[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-269":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Start with R9 Template",{"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},1388824,1840,"Chapter 269 - 269","start-with-r9-template-chapter-269",269,"\u003Cp>After the referee's whistle, the match resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Playing away from home and conceding two quick goals had clearly disoriented the Arsenal players, manifesting in frequent mistakes on the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the touchline, Unai Emery was as restless as an ant on a hot pan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paced incessantly in the narrow technical area, wishing he could control the players on the pitch with a video game controller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't want history to repeat itself—having their 19-match unbeaten run ended at Old Trafford, just like the Invincibles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Defend! Drop deeper!\" Emery yelled furiously. \"Don't neglect the flanks either! Push out on the counter! Faster!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Mourinho stood with his arms crossed, continuously chewing gum, his expression as calm as still water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match was unfolding exactly as he had envisioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling was suppressing Arsenal's defense, forcing Arsenal to drop their entire formation deeper to maintain shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result was the same as before—the spring had lost its elasticity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal's counterattacks simply couldn't get going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Man United kept something in reserve, not committing everyone to attack but firmly controlling the midfield and forward areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henrikh Mkhitaryan was having a torrid time, experiencing familiar frustrations from his time at United.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever he received the ball, either Matić or Ander Herrera would immediately press him, constantly disrupting his rhythm with physical challenges, then combining with nearby teammates to win possession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Arsenal struggled to resist, the match time flew by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the 43rd minute, Mahrez delivered an angled cross from the flank, but the quality of his right-footed pass was poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball flew too close to the goal and was easily collected by Leno.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leno immediately threw the ball long into the attacking half to launch a counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peter Drury: \"Leno throws it long... aiming for Aubameyang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gabonese striker, Borussia Dortmund's former star and Arsenal's savior, wore the famous number 14 jersey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of controlling the dropping ball with his back to goal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cleverly let the ball run past him before swiftly turning!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry Maguire misjudged the situation and could only spin around to chase back. But Aubameyang's speed was simply electrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He burst toward Manchester United's half like lightning, leaving Maguire two strides behind in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he angled his run toward the left, perfectly cutting off David Luiz's covering path!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many critics doubt Aubameyang's overall ability, but how many strikers in the Top Five Leagues have averaged nearly a goal per game over the past three seasons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer is only four: Messi, Luis Suárez, Robert Lewandowski, and Aubameyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the reality is that most of Aubameyang's goals come from lethal finishes inside the box, with relatively few from open play or solo counterattacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is because although Aubameyang possesses blistering pace, he often has to slow down due to less fluid ball control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with his exceptional physical gifts and explosive acceleration, rapidly closed the gap from the side!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with the intense 1-on-1 defensive training sessions Ling had recently put him through, Wan-Bissaka's defensive skills had improved significantly, especially in reading opponents' movements!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan-Bissaka slightly raised his arm to disrupt Aubameyang's rhythm while angling his body to squeeze the striker's space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two tangled all the way to the edge of the penalty area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peter Drury: \"Aubameyang breaks away... but Wan-Bissaka is matching him stride for stride! Aubameyang goes for the shot... but the effort isn't particularly convincing under that pressure!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jim Beglin: \"De Gea gets down comfortably to make the save. Arsenal's counterattack comes to nothing—and this might well be their last chance of the first half.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal fans in the stadium clutched their heads in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given how the game was unfolding, Arsenal's chances of equalizing looked increasingly slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, they gasped as Manchester United launched a rapid counterattack of their own, almost giving Arsenal a lesson in how it's done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>De Gea hurled the ball out to the right flank, where Wan-Bissaka collected it and drove forward a couple of steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan-Bissaka and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold represent two extremes—the former an elite defensive fullback, the latter an elite attacking one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Manchester United's forward line is potent enough not to require excessive involvement from their fullbacks in buildup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan-Bissaka played the ball along the touchline to Mahrez, who, with his back to goal, shifted it inside onto his left foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spotting space behind Arsenal's defensive line, Mahrez lofted a beautiful sweeping long pass forward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a new skill he'd recently developed: using his trademark cut inside to evade defenders before linking up with Ling, who led the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was evidence that every United player was improving steadily, united in striving toward a common goal—a testament to the influence of their spiritual leader on the training ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roar at Old Trafford swelled abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>United fans watched as Ling anticipated the pass, hoping he would complete a first-half hat trick!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peter Drury: \"Mustafi mistimes the header! He's made at least five identical errors this season! Ling is rapid! Could this be a one-on-one?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, it was the experienced Sokratis Papastathopoulos who intervened, sprinting over and wrapping both his arms around Ling's waist without hesitation, dragging him to the turf!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why he didn't just pull Ling's shirt? Perhaps he was worried about the tearing quality of the Adidas fabric against Ling's strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The referee immediately blew the whistle to signal a cynical foul and showed a yellow card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Marriner was somewhat lenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the situation, as long as Ling got past, it would have been a clear one-on-one with the keeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sokratis had destroyed Man United's clear goal-scoring opportunity, which is equivalent to directly preventing a goal from occurring. It should have been a straight red card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Man United fans immediately erupted in piercing boos, putting pressure on referee Marriner, but Marriner's stance was very firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling protested a few words but didn't press further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Premier League had already implemented VAR technology, this decision might have been overturned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in reality, Ling wasn't very fond of VAR technology either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because VAR, with its rationality of \"technology and ruthless precision,\" erodes the emotional aspect of football, significantly reducing the match's entertainment value and fluidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, it's quite unfriendly to fast forwards, with offside calls based on armpits, toes, noses, and even body hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the resulting free-kick was too far from the goal, Man United chose not to continue attacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they passed the ball around in their own half, running down the remaining time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the referee blew the whistle for halftime, players from both teams returned to the dressing rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emery didn't say much about tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he pointed outside the dressing room and yelled, \"Are you going to let the Arsenal fans who came all the way from London watch such a poor match?! In the second half, forget about the score. Everyone just focus on doing their job!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Emery's expression turned very serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arsène is in the stands!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the home team's dressing room, Mourinho also didn't make many adjustments, telling the Man United players to continue with their highly effective first-half tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifteen-minute break passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon (.)com\u002FNewbietranslator\u003C\u002Fp>",1203,"2026-06-05T22:48:23.062Z",1,"novelbin.me","c6a776cb317c5f2259d4cbc412fd09ab8fd1a7ec812ca9c461c73a5417c3cd26","start-with-r9-template-chapter-270","start-with-r9-template-chapter-268",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]