"
Most players were veterans and calmed down quickly.
Play resumed!
Humiliated Manchester United players seemed to have gone berserk and switched into rampage mode.
"Manchester United have sped up their attack!"
"Robin van Persie and Ryan Giggs combine, get past Kevin De Bruyne, the ball lands at Shinji Kagawa's feet, Antonio Valencia drops deep and crosses."
"That pass is beautiful; it immediately opens up lateral space."
On the other side Wayne Rooney controlled the ball…
United were in rampage mode, while Arsenal players were pumped up.
Although United used width to stretch Arsenal's defense, Arsenal players tracked back fast.
Rooney had just controlled the ball when Santi Cazorla rushed to close him down.
Rooney wanted to lay it off to Robin van Persie, but Cazorla's marking was impeccable. The England international's touch was too crude; Rooney couldn't shake him.
With no choice, he back-heeled and the ball returned to Shinji Kagawa.
"That defense from Arsenal was very good."
"Ah! That pass from Shinji Kagawa was gorgeous."
Kagawa was once hailed by Japanese media as Asia's top man; at his peak his playmaking was excellent.
He received the ball in midfield, strolled, then suddenly sprayed a long through-pass.
The ball reached the left.
On the left, the veteran Ryan Giggs — left unmarked — immediately took off…
"Giggs, that speed! The blade is still sharp!"
"Wow! He got past Per Mertesacker!"
"Giggs with a change of pace and acceleration cuts into the box — our familiar Welsh winger is back."
Over twenty thousand Manchester United fans jumped as one, clapping in rhythm three times and stamping their feet.
It's said "bang, bang, bang, cha!" is Giggs' favorite rhythm; under that beat he glides and dribbles effortlessly.
With that three-beat rhythm, Giggs beat Samuel Umtiti again with a change of pace, exposing Arsenal goalkeeper Martínez to his shooting range.
United fans immediately roared, as if Giggs' success was all because they were clapping the beat.
At that moment it wasn't Giggs who beat Umtiti — it was they who had beaten Umtiti.
But the next second Giggs messed up a presentable moment.
The ball flew over into the stands.
The United fans sighed loudly.
At thirty-nine, that ability to break down the left is already glorious; you can't demand too much. Once the fans accepted that, they applauded in understanding.
Giggs raised his hands and clapped above his head, acknowledging the fans' support…
Three minutes later, the ageless Giggs came back.
This time, before he could take off, Mikel Arteta stuck to him.
United fans clapped the rhythm again; whether Giggs is still sharp or the rhythm truly has magic, who knows.
Anyway Giggs feinted, shifted, turned — Arteta was cut aside.
On the sideline, Wenger was caught on the broadcast screen instinctively covering his face with his hand.
Fans online laughed themselves silly.
"Professor: I don't know Arteta!"
"Some players get more monstrous with age; they're hard to defend against…"
"Please, someone get Arteta's mood right now."
But Arteta wasn't that bad. After being beaten he tracked back quickly, re-engaged Giggs and forced him wide.
When Giggs needed support, Rooney made a diagonal run inward from the left.
This off-ball movement was beautiful — whether Ferguson's tactical plan or Rooney's football IQ, it worked.
It resolved the situation far better than simply meeting Giggs on the flank.
A textbook "relieve Wei by rescuing Zhao"!
Giggs immediately threaded a diagonal pass forward.
The left-side combination made United's attack come alive.
Rooney sprinted; Arsenal's defensive line shifted toward him.
But the moment Rooney received the ball he made no adjustment and dinked a lofted pass.
The ball arced into the box.
In a place that had been empty, suddenly a white shirt appeared.
"Robin van Persie!"
"This is a set play! Giggs wide, Rooney's diagonal run and cross, van Persie timing the run — it's a whole tactical routine!"
"Van Persie volleys!"
"Boom!"
With an explosive crack, the ball flew toward Martínez's face.
The shot had power, but the angle was straight on.
Martínez crouched down and, without jumping, caught the ball securely with both hands.
More than twenty thousand United fans couldn't help but sigh.
Giggs and van Persie had two fantastic chances but were wasteful in the finishing.
Martínez hugged the ball and shouted to his two center-backs…
Umtiti raised his hand, admitting fault; it wasn't Per Mertesacker's responsibility.
"Young Martínez has considerable authority within the team."
"This Arsenal team is young! No grizzled veterans; the goalkeeper is the commander of the backline, naturally more authoritative than the defenders."
"A keeper who can command the backline isn't necessarily a great keeper, but a keeper who cannot command the backline can never be a great keeper."
"Half-time is nearly here and it's still 1–1!"
"In this period, United have been more proactive and created more chances."
"Arsenal's counters were often stopped just outside United's box."
"Arsenal players seem either tired or tactically less excited."
"…"
"Xia Qi and van Persie have come head-to-head."
The Emirates erupted into madness.
This was king versus king!
Whether United fans or Arsenal fans, everyone went hysterical, shouting for their players with everything they had!
When van Persie saw Xia Qi suddenly appear in front of him he was first surprised — their positions didn't match up on the pitch.
Then he brightened.
In van Persie's view, Xia Qi's defense wasn't as freakish as his attack, and van Persie had confidence in his own ability.
He ignored Shinji Kagawa's reaching hand for the ball, drew it back, and executed a "Messi shoulder drop" — the shoulder drop intending to forcibly glide past the tilted side.
Van Persie fooled many top defenders with that trick; he believed Xia Qi would fall for it too.
But embarrassingly, Xia Qi remained unmoved!
As if he had a pair of fiery eyes.
Van Persie, unwilling to give up, strode a couple steps outside.
Xia Qi followed his two steps down, still impervious in defense.
What especially angered van Persie was Xia Qi's expression, as if to say: "Take two steps, take another two, and you'll be limping!"
Grandmaster Benshan tricked chef Van Persie into limping, but van Persie had effectively tricked himself.
Reluctant to hug the touchline and feed others, van Persie wanted to dribble past Xia Qi, ride over the faces of Arsenal defenders and score — embarrass Arsenal.
He wanted to prove he's the irreplaceable van Persie.
Van Persie feinted along the line and, seeing Xia Qi unconcerned, decisively cut inside.
He changed direction and prepared to dribble.
But an extra leg entered his view: Xia Qi's left foot poked through lightning-fast.
Precision!
As if van Persie's dribble had been prepared for Xia Qi's poke.
The ball zipped past van Persie's right foot. The next move — a push with the right foot — was air.
At the same time, Xia Qi, who had been in front of him, vanished.
Van Persie was astonished!
So strong?!
XiaKenbauer?
Impossible!
"Beautiful!"
"Nice interception — Arsenal break forward."
Arsenal fans erupted in cheers the moment Xia Qi stole the ball, and as Xia Qi sped north at full throttle the cheers intensified.
Though no goal yet, every corner of the Emirates was full of joy at the prospect of Xia Qi scoring; time after time he'd earned credibility with big goals.
On the pitch,
in the blink of an eye Xia Qi sprinted from his own half past the center circle.
Michael Carrick raced at Xia Qi like an out-of-control car — Ferguson had ordered that.
Using that position to force a foul and end Arsenal's attack is a sensible tactic.
Facing such a charging man most humans separate ball and body — like Bale or Cristiano.
Or they do a Cruyff turn or Marseille roulette to make room before attacking.
But AI's approach was different:
Xia Qi slightly slowed in full sprint and softly nudged the ball behind Carrick.
Then he flashed a quick body turn and stepped back.
That flash step back was a highlight.
Somewhat like a bullfighter, just missing the red cape in his hand.
Carrick, like an enraged bull, couldn't stop; he ran straight through the space Xia Qi vacated.
Xia Qi then quickly chased the ball.
Now United were in real danger.
Ferguson was frantic on the sidelines, no longer casually chewing gum; he yelled at his defenders: "Stop him! Quick, stop him!"
Phil Jones and Jonny Evans bolted toward Xia Qi.
Facing a double-team, Xia Qi didn't pass — worse, he didn't change direction. What was he doing??
Shame and fury surged in Jones and Evans; they both accelerated toward Xia Qi.
Seeing Xia Qi plow straight at United's defenders with no sign of slowing, the Emirates again exploded in cheering.
Honestly, they didn't know what Xia Qi planned, but that didn't stop them from celebrating as if they knew.
Truth be told, the cheering had some effect.
Evans, at full speed, hesitated for a moment and his step slowed, increasing the gap between him and Phil Jones.
At that moment Xia Qi was two meters from Phil Jones; his body suddenly leaned right, appearing to attempt a right-side breakthrough.
But Xia Qi's right leg didn't strike the ball — Jones judged it a feint.
Sure enough, Xia Qi's body soon flicked back and leaned left; crucially his left foot tapped the ball.
Phil Jones, without thinking, lunged to his right.
But just as he reacted he saw Xia Qi's left foot merely feint over the ball.
Damn! Can you stop being so sly? You'll end up with no friends at this rate.
Then Xia Qi's body leaned right again as his right foot nudged the ball.
Phil Jones' mind flashed: "A pendulum dribble!"
At that moment Evans moved to block Xia Qi. Xia Qi staged the same lean right.
Seeing Xia Qi beat Phil Jones, Evans knew he wouldn't outclass Jones.
So in that instant he made another decision.
Shamelessly ram into Xia Qi — we won't play nice; we'll force a foul.
He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, muscles tensed, preparing for a "car-crash incident"…
Good idea in principle, cold reality bites.
"Ding dong, host [Conquer the World] attribute…"
Evans returned from where he came, while Xia Qi only tilted his body slightly and kept going forward.
"Evans tactical foul!"
"Ah, if you chose to foul, at least be tough about it!"
Seeing Evans collide like a child against an adult, Zhang Lu sighed in exasperation.
Xia Qi sped into the box and raised his right leg.
Amid the crowd's roar he struck the ball squarely.
"Boom!"
A thunderous crack,
the ball deformed under impact and traced a blur as it thundered toward the Manchester United goal.
David de Gea's vision blurred on the goal line; he reflexively dove but punched at nothing.
The ball had already nestled in the net.
2–1!
Arsenal had taken the lead.
(END CHAPTER)
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