Chapter 122: Fierce battle!

Arsenal's locker room.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Wenger patiently explained the tactical setup for the second half.

Wilshere lowered his head, his mind filled with Havertz's tight marking, helpless, like a diamond-ranked player being crushed in lane by a bronze opponent.

Cazorla wiped his sweat with a dry towel.

He suddenly felt that the football world was a cycle: after Pirlo and Xavi retired, another Li Kang appeared.

The fifteen-minute halftime break ended quickly.

Both teams' players returned to the pitch.

"Good evening, friends, welcome back!"

"Leverkusen made the first substitution, bringing on Bellarabi for Brandt!"

"The most familiar positional substitution."

"We still need a counter‑attacking point up front; Bellarabi's speed is very threatening!"

With the referee's whistle.

The second half officially began.

Kiesslin kicked off and passed the ball back to Li Kang.

The ball went through several quick passes.

It came back to Bellarabi's feet.

He burst forward decisively!

Smack!

He hadn't taken a few steps!

The ball was easily snatched by Sanchez's thick leg!

Arsenal's formation quickly spread to the flanks.

The ball rolled to Bellerin's feet!

"We lost possession too quickly!"

"Arsenal's second-half tactics are simpler and more direct!"

The BayArena stands.

A tide‑like roar rose up!

"eonyougunners!"

!

Bellerin dribbled past the midfield circle.

Kiesslin quickly intercepted.

He is the one‑club man representing Bei lai yin, the season he won the Bundesliga Golden Boot, resisting the temptations of many giants, and he has steadfastly defended Leverkusen.

Arsenal's full‑back didn't try to dribble; he nudged the ball with his right foot to the advancing Coquelin!

Coquelin touched the ball with one foot!

The ball fell to Sanchez's feet!

Within a few short seconds.

The ball swept across the width of the pitch!

"Arsenal's tactical details have changed greatly!"

"The transition between Wilshere and Cazorla has been reduced!"

"It's simpler, more efficient, and also more single‑minded!"

"We rely even more on Sanchez's individual ability!"

Leverkusen's half‑field thirty‑meter area.

Sanchez turned into a wild boar!

His short, stocky body shoved Bender aside!

He charged straight down the left flank.

Arsenal committed most of its forces to the center.

Giroud nudged Papadopoulos aside and reached for the ball!

Leverkusen's defense remained calm.

Tuopu Laotou remained calm as well.

He seemed to have guessed Wenger's tactical change.

He kept spreading his arms on the sideline, signaling the defenders to pay attention to the spacing as the defensive line contracted.

He arrived at the left side of the penalty area.

Sanchez bore down on Hilbert, steadying his hold on the ball.

"Can't win it!"

"His stance is too solid!"

"Sanchez's thigh, he's cutting inside! Can he save Arsenal this time?!"

His thick legs displayed an astonishing step frequency.

Hilbert was shaken to the ground!

Most of Leverkusen's defensive strength leaned to the left!

Smack!

Sanchez did not continue cutting inside!

He saw a burly figure appearing on his right flank.

In adverse circumstances, never alone!

He decisively passed the ball over!

"Mertesacker!

"!

"The space on the right flank has opened up!"

"We can shoot!"

Arsenal's two-meter tall giant, who honed his long-range shooting ability during his time at Werder Bremen!

A few steps of run-up!

He met the ball with a furious shot!

Thud!

The football screamed as it thundered toward Lewokusen's goal!

It skimmed over the dense crowd!

Top right corner!

Lai Nuo's pupils contracted slightly; he didn't have time to adjust his position and jump!

Lewokusen fans sucked in a breath of cold air!

Tuopu Laotou nervously grabbed his own explosive hair!

Who could have imagined Wenger still had this trick: abandoning the link-up of two midfield cores, pushing the centre-backs up into the flank area!

Thud!

The close-range audio equipment transmitted a fierce clattering sound!

The violently spinning football, when it flew to the edge of the six-yard box, was blocked out for a corner by a figure!

Arsenal fans let out an unwilling gasp!

"How close!"

"Li Kang! He blocked Mertesacker's powerful shot with his face!"

"Eh! Looks like there's no serious problem!"

Even though he possesses an injury-immune physique.

Li Kang, who had taken a heavy cannon shot, now also felt dizzy.

He took a few steps to adjust, then held the goalpost with his left hand.

Moments later.

He then gestured to his teammates and the main referee that he was fine.

Lewokusen fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Tuopu Laotou and Dino also breathed a sigh of relief.

In a few days we still have to face Bayern!

Li Kang must absolutely not be knocked out by a blow to the head!

Cazorla made a gesture to Wilshere.

He himself walked straight toward the corner flag area.

Beep!

Under the urging of the head referee.

Arsenal's midfield maestro completed his run-up!

Above Lewokusen's penalty area, an astonishing arc was traced.

"Arsenal gave it their all! Almost all players pushed forward into the box!"

"Near post!"

"Giroud!"

Giroud certainly didn't get a head on the ball.

He was flanked by two big guys!

The ball flew over everyone's heads!

It fell toward the far post!

Monreal shoved Hilbert aside in one move!

No fancy tricks at all.

His thigh was lifted to an exaggerated height!

His instep struck the ball fiercely!

A volley strike!

Amidst the boos and cheers at the Bayer Arena,

The ball thundered toward the upper left corner of the goal!

With unstoppable momentum!

Lai Nuo pushed off hard!

His green glove hammered the ball!

Thud!

The ball's trajectory was altered, crashing into the crossbar!

It bounced into the goal line area!

Walcott, preparing a follow‑up shot, couldn't check his running momentum, ducked his head and slammed into the net.

1:1!!!

"We got the ball!"

"Cazorla's clever cross from the corner assisted! Monreal's volley! Arsenal leveled the score!"

"That's football—before the whistle blows, the suspense never ends!"

"Wenger's tactical adjustment came a bit late, but it worked!"

"Leverkusen! You must keep up with the changing pace! If they concede another goal, they'll lose the initiative to advance!"

All four stands of the BayArena.

Leverkusen fans fell silent.

Arsenal fans roared wildly.

Monreal lunged at Cazorla right away!

Teammates gathered together in wild celebration.

Walcott lifted the net blocking his view, dazed for a few seconds, then excitedly kicked the ball.

On the pitch!

Assistant coach Boerde bellowed angrily:

"Hurry up! We still need to score another goal to advance!"

Bellarabi trailed behind the head referee, arguing: "That Monreal kid was definitely off‑side! I saw it clearly!"

In 2015, the five major leagues had not yet installed the VAR video assistant referee.

Bellarabi grew up playing street football in the slums, so he doesn't care whether you were off‑side—just protest.

The head referee hesitated a moment, then looked toward the assistant referee.

The assistant referee waved his left hand; the yellow flag held low in his right hand fluttered in the wind.

The goal stands.

Wenger smiled.

Tuop squeezed his water bottle, somewhat annoyed—had Arsenal's set‑piece tactic really caught him off guard like that?

He kept gesturing at the players on the pitch, pressing both hands down hard!

He turned his head and roared at the flustered coaching staff:

"Stay calm!"

"Keep calm!"

"Damn it! Think fast! How do we get Li Jiefang out!"