Chapter 108: Arsenal's gorgeous pass-and-cut! Leverkusen got stunned!

To maximize profits from broadcast revenue sharing.

UEFA racked its brains over the schedule for the round of 16.

Finally, they worked out the most reasonable matchup time slots.

The match kicking off at the same time as at Emirates Stadium is: Benfica versus Juventus.

The Portuguese league powerhouse lacks star power.

Juventus lost Pirlo, and its charm plummeted.

As a result, most fans paid more attention to Arsenal's match.

EPSN livestream.

-【I checked the weather forecast, it won't rain, Arsenal will surely win! Just look at Leverkusen's back line...】

-【Experts reviewed the Nou Camp match and reached a unanimous conclusion: fire Enrique, put a dog on Barcelona's bench, and they still wouldn't lose to Leverkusen!】

-【Enrique isn't lacking in ability; he just underestimated the opponent. Now every other European team knows how to deal with Leverkusen.】

-【With football tactics having evolved to this point, any weakness in the lineup will be seized and blown up by the opponent—let alone the sizable gap in on-paper strength between Leverkusen and Arsenal!】

-【Win or lose doesn't matter; both teams are strong in attack and weak in defense, so it's all about attacking!】

-【Fun fact: Arsenal's defense at the start of each season is top-notch!】

Leverkusen's bus slowly approached Emirates Stadium.

Everyone's gaze was drawn to the huge club crest logo on the exterior wall.

The logo's background features the numbers of five Arsenal legends.

Its luxurious, imposing appearance outshines the BayArena by several notches.

Even if Arsenal is poor, its investment in every aspect is many times greater than Leverkusen's.

Brandt poked his head out the window and exclaimed, 'The statue of Henry sliding on his knees!'

Kramer quickly pulled him back: 'There are also statues of Adams, Bergkamp, and Chapman! Calm down—Londoners would think we from Bei Lai Yin are country bumpkins!'

Havertz stared, then said softly: 'Li, the Premier League isn't just richer than the Bundesliga; the football culture differs greatly, too. I...'

Li Kang popped a piece of green tangerine fizzy candy into his mouth.

His mental state instantly peaked.

Pre-match press conference.

The flashbulbs kept flashing.

A reporter asked, 'Mr. Tuop, what do you think of the match against Arsenal?'

Tuopu Laotou furrowed his brow and said, 'Emirates Stadium's pitch is relatively narrow, unsuitable for Leverkusen's wide attacking play; the moisture difference between London's turf and Bei Lai Yin's turf is also significant, and there's the temperature...'

Dino gaped, unable to resist pulling out a notebook to jot down those words.

The boss really is a mastermind! The coaching staff never even considered the pitch width and turf differences!

The reporters were a bit dazed: 'Who still cares about these things?'

On the other side.

Wenger smiled and did not rebut this.

It's just that the width of Emirates Stadium and the BayArena differs by only 18 centimeters...

'Mr. Wenger! Rumor has it that Leverkusen's number 10 is your next top transfer target...'

Arsenal's head coach gave no direct answer, sighing, 'Li Kang is excellent; he fits seamlessly into our tactical system. Most importantly, he's very healthy. If we could turn back time, we'd only need to spend one million euros...'

He hadn't finished speaking.

Laughter filled the press conference hall.

A few La Liga reporters forcibly swallowed the question about Arsenal copying Barcelona's system.

At the player tunnel.

Arsenal captain Mertesacker warmly greeted the Leverkusen players; he used to be a mainstay center-back for the German national team.

Bellerin proactively shook hands with Li Kang.

Both came from La Masia and are national teammates, yet their relationship is rather ordinary.

They are three years apart in age, and during their youth training days they never even spoke.

Li Kang's impression of Bellerin is merely that he looks familiar.

Rams asked softly, 'Surely you're aloof? You really came from La Masia? When I ran into Deulofeu last time, you were much more affectionate.'

Bellerin shook his head and said softly, 'Maybe it's because I was constantly bullied and isolated as a kid... forming a personality flaw. My foster mother is Castilian, and Li is Asian... why are you looking at me like that? I never bullied him!'

Sanchez wore a look of disdain.

It's not that he disdains Li Kang; he disdains the Catalans from Barcelona.

He vaguely recalled past events at Barcelona.

The lineup moved.

The referee corps led both teams' players out of the tunnel.

Emirates Stadium was like a giant stage.

Pitch black.

Only the Champions League flag at the center circle flickered with a faint light.

When the players set foot on the pitch,

the broadcast above the stadium sounded the familiar Champions League anthem.

All the spotlights lit up at once!

The stands on all four sides instantly erupted in a tsunami-like roar!

"eonyougunners!"

"!

"CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, viewers!"

"Welcome to the first leg of the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League Round of 16!"

"Arsenal hosts Leverkusen!"

"Both teams favor attacking football, making it highly entertaining!"

"I am the commentator for this match, Duan Xuan!"

"I am He Wei!"

The guessing segment ends.

Li Kang took his position.

A system prompt sounded softly.

【Ding! Treasure chest quest triggered: Escape the Armory!】

【Quest description: Football is a team sport of eleven players; for Leverkusen, a draw is an extremely difficult task. Good luck.】

【Quest reward: Arsenal Legend Platinum Treasure Chest!】

Escape?

Not to capture? Not to conquer?

"Now let me introduce the starting lineups for both sides!"

"The team in red and white stripes is Arsenal! They lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Cech!"

"Left back: Monreal!"

"Center backs: Mertesacker and Koscielny!"

"Right back: Bellerin!"

"Double pivot: Coquelin and Ramsey!"

"Attacking midfielders: Sanchez, Cazorla, and Walcott!"

"Striker: Giroud!"

The live broadcast.

The barrage fills the screen.

-【Leverkusen is secure! Can Giroud touch the ball in this match? Big water cargo! Bun king!】

-【Wenger has gone senile! Let Ramsey play as a double pivot!】

-【You don't get it? This is the current trend!】

-【Our Arsenal! Is unbeatable!】

"Leverkusen lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, goalkeeper:..."

Accompanied by the referee's whistle!

The match officially begins!

Arsenal in possession.

Giroud kicks off and passes to Sanchez.

He no longer makes unnecessary passes; his thick leg pushes the ball, activating the raw-eating mode!

Brandt, attempting to challenge, staggers and is knocked to the ground.

The general consensus is that Arsenal's style is soft and weak.

That depends on which team you compare them to.

Sanchez is only 1.68 meters tall, but he's a super muscular beast! Because he's short, his center of gravity is low!

His thighs are terrifyingly thick, unlike ordinary people.

Combined with superb technique and terrifying speed!

In this era's football game, his stats have become absurdly exaggerated!

Leverkusen's midfield defense simply cannot stop him!

"Oh dear! Is this still Arsenal?"

"Sanchez charges straight into the heart alone! His dribbling ability is terrifying!"

"Leverkusen's left flank is going to be crushed!"

The 40-meter area.

Li Kang steps in front of Sanchez!

Everyone thought a top-level physical battle was about to begin!

Sanchez passed the ball to the middle.

Cazorla lightly tapped the ball, then flicked it with his heel.

He easily shook off Kramer's sliding tackle!

"The greatest simplicity! One move neutralized the attack!"

"Cazorla is an underestimated midfield star!"

"Watch! The runs of Arsenal's frontline players!"

"Everyone accelerates on the same timeline!"

"Here it comes! A mercurial passing and cutting attack!"

Bellerin makes a diagonal run into the center.

Monreal and Walcott's lateral movement pulls at Leverkusen's defense!

Ramsey shifted from the defensive midfield to the forward line!

The ball was like a mischievous sprite, constantly jumping on the green pitch!

It wasn't just short ground passes!

There were also gorgeous arcs in the air!

No hesitation at all!

One-touch!

Give-and-go!

The dense passing lanes formed a sharp blade!

It pierced Lewokusen's defense!

"The Arsenal players seemed to have entered bullet time!"

"Too gorgeous! No unnecessary passing lanes! Every attacker's passing and receiving skills are top-notch!"

"Lewokusen's defense can't hold up!"

"They can't keep up with the pace!"

"Arsenal's gorgeous passing and cutting!"

"Team devours team!"

In God's perspective.

Li Kang anticipated Arsenal's next passing-and-cutting line!

He quickly ran toward Sanchez!

Cazorla, about to kick, suddenly halted his motion!

Ramsey adjusted a few steps, filling in for Sanchez's position in the passing lane!

Pop!

Pop!

Two crisp sounds!

Two one-touches!

The director's close-up shot almost couldn't keep up with the pace!

The ball had already rolled into the right side of Lewokusen's penalty area!

Unmarked Walcott met the ball.

Lai Nuo shuffled quickly, cutting off the opponent's shooting angle!

Arsenal's little tiger lifted his left foot, assuming a shooting stance!

Boom!

The ball did not blast toward Lewokusen's goal!

Instead, it was lofted into the penalty area!

Giroud leapt high!

He violently flicked his head!

The ball hit the net!

1:0!

!

"Beautiful!"

"This goal went in!"

"So well-coordinated! So gorgeous!"

"The team's strength is overwhelming!"

"Arsenal passed the ball into Lewokusen's goal!"

"Ramsey's deadly pass! Walcott gave the chance to Giroud!"

Dragon Kingdom broadcast.

The bullet screen was neat and uniform.

-【Giroud! Sorry!】

-【Ramsey! Sorry!】

-【Professor! Sorry!】

-【...】

This season, the most frustrating thing for fans is Giroud and Ramsey!

Especially Giroud.

He's called a super big flop!

At the sideline.

Wenger didn't make any overly wild celebration.

Instead, he lightly clapped his hands, wearing a smile.

On the other side.

Dino explained dejectedly: "We had practiced before the match, but there's nothing we could do; their ball-out speed was too fast... our defenders couldn't keep up with Arsenal's passing-and-cutting timing..."

Tuopu Laotou squeezed the mineral water bottle flat: "Stay calm! Arsenal's pass success rate isn't always high! They will make mistakes! While attacking, the space exposed at the back is also large!"

He vaguely recalled the fear of being dominated by Arsenal over a decade ago.

Exactly the same style of play!

The basic attacking framework hasn't changed much in over ten years.

Only players from different eras have given different attacking details!

After scoring, Jilu, in a moment of excitement, pulled down his own pants.