[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-94":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},1388909,1840,"Chapter 94 - 94","start-with-r9-template-chapter-94",94,"\u003Cp>The Emirates Stadium Dressing Room, Half Time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with Arsène Wenger's earnest, almost broken plea and hearing the crack in his aged voice, the Arsenal players couldn't help but be moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This white-haired old man had devoted over twenty years to Arsenal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had revolutionized English football.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, his own fans were shouting, \"Get out of our club!\" in his own stadium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How absurd and ridiculous it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of boundless anger welled up in their hearts—anger at the fans, yes, but mostly anger at their own inadequacies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had let him down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hector Bellerín, whom Wenger had personally poached from La Masia at 16 and treated like a son almost tear up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled Wenger's earnest guidance, the trust placed in him when others doubted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly stood up, slamming his hand on the bench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We won't let you leave like this, Boss! Not today!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petr Cech, the veteran, pulled his helmet back on, his face set in stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The match isn't over yet. 2-0 is nothing. One goal changes the atmosphere. We equalize, we overtake them!\" he declared firmly. \"Let Manchester United know that no one takes three points easily from the Emirates Stadium!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"LETS GOOO!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angry, primal shouts erupted one after another in the locker room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't the tactical precision of Guardiola or the psychological warfare of Mourinho; it was raw emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger stared at his players, his \"children.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly doubted his earlier fatalism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe the iron-willed spirit that Arsenal relied on to survive the \"Invincibles\" era wasn't dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just sleeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'There is no creation before destruction', he thought. He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fifteen-minute break passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, both teams returned to the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second half officially began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Substitution: Arsenal replaced the shell-shocked Shkodran Mustafi with Alex Iwobi, shifting to a more attacking shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were going for all out attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the whistle, the roles reversed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal became the pressing monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players, fueled by adrenaline and guilt, frantically contested for every ball, disregarding their physical exertion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In competitive sports like football, skill determines the baseline, while spirit determines the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This inherent unpredictability is the greatest charm of the game—superior strength on paper doesn't guarantee victory against a team possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the Arsenal players embodied the power of that spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using relentless, wave-after-wave attacks, they pinned Manchester United deep in their own half, rendering Mourinho's counter-attacking machine immobile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emirates Stadium grew loud once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The toxic atmosphere vanished, replaced by a wall of noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal fans seemed to relive the past, witnessing the resilient Gunners of 2004 who thrived in adversity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ignited a fervor within them despite the cold wind, channeling their emotions into roaring cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ARSENAL! ARSENAL! ARSENAL!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Arsenal wasn't attacking recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a target man, they avoided compressing the opponent's defensive line with crosses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they focused their possession in areas just outside the box, probing, moving, creating triangles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, Arsenal switched to a fluid 4-2-3-1, frequently deploying Alexis Sánchez to drop deep into the central circle to receive and organize play alongside Mesut Özil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chilean maestro used his robust, bulldog-like physique for ball protection and relied on expert body control to evade challenges, driving the team's offensive momentum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Manchester United's defensive line grew increasingly flat under pressure, Arsenal immediately pushed Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey forward to create more vertical space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was total football.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, Ling and Lingard were forced into servitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to contribute significantly to defense, tracking back to their own corner flags, assisting their teammates in maintaining a solid defensive structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling felt these ten minutes were more exhausting than the entire first half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lungs burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, his tactical mind remained active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He consciously adjusted his positioning, searching for that one counter-attacking opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Arsenal's onslaught was too intense; even when United won the ball back, they had no outlet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasional clearances often landed near opposing defenders, and despite Ling's desperate efforts to chase them down, he was outnumbered 3-to-1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Football isn't an individual game', he thought grimly. 'Without the team moving up, I am useless.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he refused to give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If opportunities didn't come to me, I will create them myself.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the 56th minute. Arsenal's attack surged again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexis Sánchez received the ball on the left. He faced up Antonio Valencia and Victor Lindelof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a burst of acceleration and a drop of the shoulder, he split them, dribbling into the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Smalling could close him down, Sánchez cut the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alexandre Lacazette, dropping deep as a false nine to drag the defenders away, had left a gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He played a first-time, cushioned lay-off into the path of Aaron Ramsey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Welshman, making one of his trademark late runs, met the ball with a powerful, first-time side-footed strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't aimed at the corners; it was aimed through the keeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From such close range, even David De Gea couldn't make the save.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power beat him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1-2!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the ball nestled into the net, the Emirates Stadium erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a release of pure, unadulterated relief and joy. Arsenal fans seemed to lose themselves in delirium, roaring with hoarse voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"COME ON!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martin Tyler: \"RAMSEY! GAME ON! The Emirates is rocking! Arsenal have found a way back!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gary Neville: \"It's been coming, Martin! It's been all Arsenal for ten minutes! United have stopped playing! They're just sitting back and inviting pressure, and you can't do that against this quality!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Our Arsenal is invincible! The spirit is back!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gunners fans, how can you not be moved to tears! Look at Bellerin screaming!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Is this really Arsenal? They are winning every 50-50 duel!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Are we going to lose this? United look rattled.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If Arsenal really build momentum, it's hard to say who will win. The momentum is a powerful thing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Honestly, as an Arsenal fan who's been mocked for so many years... seeing this fight... it's enough.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Sigh, if only Ling could be at Arsenal. Imagine him with Ozil.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>..\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pitch, Ramsey didn't celebrate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fished the ball out of the net and waved for his teammates to quickly return to their own half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Back! Back! We go again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had no time to waste; they needed to keep attacking until they equalized, or even took the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smell of blood was in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Manchester United players nearby seemed fired up as well, but in a different way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each man gritted his teeth, fierce determination in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being pinned back despite a two-goal lead ignited a fire in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hated feeling helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath, trying hard to calm his emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Arsenal were the ones trailing; they should be the anxious ones. We just need to hold.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sidelines, Arsène Wenger couldn't remain composed either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His usual gentlemanly demeanor was cast aside. He pumped his fists wildly, shouting instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That's it! Fight!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would choose to die standing rather than live on his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho, watching him, sighed silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a newfound, grudging respect for his old rival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'He still has fire.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he turned to the touchline to issue instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stay compact! Don't lose your heads!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the match resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension on the pitch grew thicker, transforming the game into a physical brawl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither side gave an inch as they battled fiercely for possession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it's important to remember that in football, the team constantly defending expends more energy—mental and physical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Manchester United players had to grit their teeth and withstand Arsenal's attacks, sometimes resorting to tactical fouls just to disrupt the rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, another five minutes passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcos Rojo, struggling with the pace, received a yellow card for pulling Ramsey back by the shirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Arsenal launched wave after wave of attacks, Manchester United fans held their breath, terrified they might concede another goal at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Wengerball\" was flowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to break through the final line of defense, the Arsenal players grew increasingly impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They began firing long-range shots from outside the box, trying to crack the parked bus with brute force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ramsey, Xhaka, Sánchez, Lacazette... everyone took a turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind if there was space—just put power behind it and hope for a miracle or a deflection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then... there was David De Gea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spaniard became the busiest man on the field as he transformed into a thousand-armed deity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>65th Minute: Lacazette shoots low... De Gea saves with his feet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>68th Minute: Sanchez curls one... De Gea tips it round the post!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>71st Minute: The double save. Lacazette from point-blank range... Saved!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sanchez on the rebound... SAVED AGAIN!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"UNBELIEVABLE!\" Martin Tyler screamed. \"DAVID DE GEA IS A WALL! HE IS NOT HUMAN TONIGHT!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling watched from the halfway line with hands on his knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Dave is keeping us alive. I need to help him. I need to get the ball.'\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>",1522,"2026-06-05T22:48:23.062Z",1,"novelbin.me","100ded7b6c886cb4845db4e960474e67fefc865ad55bc0b165be8f88d7d63576","start-with-r9-template-chapter-95","start-with-r9-template-chapter-93",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]