Chapter 262: What? A teammate got injured!

The livestream room.

The big screen replayed the entire goal.

Payet's actions were also exposed in the slow-motion replay.

Elbowing Cazorla, showing the studs and stamping on Li Kang's supporting leg...

Danmaku flew everywhere.

The crowd was furious.

-【I said Arsenal aren't afraid of West Ham United, with the 200-million-euro man on pitch, the Gunners fear nothing.】

-【Good thing Li Mingdeng dodged fast, otherwise taking that from Payet would have broken his leg?】

-【Payet is an old offender; during his Ligue 1 days he often did such dirty deeds... He also likes to insult opposing players as animals on social media. Arsenal's passing and moving was a pleasure to watch, and Xiao Li Zi's final pass elevated the whole attack.】

-【The referee didn't react, huh? Does he only give a card if you actually stomped?】

-【That's Mike Dean! He used to go crazy celebrating when he scored for Tottenham.】

-【Are they going to fight?】

-【Xhaka and Mustafi! These two better not get another card.】

Referee Mike Dean, one of the Premier League's 'Fantastic Four Blind', nicknamed the 'North London Sniper'.

He has officiated Arsenal matches... the Gunners' win rate is under 10%.

Arsenal fans can list a bunch of this guy's controversial calls.

As the LED screen in mid-air began slow-motion replay of the 'highlight reel'.

The boos at Emirates Stadium instantly drowned out the cheers.

Yinsilongdun fans furiously raised their middle fingers.

Xhaka and Mustafi angrily charged toward Payet.

These two troublemakers were already troublemakers in the Bundesliga and La Liga.

Although they're a bit weak, their ferocity and acting are no less than the older generation's 'Four Evil Ones'.

Accompanied by the screams of nearby spectators.

Xhaka shoved Payet to the ground.

Mustafi tightly gripped the opponent's neck.

Players from both sides rushed to the scene.

West Ham United's penalty area instantly descended into chaos.

At the same time.

Referee Mike Dean saw nothing; he was still pressing his index finger to the earpiece, communicating with the assistant referee...

"The close-range audio pickup seems to have transmitted a few screams!"

"Both teams' substitutes and coaching staff also rushed onto the pitch."

"The security staff are under great pressure."

"The genteel Wenger and Bilic were shoving each other on the touchline..."

"Eh?"

"Mike Dean finally realized the chaos unfolding on the field."

"Emirates Stadium, smoke filling the air!"

"The first shot of the London derby!"

The Hammers' penalty area was filled with all kinds of vulgar language.

Carroll's combative blood boiled inside him...

After a while,

The chaos subsided.

The crowd dispersed, Xhaka and Mustafi collapsed on the grass with pained expressions.

Li Kang's 'Turn the Tide' module still hadn't triggered.

Mike Dean again pressed his index finger to the earpiece, showing a yellow card each to Payet and Carroll.

The stands erupted with even louder boos.

Arsenal fans thought the punishment was too lenient.

West Ham United fans thought it unfair: why weren't Xhaka and Mustafi, the two who 'struck first', punished?

"The director switched the camera; Carroll's yellow card is fine, but his gesturing to stop Xhaka and Mustafi was a bit excessive."

"Payet's yellow card was likely added after the assistant referee's reminder, to punish his elbow on Cazorla."

"Mike Dean walked toward the sideline..."

West Ham United players surrounded the referee all the way, protesting wildly.

Until Mike Dean raised his hand at Wenger.

The entire stadium erupted in an uproar!

Arsenal's head coach was ejected to the stands!

"Mike Dean's unique punishment is to hold Wenger accountable for his shove on Bilic!"

"Each gets fifty blows!"

"One blow landed on a West Ham United attacking player."

"One blow landed on the Arsenal head coach."

"Strictly speaking, Arsenal are the bigger losers, having lost their linchpin; they're likely to play passively in the upcoming matches."

"The head coach's in-game adjustments decide the course of the match."

Now it's Arsenal fans' turn to angrily protest.

Bilic and West Ham United fans clapped and cheered.

Wenger gestured for Boerde and the others not to waste time explaining.

He easily leapt over the advertising boards.

Step by step... he stepped onto the West Ham United stand!

His gaze swept over the entire Emirates Stadium.

The wind lifted his red tie.

The Arsenal head coach spread his hands.

Like a king standing atop a mountain range, overlooking his domain.

The nearby Hammer fans quickly recovered from their shock, offering the professor their most enthusiastic applause for his aura.

Which Premier League head coach dares to stand in the opposing fans' stand?

Pitchside.

Arsenal's coaching staff were a bit worried:

The opposing head coach, Bilic, has very strong in-game adjustment ability.

Now it's fine, our first-team head coach was sent off before halftime ended...

Boerde pressed down with both hands, tone firm:

"Stay calm, don't panic, we're leading by one goal!"

"The chief himself is slow in making adjustments."

"It's fine, we just need to watch Li's signals!"

Everyone looked at each other, nodding in agreement.

As long as our two-hundred-million-dollar man is on the pitch, Arsenal cannot be caught up three times like last season by the Hammers!

On the other side.

Bilic had adjusted his emotions.

He was not disturbed by what had just happened on the pitch.

He waved and summoned Ayu, Paye, and Antonio.

"Listen, our adjustment is simple..."

Zaka got up and provocatively glanced at Carroll.

Mustafi patted Li Kang's butt, saying: "Li, I watch the newly revised FIFA rules every night to understand the quirks of Premier League referees."

The team doctor gave a simple treatment to the bruised and swollen Cazorla, then quickly left the field.

The game restarted from the center circle.

Carroll kicked off, laying the ball off to Ayu.

There are many brother duos in world football: Hazard brothers, Inzaghi brothers, Toure brothers, Neville brothers, Boateng brothers, Lukaku brothers... etc.

The Ayu brothers are no exception; they made a name for themselves early in the Premier League.

But their father achieved even more.

Carroll slowly advanced toward Arsenal's half.

The Arsenal formation remained unchanged: a traditional English centre-forward hardly threatens the Mustafi-Maguire central defensive pairing.

Ayu passed the ball back to Creswell.

"West Ham United's press up front is fierce."

"Launch a long ball directly from the back?"

"The left-back is pressing deep!"

Bang!

The ball flew toward the left flank of Arsenal's half.

Antonio got into position early, his 190-pound weight leaning on Zaka.

After Bilic's coaching, this little black egg belongs to the type of all-round player who can play any position along the central axis in West Ham United's system.

The idea is simple.

No matter the position, using your body to solve the problem gets it done.

The ball landed on Antonio's chest, then bounced onto the turf.

Cazorla's timing in covering was excellent.

You could see he could just stretch his foot to knock the ball away.

A white-clad figure shot out from the side.

West Ham United number 27!

Paye!

He knows when to be dirty and when not to be.

The moment of contending for ball rights.

Must be dirty.

Dong!

Paye, running, slightly bent his waist, at the moment he approached the ball, he stomped the grass, exerted force from his waist and abdomen... his shoulder slammed hard into Cazorla's chest!

The latter, as if struck by lightning, could no longer control the ball before him.

Paye's right foot then passed the ball over.

Easily won this ball possession duel.

The left foot brushed the ball diagonally, cutting toward the middle.

Kasuola fell down again.

The referee didn't signal anything!

Zhaka was blocked in position by Andongniao, with no time to cover defense.

The Emirates Stadium rang again with fans' angry boos.

Paye's dribbling is too gorgeous!

Bilic used hands and feet, directing the team to push forward with a strange posture.

Just one goal behind.

We can catch up right away.

The Iron Hammer Gang's front‑field movement revolved around Paye.

Kuayte and Masuyaku exchanged positions.

Kaluoer tightly marked Makuier.

Ayou dropped back, frequently linking up with Paye's passes.

In the blink of an eye, Xinhanlian advanced into Asenna's thirty‑meter zone.

The direction of the football's passage quietly changed.

Bilic's new tactic will soon destroy Asenna's defense just like last season.

Li Kang stood before the back line, the shadow in his mind spreading wildly.

God's perspective deconstructed the opponent's offense.

In a flash.

A system prompt sounded softly.

【Ding, detected teammate Kasuola injured, 'Turning the Tide' module triggered!】

【You gained a special ability bonus: Balanced Feet LV4!】

【Additional trigger effect: Golden Right Foot.】

【Duration lasts until teammate recovers.】

Clatter.

The shadow in his mind suddenly halted, then frantically contracted.

The dense red lines of God's perspective gradually faded.

Li Kang's calm heart stirred with ripples.

Why would I feel a bit... when a teammate is injured?

He struggled to suppress that strange joy.

With the boost of golden left and right feet, there's no need to dissect the opponent's simple directional tactic; there's an even simpler, direct way to break through.

Paye looked at the oncoming Li Kang.

His face was full of contempt.

He's not stupid; rather, he's a very smart attacking player.

Qidanei's successor.

How could he fear such a head‑on tackle?

Head‑on tackle?

Head‑on tackle!

He was calculating Li Kang's step frequency and distance in his mind.

The irrepressible agitation and excitement showed on his face.

Come on.

Arsenal's two‑hundred‑million‑dollar man.

Come accept greater humiliation!

Emirates Stadium.

Paye started dancing.

Dropped shoulder.

Left foot flicked the ball.

Body turned.

Waiting for the moment Li Kang closed the distance.

Right foot pulled the ball again.

The whole stadium gasped.

"Marseille turn!"

"Truly worthy of being Qidanei's successor!"

"Li Kang's tackle this time was a bit careless."

"Asenna as a whole is still good at low‑position defending, not suited... wow!"

Li Kang didn't use any fancy retreat‑stop‑press‑weight‑sweep‑tackle...

The True Eye trembled and retreated into the void.

Nesta's phantom ability wasn't even applied to defense.

Paye himself thought this Marseille turn was very beautiful.

In his mind he couldn't help imagining the vast attacking space after shaking off the tackle...

Yes.

As long as you pass the ball...

Where's the ball?

He didn't touch anything under his feet.

He instinctively wanted to lift his knee and strike at Arsenal's number 10!

Too late!

His move was half a beat slow.

Suddenly, he felt a terrifying, surging force in his waist and abdomen.

The world within his sight lost its color; the green turf was dyed ink-black...

The next moment.

West Ham United's attacking core lost consciousness!

"The timing of the tackle and the speed of his foot are terrifying!"

"How did he do that?"

"The referee still hasn't signaled!"

"It was Li Kang who touched the ball first!"

The originally frenzied, enraged phantom of Nesta laughed schadenfreude, gradually fading with the wind.

Li Kang felt the mysterious sensation brought by his golden feet.

It's a full ability boost except for heading!

The Dual Feet Balance buff on the coefficient panel suddenly flickered.

In the distance, Cazorla clutched his chest, got up, raised his hand again to signal he was fine, telling Li Kang not to waste the attacking opportunity.

Is it already better that quickly?

Damn!

Cazorla has the 'Defective Injury Immunity' shackle!

No one from the Iron Hammer Gang cared about Payet's injury.

They can't afford to lose the ball again.

The pressing formation quickly shifted, soon organizing a counter-press.

Arsenal, under low defensive pressure, hadn't yet had time to build up attacking passes and runs.

Li Kang slowed his pace.

He was very patient, waiting for the sprints of Morata, Sanchez, and Walcott.

The Iron Hammer Gang's high press can be described in one word: power.

Last season, they used individual players' physical strength to forcibly break the passing rhythm of Arsenal genius midfielders like Ramsey and Wilshere.

Thus they shut down Arsenal away from home.

Kouyaté, Cresswell, and Antonio are among the best of them.

The three quickly caught up to Li Kang, who had deliberately slowed his pace.

Like a pack of wolves pouncing on a sheep.

They ferociously lunged at the 200-million-euro man.

Even if Drogba were on the pitch, he couldn't withstand our combined 550 pounds...

Wenger felt that watching the game from a high spot wasn't bad.

But the sight on the pitch was truly worrying.

His brows were tightly furrowed.

He couldn't hold it in.

His elegant demeanor was hard to maintain; he swore he would hammer McDean a few times after the match!

Bilic's expression remained calm.

He didn't pay attention to Payet's injury.

A core star who constantly causes a fuss over transfers, skipping training and matches... isn't worth much!

"It's not that easy."

"West Ham United isn't a pushover; their tenacity..."

Li Kang took a small step with his right foot.

The three Iron Hammer Gang members decisively shifted their weight to the left!

At the moment they reacted.

Li Kang's left foot... connected with an unimaginable move!

He fiercely pushed the ball diagonally forward.

Exactly the gap exposed by the three in this defense.

Immediately after.

The figure of Arsenal's number 10 shot past!

Left behind were the three Iron Hammer Gang members with dazed faces.

Holy shit!

This is, damn it, the teenage Baggio who didn't have his meniscus removed?

"A perfect step feint!"

"Terrifying foot balance and unimaginable ball control precision!"

So suave, so splendid!

Wenger was so surprised he opened his mouth wide.

Bilic stared blankly.

One can imagine that the Premier League coaching staff will again lose sleep tonight over a new research topic!

Smack!

Smack smack smack!

Applause surged like a tide.

「Lee！

！

「Lee！

！

「Lee！

！

In God's perspective.

Morata, Sanchez, and Walcott had already run into excellent space.

Former Arsenal may have lacked many things, but they never lacked a sharp striker.

West Ham United's defensive line was shaky, on the verge of collapse.

Goalkeeper Adrian had cursed his teammates a hundred times in his heart!

Both times they lost possession were because of Payet!

Even if the Hammers' defensive recovery speed were as fast as possible, it still couldn't match the speed of the pass.

A few passes tore through West Ham United's empty half.

The understanding in Arsenal's midfield and front line was too perfect.

Especially the chemistry between Morata and Li Kang.

The Spanish striker's footwork and passing awareness have, since joining Arsenal this season, let him faintly touch the threshold of the world's best tier.

Adrian was born in Seville and grew up in Real Betis' youth academy.

His dream has always been to become Spain's starting goalkeeper and lift the World Cup.

His dream seems within reach, right?

The two national team starters are only a few meters away from him.

Everyone is a fellow Spaniard.

When fellow countrymen meet, a hit from behind... is a cannon!

Morata casually knocked the ball sideways.

Li Kang came forward against the wind.

His body leaned.

He lifted his left foot.

Bang!

Accompanied by a terrifying boom that echoed through the night sky.

The ball was like a cannonball.

Carrying a fierce, domineering force, it swept over Adrian's head.

Exaggerated ball speed.

A straight trajectory.

It killed all hope.

West Ham United's net was again ripped open.

The Hammers' players stared dumbfounded...

2:0！

！

「Heavy cannon！

「An unstoppable close-range heavy cannon！

「An indescribably perfect coordination！

「Morata is always so unselfish; with this goal, he has successfully broken into the top four of the Premier League assist chart！

「Li Kang never lets his teammates' good intentions go to waste; he helped Arsenal extend their lead！

「One side's joy contrasts with the other's... huh? The referee's whistle blew, signaling the medical team and stretcher crew to enter the pitch！

「Cazorla is fine...

It's Payer!

In the livestream.

Comments flooded like a waterfall.

-【Little Li's classic heavy cannon!】

-【Li Mingdeng tonight, how did he seem to get stronger again?】

-【Who said he only uses his body to get past defenders? Isn't this three men beaten with dribbling skill?】

-【Looking at the replay, Bilic's adjustments were useful; they launched an attack centered on Payet, and when they reached Arsenal's 30-meter zone, they were preparing to shift the attack point, but they didn't expect Payet to go head-to-head with Little Li! Stupid!】

-【My draw, is there still hope?】

-【Yeah, last season West Ham United often trailed by two or three goals, then they'd score three or four in a row!】

-【Wake up, Li Mingdeng is on the opposite side, he won't give any chance.】

-【What's wrong with Payet? He's not dead, is he?】

-【Unconscious?】

-【Holy crap! He rolled his eyes!】

After a brief emergency treatment.

Payet dazedly opened his eyes, cold sweat pouring all over his body.

The world before his eyes regained its color.

「Li？」

「Li！」

「Don't let him come over! 」

The tone contained fear and unease.

Chief referee Mike Dean's expression was numb.

Urging the team doctor and stretcher team to quickly carry the dying Payet off the field.

Slap.

During the process of leaving the field.

The stretcher team didn't hold steady.

Payet fell heavily to the ground again.

Li Kang and his teammates embraced one by one.

The system panel's "Double Feet Balance LV4", "Golden Right Foot" buff effects flickered a few times and then completely disappeared.

Cazorla jogged over all the way, rubbed his pain-free chest, eyes dazed.

「Strange, how did my injury heal so quickly? 」

「Li! Which foot is your strong foot? 」

「Hmm, you gestured correctly! We can't be too lax, West Ham United's counterattack ability is strong, they'll revolve around Payet... forget it, Payet has been taken off. 」

「Xhaka, stay calm, next week's North London derby is the real tough battle! 」

「According to news from ahead, Payet's injury this time is very serious. 」

「From the slow-motion replay, it's also self-inflicted. 」

「West Ham United here has no choice but to make a substitution adjustment, Noble replaces Payet! 」

The match continued.

West Ham United, having lost Payet, saw its advancing ability greatly reduced.

Not the overall attacking ability.

It's the advancing ability.

Although Payet is slow, as the Hammers' indispensable 'forward free man', his linking play truly can serve as a core function.

Noble temporarily can't bear this responsibility.

Bilic's tactical thinking is very simple, because complex problems are left to the core players to handle.

With Payet's serious injury.

West Ham United's upcoming schedule will be very tough.

A system built around a single core is very fragile.

But people believe in the Hammers' tenacity, believing they will soon rise again and swing the 'robbing the rich to help the poor' cleaver at the Premier League BIG6!

The match had no suspense.

Arsenal no longer has Wenger, but still has Li Kang.

Under the command of the two-hundred-million-dollar man, teammates sliced through West Ham United's defense like cutting melons and vegetables.

The sudden drop in defensive pressure.

Let Maguire and Mustafi also squeeze into the front line, becoming heading giants!

What about the back line?

Bellerín and Monreal, two little guys feeling wronged, switched their roles from full-back to center-back.

Of course.

In front of them there is still a Xhaka.

Wenger crossed his arms over his chest, happily watching the formation change on the green field.

Even if still worried about the Hammers' script of chasing three goals to overturn.

「Even if West Ham United counterattacks, in terms of numbers they cannot pose too big a threat to us. 」

「Carroll is not good at counterattacking in open play; his aerial advantage can only be shown in set-piece situations. 」

「Ayew, who originally excelled at counterattacks, has no speed advantage over Bellerín and Monreal... 」

「Li... he is truly outstanding. 」

Time passed unnoticed.

Hammers fans gradually left the stadium as the score gap widened.

Only the Arsenal fans' singing remained at the Emirates Stadium.

Finally.

Chief referee Mike Dean glanced at his watch.

He blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.

Arsenal 6:0 West Ham United!

A thoroughly exhilarating victory.

Arsenal suffered no casualties.

Li Kang looked at his lively, jumping teammates with a hint of regret...

"Li, we'll definitely be able to overturn Tottenham next week!"

"Arsenal is the King of London!"

The system prompt sounded again.

【Ding! Congratulations on unlocking the achievement: King of London!】

【Current progress: 1/5.】

【...】