[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foresight":3,"chapter-foresight-foresight-chapter-74":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","FORESIGHT",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1847622,2452,"Chapter 74 74: Arsenal vs Newcastle","foresight-chapter-74",74,"\u003Cp>Christmas had passed just five days earlier, and on December 29th, the Premier League's 20th round kicked off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, Arsenal fans flocked to the Emirates Stadium early—but this time, a heavy mood hung over them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The club's persistent injury crisis cast a gloomy shadow over the entire fanbase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Injuries to Wilshere and Cazorla had already taken a toll on Arsenal's attacking fluidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Arteta's absence? That was the final blow to the team's trademark passing game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal fans were frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why were all the injuries concentrated in midfield? Why not a defender or a winger for once? Couldn't the football gods be a little more... balanced?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, no injuries would be the best-case scenario. But now, all three core midfielders were out and confined to hospital beds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just look at the current midfield options: Kai, Diaby, Ramsey, and Coquelin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which of them could truly control the tempo and execute Arsenal's signature pass-and-move system?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frankly, even thinking about it was painful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fans were left scratching their heads. How could they line up against their next opponent? How would they survive this match?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, despite the pessimism, they came. Because that's what supporters do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, what would today bring?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this round, Arsenal were set to face Newcastle United—the Magpies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newcastle had been disappointing all season. Normally, with home advantage, Arsenal would be clear favorites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with a battered midfield and no clear playmaker, fans feared the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As kickoff neared, eyes were glued to the starting lineup, hoping for a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe Cazorla? Maybe Wilshere had made a recovery? Even Arteta?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe this was an elaborate prank by the club?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn't April Fools' Day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The confirmed lineup shattered all hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal (4-4-2):\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goalkeeper: Mannone\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defenders: Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen (C), Jenkinson\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Midfielders: Chamberlain, Ramsey, Kai, Diaby\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forwards: Suarez, Walcott\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newcastle United (4-2-3-1):\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goalkeeper: Krul\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Defenders: Santon, Perch, Coloccini (C), Simpson\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding Midfielders: Bigirimana, Tioté,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attacking Midfielders: Obertan, Marveaux, Cisse\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Striker: Demba Ba\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With this setup, are Arsenal going to play a defensive counter-attack?\" commentator Ian Darke asked, clearly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger's Arsenal rarely, if ever, used such tactics, especially not at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger had long been a staunch believer in 'beautiful football.' He openly disdained counter-attacking styles, calling them antithetical to the spirit of the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him, football should be elegant, expressive, and played with passion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, it seemed the Professor had been forced to compromise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the fans were stunned into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could Wenger do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ask these midfielders to play tiki-taka?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To hold steady and await reinforcements, he had to go pragmatic. Defensive counter-attack it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the tactic felt less like cowardice and more like survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it shocked the football world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Journalists in the press box were already giddy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger had long criticized counter-attacks as the death of artistry in football.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now? He was eating his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was media gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could already imagine tomorrow's headlines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger, the idealist, was forced to play the very football he once ridiculed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flashes popped from all directions as the reporters captured every moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai stood on the pitch, feeling the glare of lenses aimed squarely at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scowled slightly, then took a deep breath and raised his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone's just waiting to laugh at us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players turned toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai raised his arm and clenched his fist, pumping it with force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's give 'em something to talk about!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few grins broke out across the team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vermaelen bellowed, \"Gunners!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ready for battle!\" the team replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, in the Sina Sports commentary booth, Zhan Jun was narrating the broadcast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're bringing you live coverage of the Premier League's 20th round—Arsenal hosting Newcastle United at the Emirates.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arsenal's lineup today is unusually defensive. Zhang, what's your take on this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lu chuckled. \"Honestly, Wenger has no other choice. With Cazorla, Wilshere, and Arteta all injured, he's lost every player who could dictate tempo. Without a playmaker, what else can they do but play on the counter? They're still trying to secure a top-four finish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhan Jun nodded. \"And what role do you think Kai will play in this setup?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Lu replied thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think Kai will still carry weight in this setup. He's not the central figure yet, but in a match like this—where both defense and quick transitions matter—he's got a key role. We've seen glimpses of what he can do. Maybe he's not the finished article yet, but Wenger seems ready to trust him with more responsibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a cautious response. Understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Kai had only recently broken into the starting XI. Asking an 18-year-old to be the anchor of both offense and defense was a tall order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Zhang Lu—and many Chinese fans watching—hoped this young midfielder could step into something bigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger, for his part, wasn't exactly known for playing it safe. The Professor had always been bold—sometimes to a fault. His ideas didn't always work, but when they did, they paid off in spades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even as Zhang Lu kept his tone measured, his eyes betrayed anticipation. He was just as curious to see what Kai would bring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over on the Arsenal bench, Wenger stood near the touchline, visibly tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this patched-up midfield hold?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Kai handle the weight and emerge as a legitimate engine in the middle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those questions would soon be answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat Rice, watching just behind Wenger, was no less nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His relationship with Kai was more personal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd watched the boy grow daily for over a year—learning, adjusting, evolving. He'd seen more improvement in this one player than many of the club's former prodigies combined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even Cesc Fabregas had stirred this kind of emotion in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eighteen years old—and already the hub of Arsenal's midfield?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But circumstances had made it necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this system, Kai's defensive instincts and ability to distribute the ball were crucial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he connect the back and front? Could he steady the team when the press hit hard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Football had seen many prodigies come and go—brilliant comets who burned out far too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat Rice didn't want Kai to be one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted him to become the pillar of Arsenal's next generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, despite the boy's age, the club's expectations sat heavily on his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressure either breaks you or turns you into something stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on, lad. It's your stage now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up in the East Stand, a few familiar faces were just as anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows, Billy, and their group of friends—clad in black Arsenal jerseys—sat frozen in anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Billy rubbed his hands nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go, Arsenal. Don't fold on us now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meadows kept his eyes locked on Kai. There was something about the lad—something intangible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the match that would reveal whether his instincts were right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pitch, referee Chris Foy stepped out of the center circle. Newcastle's Demba Ba stood ready for kickoff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whistle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he tapped the ball back to begin the match, the Emirates roared to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come on, you Gunners!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match was on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newcastle didn't rush forward immediately. They held possession, cycling the ball back to probe for space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suarez and Walcott with the Arsenal front line pressed them high, but the rest of the team held their line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai floated near the center circle, eyes constantly scanning the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With enough numbers behind the ball, Arsenal had plugged the obvious gaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Newcastle were patient. They kept switching the play from side to side, testing Arsenal's structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai tracked the movement carefully, watching for any pattern or slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newcastle's 4-2-3-1 was built for balance. Marveaux, the central attacking midfielder, was crucial, tasked with linking defense to attack and taking shots when the opportunity arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demba Ba led the line, strong and explosive, supported by fast wingers on either side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a flexible setup. Dangerous—if used right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it had flaws, too. The gaps between lines were wide, and the midfield spacing wasn't tight. Any misstep in passing could be punished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai licked his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There it was—the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Newcastle's cautious build-up invited Arsenal's midfield to push up. The high press was on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the pressure on Newcastle mounted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with more Arsenal players committed forward, Newcastle spotted a potential break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let's try it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marveaux glanced toward Demba Ba, noticing no defender near him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was now or never.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He launched a long pass, arcing high through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demba Ba braced himself under the flight of the ball, ready to control it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun glared off the pitch, forcing him to squint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, out of nowhere—a blur of red cut across his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned—and saw the No. 4 Arsenal shirt racing away with it, cutting deep into Newcastle's half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai was already gone.\u003C\u002Fp>",1453,"2026-06-09T07:00:21.491Z",1,"novelbin.me","caaa2db0d3c3dfb0af8389f41f1cb010a808f34a5491691275d11f46ab4606f5","foresight-chapter-75","foresight-chapter-73",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fforesight-cover.jpg"]