Chapter 268: Again Bale?

Madrid.

A tranquil house.

Modric pressed his hand on Bale's shoulder.

The television emitted a burst of intense commentary.

The latter displeasedly said: "You're taking up my golf time; why would you think to watch the Tottenham match live? Isn't Levy the person you hate most? We just need to wait for the coaching staff to do the technical analysis of the footage."

"Don't discuss tactics with me! I got sick of hearing about Southampton when I was young... Wait... Their opponent is Li?"

Modric laughed: "Relax, relax, our old club is going to cause trouble for Li!"

Bale shook his head: "I believe in Li; he will surely win."

Lewokusen.

The coaching staff sat around in the training base cafeteria.

The outreach staff also gathered in front of the television.

Dino wondered: "Boss, how is Tottenham so strong? How did we win our group stage?"

Tuopu Laotou crossed his arms in front of his chest, impatiently saying: "Because I saw through Pochettino's tactics!"

Belenta Teacher couldn't hold back: "Last time Pochettino didn't use this tactic against us... they were all substitutes."

"Tottenham gave up midfield pressing, and didn't even field that strong Dembélé... I'm not referring to the young genius Dembélé from Borussia Dortmund; their forward and defensive lines appear disconnected, but the individual abilities at both ends of the formation are excellent, and the functions of the attack and defense lines are unaffected. If Arsenal's front line had a sane Balotelli, they could easily win the match..."

White Deer Lane Stadium.

The spectators were anxious as Li Kang fell into a "thirty-minute goal drought."

Wenger paced back and forth in the technical area.

But Tottenham were equally anxious.

The price of abandoning midfield battles is not getting the ball.

Pochettino rubbed his nose, trying to conceal his impatient feelings:

Wait for your Arsenal to speed up in the forty-meter zone.

What about passing and cutting?

Why is it always a uniform-speed pass-and-run attack probing?

Alli was also a bit unhappy.

This genius attacking player relies heavily on teammates' cover; Kane occasionally drops back, depriving him of the shielding from late runs from behind.

But overall, both sides have chances and are waiting for the other to make a mistake.

Minute 35 of the match.

Welbeck made a mistake.

After receiving Li Kang's through ball, he failed to notice Morata's position.

Instead, he chose to dribble himself, attempting to break through Vertonghen's frontal interception.

With a 'pa' sound.

He was cleanly dispossessed.

"Kane dropped back in the front."

"It's still the same approach."

"Ah, this time we found Eriksen!"

"Peng!"

Left-footed centre-back, the European luxury-brand pass once again bypassed Arsenal's pressing net.

Eriksen.

Joined Ajax at 16, won award at 19: Danish Footballer of the Year.

Tottenham's true midfield supercore.

Limited by this match's tactics, his organizational contribution has not yet been unleashed.

Tottenham, does it need a midfield supercore? Perhaps it needs more a lethal passer who can seize chances outside the box.

Eriksen is indeed gradually changing himself according to the team's characteristics.

This caused the audience of this historical era to temporarily overlook his organizational ability.

Meanwhile.

Li Kang roughly judged the opponent's attacking direction.

He was preparing to go help defend Koscielny's side.

A strong phantom surged forth.

West Ham United number 6!

Bobby Moore!

Emperor Star!

In Li Kang's mind, no fragment of difficult moves or skills surfaced.

Rather, it was a retro defensive mindset.

A retro offensive mindset.

In God's perspective, Pochettino's tactics were like a thick fog, quietly torn apart by a golden line.

"This time there was no pass to the flank!"

"Arsenal's midfield contraction isn't that tight anymore; they fear a repeat of the opening-stage crisis!"

"Zakaria's pressing forward!"

"Very fierce!"

He knows full well that the opponent's physique is relatively weak, and needs to increase the confrontation intensity.

Eriksen is not in a hurry.

His supporting foot lay horizontally between Zakka and the ball, easing the slight disadvantage in head‑to‑head confrontation.

Then he fiercely pressed down on the ball!

A breathtaking scene unfolded!

The ball, like a mischievous sprite, lightly darted past Zakka's side!

The coming‑to‑help Cazorla could do nothing about it.

"Excellent!"

"The Danish midfielder's ball sense is amazing, making one slap the table and shout in admiration!"

"Zakka is at a disadvantage when facing this type of player!"

"His speed is also very fast!"

"He successfully shook off..."

Duan Xuan hadn't finished speaking.

Eriksen just went around Zakka!

The man passed, the ball passed.

Tottenham once again stirred up a youth storm in Arsenal's half!

By the pitch.

Pochettino clapped loudly.

He and Wenger share a trait: they give front‑line players great freedom, encouraging their disciples to dare to break through and to take long shots...

The other side.

Boerde looked tense.

Unable to contain himself, he shouted at the defenders on the pitch!

Wenger hurried to stop him.

"Don't panic, it's not that dangerous."

Arsenal's back line had made thorough preparations.

Eriksen's playing style is very suave.

His dribbling speed is seriously underestimated.

His elegant ball‑touching steps are like dancing gracefully on the green field.

Exactly.

Tottenham's "midfield‑defensive disconnect" tactic stifled Eriksen's organizational ability, yet gave his individual combat ability a full stage to shine.

Zakka and Cazorla can't catch up!

The stands at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham fans shouted wildly!

Wimbledon fans strained to make booing sounds, wishing they could use their voice to affect Tottenham's attacking rhythm...

Can Arsenal's back line still block a few of Tottenham's fierce attacks?

The thirty‑meter area.

Walker exerted all his strength, moving up to support Eriksen nearby.

The latter again dug his studs into the turf, the ball's distance from his body grew ever greater, and his stride frequency quickened!

"Straight to the yellow dragon!"

"It's so rare; Eriksen seems to have returned to his Ajax-era style."

"Maguire's positioning is excellent."

"Can he get past?"

Maguire is a little nervous.

He has always disliked opponents with good ball sense, fast speed, and good passing...

A severe test has come again.

Who knows whether the opposition will pass or break through at this moment?

Suddenly.

A figure loomed across in front of him.

Only a "pa" sound was heard.

Ma Daitou didn't have time to see what happened!

The ball bounced high, leaping over Eriksen's head.

It landed on the chest of Arsenal's number 10.

"Beautiful!"

"Eriksen was about to pass the ball to Alli in the middle."

"Li Kang slid in and won the ball."

"His speed getting up is too fast!"

"Unbelievable!"

"A very retro yet effective way of winning the ball!"

Walker, who was providing support nearby, quickly launched a counter‑press.

He is a very perfect full‑back.

Attack and defense integrated.

Speed fast, body strong.

Audiences have long looked forward to the showdown between him and Li Kang.

Li Kang adjusts his two-step position!

Lean back with his back!

The approaching Walker only stalled in posture, his movement not greatly deformed.

Just about to stretch his leg.

The ball has already rolled toward the diagonal front, Cazorla.

Li Kang's body surges forward!

Even if Walker is strong, he can't overcome inertia; one misstep and he almost falls!

He gets up from rolling and crawling and chases back!

Chase who?

Chase Cazorla?

Bang!

Arsenal's midfield magician touches the ball with one foot.

Arsenal's number 10, while running, smoothly meets the ball.

The joy and sorrow of both sides' fans instantly reverse.

«Having such an excellent midfield, the defensive players hardly have any pressure. »

«Maguire also rushed up! »

«The director gave Li Kang a close‑up shot. »

«Pay attention to his gesture. »

«Arsenal should seize the moment when Tottenham's right‑flank defense is not yet in position, using numerical advantage to launch a fierce attack! »

Madrid.

Bang!

Modric couldn't help slamming the table: «Li no longer dwells on how to break Tottenham's tactics; he uses an old‑school way to defend, then directly attacks the weak side of Tottenham's defense exposed in this time frame! »

Bale stared at the screen, frowning: «If I were Li, I could easily open up the attack. »

«I'll check his Premier League goal count… what? »

Live broadcast room.

Danmaku flies thick.

-【Pochettino wanted to give up midfield strangling, cover the midfield's weakness, and devote himself to cultivating both attack and defense, never expecting little Li to also drag on that long.】

-【Li Kang is very smart; he knows Maguire can't stop Eriksen head‑on, so he didn't bother protecting the isolated Koscielny!】

-【Tottenham is just one breath away; the match is like that, the title race is like that.】

-【What's the rush? Arsenal isn't that easy to score either!】

-【Toby and Vertonghen's chance to shine has come!】

-【Don't forget there's also Wanyama, a defensive midfielder whose Premier League tackle success rate is only behind Kanté's!】

-【Plus Lloris, his save data from last season's Premier League...】

-【Still bringing up Lloris? He got smashed by little Li in the Euro Cup! France's classic backdrop, to be passed down for decades!】

-【Li Mingdeng's Premier League match will have a difficult process! But it won't be a tragic result! Rest assured! He'll blast Tottenham in minutes!】

White Deer Lane.

The roles of booing and cheering have reversed.

The intensity of the North London Derby isn't just in close‑quarters combat; more of it is the back‑and‑forth attacking!

Boerde exclaimed in amazement: «Chief, Li is too outstanding; you must have given him advance orders... »

Wenger shook his head, laughing: «I never assigned Li any task... »

Bobby Moore's virtual shadow gradually faded.

Replaced by the virtual shadow of White Lily No. 3.

Not number 11.

Also not number 16.

It's Bale from his time as Tottenham's left‑back!

The Great Sage descends!

In a moment.

Li Kang burst out with an exaggerated burst of speed, shaking off Son Heung‑min who slid in from the flank!

«Too fast. »

«An unthinkable union of man and ball! »

«A long‑range high‑speed raid down the sloping flank»

«He really doesn't pass the ball! »

«The sense of power shown by his running posture is too beautiful! »

«The 200‑million‑dollar demon king's terrifying impact at White Deer Lane! »

Wanyama is strong.

His defensive numbers from the holding midfield spot are second only to Chelsea's Kanté.

However, Conte is still developing Kanté's attacking traits, while Wanyama continues to diligently keep up the "engineer" role, handling Tottenham's dirty work.

He has no share in the attack.

He fights for first place in defense.

Excellent coverage ability.

His one-on-one defensive toughness.

Strong physical confrontation.

If he had been born a few years earlier, arriving before football tactics underwent major changes, perhaps he would have made his mark at a top club.

Near the edge of the center circle.

Wan Yama charged at Li Kang!

He lacks the bulky build of a Kenyan, his frame is lean, yet he fears no physical confrontation!

The defensive midfielder forged at Southampton.

How could he fear the style of a fast winger?

In his mind he already envisioned after a successful steal... who to pass it to!

Smack!

Li Kang tapped the ball forward.

He accelerated again.

He went wide.

Wan Yama didn't even get a chance to kick.

He froze slightly.

He turned his head again...

He only saw the back of Arsenal's number 10... drifting further away.

Oh dear!

Wan Yama was utterly eaten up by Li Kang!

Too terrifying!

Just using speed alone ripped through Tottenham's first defensive line!

Pitchside.

Pochettino remained composed.

He trusted the defensive line's strength.

Tottenham is no longer a defensive weak point that any Premier League side can breach!

From God's perspective.

They lost an irreplaceable Walker.

Toby, Vertonghen, and Rose shifted to a three-center-back formation!

Lloris shouted loudly, his voice instantly drowned out by the White Hart Lane crowd.

The French goalkeeper had tasted defeat in the European Cup... back then his teammates ahead of him were still Koscielny and Umtiti...

Vertonghen made a gesture, having roughly anticipated Arsenal's next attacking move, signaling his two partners to hold their positions.

In a brief instant.

This top defender made his choice: he would step up to challenge.

Arsenal's number 10 was cut off from his teammates.

He only needed to impede Li Kang's progress to succeed.

Dale and Walker are very fast.

Arsenal other players' forward *** can't keep up with Tottenham's overall defensive recovery speed.

The thirty-meter area.

Vertonghen slammed into Li Kang like a heavy truck.

Bale's phantom flashed a blinding white light.

At the same time.

A long-unseen red-and-white phantom struggled into view.

Arsenal's number 10.

Bergkamp.

The evening breeze at White Hart Lane fluttered the jerseys.

The young Arsenal player on the pitch, composed in demeanor.

The frame seemed to skip.

Extreme speed suddenly vanished.

A gentle chip.

The ball left his right foot.

In midair he drew a flawless short arc, lightly bending around the towering Vertonghen.

He had no time to react.

How to brake?

Where is the ball?

Even Arsenal's number 10 before his eyes had vanished?

When did he dart past his own side!

Under the gaze of everyone present.

Li Kang assumed a perfect shooting stance.

He swung his arm.

He lifted his foot.

He was graceful and composed.

This moment.

It seemed as if all of North London was cheering for him.

Pop!

A faint crisp sound!

It made all Hot Spur fans' hearts plummet to the depths.

The football spun violently.

Its trajectory was like a gorgeous ribbon.

In mid-air it was dreamlike and illusory.

Hard and soft combined!

The simple arc... made Luoli extremely nervous.

Boqiedinuo looked bewildered.

Modeliji stared, mouth agape.

Wenge instinctively reached for the zipper... then realized he was wearing a suit today.

When everyone came to their senses.

The ball had already fallen into Hot Spur's goal.

0:1!

!

White Deer Lane Stadium, silent and soundless.

After a few seconds of silence.

Applause surged like a tide toward Arsenal's number 10 on the pitch!

"This ball!"

"Too elegant!"

"The elegant arc that split the sky!"

"Unparalleled lofted dribble!"

"The graceful turn and flying volley!"

"Li Kang went solo! Helped Arsenal break the deadlock!"