Chapter 298: A Hard-to-Chew Toffee (Daily Transition)

Beautiful!

The ball went in!

What a fantastic match, the two teams seemed to be greeting each other by breaking into each other's goal right at kickoff!

Li Kang's exquisite through-ball!

Maguire scored with a push shot, Arsenal equalized!

To make amends, just a few minutes ago he had given the opponents a penalty!

Look at the replay, that pass was perfect...

Half-season champions, the suspense returns.

The screen displayed the real-time Premier League standings.

Chelsea, who had just finished their match, currently top the table.

The livestream room.

-【The cookie brought to the mouth...】

-【It was Li Kang pressing Maguire's head, making him swallow it.】

-【Even my grandma could kick this ball in!】

-【I feel Maguire's shot is steadier than Morata's!】

-【Look, Li Mingdeng dodged that challenge from Benes! Left foot landing and touching the ball repeatedly! So cool, Messi and Robben possessed!】

-【The future king's style of play!】

-【Fun fact: After the millennium, if Chelsea win the half-season title, their chance of winning the Premier League is 100%!】

Stamford Bridge.

Abu agonized for a long time, but still turned off the TV.

His feelings were conflicted.

One side hoped Arsenal would lose, while the other hoped Li Kang would win.

"Boss, Li and Wenger get along very well, he might not be able to... with Conte..."

"Fabregas has been kept on the bench by Conte for a long time, Diego Costa is likely to face... from the coaching staff..."

"Alright, stop snitching in front of me!"

Goodison Park Stadium.

Arsenal fans' voices drowned out the toffee.

Maguire excitedly shouted, turned and hugged Li Kang, spinning him around once.

For a defender, nothing makes up for the guilt of a defensive mistake better than scoring a goal.

"Li, thank you!"

"Let go of Li quickly, equalizing isn't enough! We need to win!"

Arsenal players lifted the ball, celebrating while running back to the center circle.

Robles helplessly spread his hands.

In Everton's squad, the competition for the goalkeeper position is fierce; this summer they also signed the 34-year-old Stekelenburg.

Lukaku pointed at Arsenal's goal, urging teammates: "Don't panic, their defense isn't much stronger than Manchester City's!"

Pitchside.

Boerde raised his arms and shouted.

Wenger celebrated briefly, then sat back on the bench.

"The pressure we'll face ahead will be great."

"We can't let Li and Xhaka swap positions!"

The other side.

Koeman's emotions seemed unaffected by conceding a goal.

He kept pulling the young midfielders aside, whispering continuously.

This Barcelona legend isn't good at building systems, but is excellent at making in-game adjustments.

His chubby fingers kept moving on the small tactics board.

"Pull yourselves together, did you all understand?"

"It's not difficult at all."

"If I were thirty years younger, meeting an opponent like Li would get me really excited!"

The match resumed.

Milner kicked off and passed back to Barkley.

Arsenal's forwards quickly surged past the midfield line.

After the ball was slowly played out, it flew again from Everton's backfield to the flank.

"Still look for Benes!"

"Can Xhaka win this second head-to-head duel?"

The Premier League season is halfway through.

The developing Xhaka has been given many nicknames by fans: Reverse Vieira, Lu Liangwei, Card-eating Master, Rusty Metronome.

Without a doubt.

He was again devoured raw by Everton's captain!

He didn't even get a chance to foul!

It's not saying he's bad.

But Barnes's form this season is like a dying flare, his combat power is through the roof!

"It's over again!"

"Montreal's positioning is very timely!"

"Oh no, the gap behind was taken by Lukaku!"

"Which side is the Little Monster kicking?"

Barnes flicked the ball up with his left foot in a stylish way.

The ball rose off the ground, lightly skimming over Montreal's head.

Arsenal's left flank was torn open!

"Lukaku!"

"Oh no!"

"The judgment of the landing point is not accurate enough!"

"Mustafi easily controls the ball!"

Boos erupted everywhere.

Everton fans both love and hate the Little Monster: clearly, if he stops the ball, he could get a great attacking chance!

Lukaku clapped his hands, turned his head, and gave the captain a thumbs-up.

Mustafi stopped the ball, suddenly feeling something was off.

Did Everton's front-line players not come forward to press?

No need to think too much.

As long as I pass the ball to Li... no, there are too many defenders around Li, I don't have such good footwork.

With a slap.

He chose to pass the ball to Maguire.

Old Ma raised his arm, signaling his front-line teammates to pay attention and keep distance from Li Kang.

"Arsenal's attack!"

"Wow!"

"This time they opened up the width!"

The five attacking points up front led by Li Kang! A bullet moment of swift wind and sudden rain!

"How can Everton defend against this!"

"Eh? The ball is lost!"

Near the midfield circle.

The instant Xhaka received a back-field pass, he was besieged by Barkley, McCarthy, and Tom Davies!

It's just to catch you for your slow ball distribution!

Counter-attack Vieira!

Slap!

The ball was lost.

The ball came back.

Xhaka struggled to maintain possession.

Arsenal's entire attacking rhythm was slowed...

No matter how well the front's width is spread, it's useless.

At this moment, if Arsenal's front and back lines coordinate, they will be caught out of position!

In the end, the ball was still lost.

In the chaos, Barkley shoved the ball hard!

The night sky over Merseyside turned blue.

Everton fans erupted in cheers as the football's trajectory spread.

Mustafi, preparing to step up and follow up, felt his intestines turn green with regret!

Damn, he really got caught out of position.

He suddenly turned around and looked back.

Maguire had to face Everton's two forwards: Mirallas and Lukaku!

One defender against two?

By the sideline.

Boerde was shocked and dismayed.

Wenger furrowed his brow.

Koeman's face flushed, he clenched his fists... Success! No matter how you, the arsenal, widen your attacking width, we Everton's midfield will narrow and choke your rusty metronome!

If the front dares to drop back and support, don't attack!

If the back dares to support, we'll hit you out of position!

"Danger!"

"Mirallas received the ball with his back to goal and laid it off to Lukaku!"

"A beautiful wall-pass combination!"

"It's going to happen!"

"Cech wildly raised his hands, but Maguire couldn't see it!"

The thirty-meter area.

Maguire simply didn't dare to challenge.

He knew he was slow to turn.

One-on-two defending? That's something only monstrous centre-backs like Van Dijk, Varane, Boateng, Mascherano, Chiellini, Thiago Silva, Godin... could do!

In a flash.

His brain raced.

He chose to block Mirallas.

As for Lukaku, whose shooting is a notch lower...

Leave it to Cech!

Little Monster dribbled to the top of the Arsenal penalty arc.

Thud!

He struck it hard with the instep!

Tens of thousands of fans now held their breath.

The ball wailed... and flew over the crossbar...

"What a shame!"

"What a waste of a glorious one-on-one chance!"

"Everton's midfield setup is highly targeted!"

Lukaku clutched his head, fell to his knees on the turf... then spat, wiped his face with his jersey, turned and gave his teammates a thumbs-up.

Cech instinctively glanced ahead at Morata...

Wenger let out a sigh of relief.

Koeman fumed on the sidelines, pounding the ground, his hair disheveled, his trousers strained to the limit by his huge backside... After composing himself, he still gave his players two thumbs‑up: keep playing like this, Arsenal won't top the league at Goodison Park!

Live stream.

-【It's a bit weird.】

-【Manchester City also seemed to have been given a good thrashing by Everton like that, and ended up being blood‑bathed.】

-【You can't blame Xhaka for being weak; Manchester City's Yaya Touré, a world‑class holding midfielder, finally got a starting spot under Guardiola, yet even he couldn't handle the entanglement of Everton's three‑man midfield.】

-【A single defensive midfielder definitely couldn't cope with the pressure from three genius midfielders, and Xhaka has already done well.】

-【Unless it's Busquets, whose traits mean he doesn't fear such swarming.】

-【What to do then? Should Arsenal switch to a double pivot, having Li Mingdeng and Xhaka shorten their running distances? Or adopt a parallel positioning?】

-【As for the attacking width and tempo... how to put it? Everton doesn't necessarily need to win the ball back; their main aim is to choke Arsenal's build‑up, strangling the source of their progression.】

-【As the saying goes, after dominating half the season, Premier League coaching staff naturally devised corresponding counters.】

Li Kang's thoughts were much the same as the netizens'.

But he still felt the situation wasn't too tough.

Everton's tactical system?

Koeman didn't carry out a major overhaul; he merely made some targeted tweaks.

His coaching style seemed somewhat like his own...

He instinctively patted Xhaka on the back of the head, signalling him not to feel overly guilty.

Cech launched a goal kick.

The match continued.

Li Kang returned to his familiar deep‑lying midfield position.

Koeman pulled up his trousers, then immediately ordered the three midfield "little workers" to retreat, strengthening defensive depth.

"Arsenal are playing a bit like Barcelona."

"Their build‑up speed is very slow."

"We've noticed... Everton's midfield and defensive lines, in both width and depth... Li Kang has sped up! Wow! Everton's formation changes are incredibly fast!"

"Li Kang has slowed down."

"If that's the case, the game will shift into a positional battle; so far this season, Everton's positional defence has a hint of Chelsea about it..."

A dull scene.

Intense strategic contest.

It left some fans worrying: will Li Kang and Koeman cramp up?

Time ticked by second by second.

The Everton players' performance was extremely tenacious and resilient.

Koeman was so exhausted his elbows ached.

During the dead‑ball period.

He hastily took a sip of mineral water and loudly urged Deulofeu, Bolasie and the others to keep warming up.

Everton's bench lacks everything except weird‑style wingers, who can piece together many attacking patterns.

Once Arsenal's factory had been figured out, the Premier League gradually returned to its hellish difficulty.

Boerde paced back and forth anxiously.

"Most of Li's traits are tightly shackled by Everton."

"No space to launch."

"If he moves slightly forward, they immediately switch to marking Xhaka."

"Maguire and Mustafi's long‑pass accuracy isn't enough either; if we go straight forward, the landing zone lacks numerical superiority."

"Everton is like a piece of sticky toffee—frustrating and nauseating."

Wenger occasionally glanced at the bench, unable to find a more suitable personnel adjustment plan for the moment.

Time passed.

Beep! Beep-beep~

The head referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the first half.

Fans from both sides rushed out of their seats, unable to wait... aside from the two opening goals, the rest of the match had too many dull moments.

Li Kang and his teammates walked off the pitch, receiving water, dry towels, and bananas handed over by the coaching staff.

Koeman hurried over, grinning as he slapped his shoulder, then quickly slipped into the tunnel.

The heir of the all-out attack-defense philosophy... is not always mutually admiring.

Everton locker room.

Koeman tapped the tactics board.

"Pay attention!"

"In the second half we will still adjust our formation according to Li's position."

"Don't worry about the others, focus on marking Xhaka—he's our defensive focus! The aim is to drag out Arsenal's tempo and force Li to drop back!"

"If Cazorla drops back to become the distributor, then McCarthy and Barkley had better not come back! Don't tell me you two can't handle him!"

"We successfully put Arsenal on the back foot! Indirectly, their two flanks can't receive the ball smoothly!"

"I will bring on Deulofeu and Lennon in the second half! Arsenal's unbeaten myth will be shattered at Goodison Park Stadium!"

Arsenal locker room.

Wenger noticed a bouquet placed on the table.

The petals were red and white.

It was a variety he couldn't name.

Koeman, this guy, is he imitating himself?

The fresh hotspot map was spread out.

"We played a bit too hastily in the first half, causing the midfield and front line to often disconnect."

"Forget about the half-season title!"

"Everton's positional defense is not impregnable."

"Compared to Chelsea, they have a very obvious flaw: their defensive spaces tend to overlap!"

After briefly outlining the second-half tasks, Wenger patted Li Kang's shoulder: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Li Kang nodded seriously.

From God's perspective, red lines intertwined, replaying the details of the first half.

The fifteen-minute break ended.

Goodison Park Stadium reignited with passion.

Players from both sides slowly returned to the pitch.

Deulofeu greeted Li Kang and Bellerín separately.

During that trip to Japan years ago, they had been teammates in the national team's second squad.

"Good evening, friends, welcome back."

"We are now broadcasting live Everton's home match against Arsenal!"

"In the first half, both sides exchanged attacks, and the score was tied at 1-1!"

"Koeman was the first to make a substitution adjustment!"

"Deulofeu came on for Williams!"

"A winger replaced a center-back!"

"The formation is expected to shift from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3—no, wait, it's 4-2-3-1!"

"Coleman and Baines will sit deeper."

"On Arsenal's side, no personnel changes have been made yet."

Beep!

Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

The second half began.

Arsenal possession.

After a few passes, the ball crossed the midfield line.

Xhaka looked a bit confused.

The opponent's formation change did not reduce his passing pressure.

The key is Deulofeu this guy.

Possessing the world's fifth-highest terrifying step frequency, and his ability to anticipate interceptions on passing lanes is extremely strong.

With a slap.

The ball was lost again.

"Yaya Touré's predicament is being replayed on Xhaka."

"One-on-one!"

"Lukaku!"

"Wow!"

"That was close!"

"Cech's timely rush! He neutralized the danger!"

Powerful hand throw!

This time we found Li Kang!

Nice! Shaken off Tom Davis! Sped up, then squeezed past Coleman! Excellent pass!

Morata was not offside!

Too bad!

Baines cleared it just in time!

The nearby stands burst into waves of exclamations.

The flow of time seemed to speed up.

Different from the first half.

The second half returned to the Premier League pace.

Possession changed hands back and forth.

Fierce physical battle.

Referee Clattenburg's yellow cards filled the names of players from both sides.

A bitter struggle.

It was a bitter struggle for both sides.

Deulofeu's appearance broke the Arsenal coaching staff's halftime setup.

He sometimes participated in organizing on the flank, sometimes moved toward the center, adjusting Arsenal's defensive positioning.

He doesn't really get much possession.

But he repeatedly helped Coleman and Baines create good forward runs.

He's literally a 'downgraded version of 91 Messi!'

And Li Kang was also gradually strangling the Toffees' defense.

Launched a breakout from the spot.

Traced a devilish arc.

Immortal's finger pointing rips space...

But luck is always just a little off.

Everton's parallel defensive line also greatly strengthened its depth defense during the formation changes.

Minute 63 of the match.

Cazorla dropped back to receive Zak.

After getting the ball, he turned and launched a long pass.

Li Kang held off Mori on the left flank, then with his back to goal lofted the ball into the box!

Morata leapt high.

Header!

Thud!

The football shot like a cannonball, violently smashing into the lower right corner of Everton's goal!

Not that easy.

McCarthy, who had been assigned early to goal-line defense, cleared the ball out for a corner with his chest!

Youngster McCarthy!

His performance was too outstanding!

Everton's aerial defense has been doing well!

They've done their homework thoroughly.

Komán's face flushed red, his hands constantly pressing down in the air, gesturing to his disciples not to make any more mistakes.

Wenger's expression remained calm, he clapped loudly.

The atmosphere in the stands also gradually reached a climax.

Both sides' cheering slogans floated back and forth above Goodison Park.

The Toffees' fans certainly don't want the opponent to win the second-half championship.

The Arsenal fans' feelings were like riding a roller coaster.

Minute 70 of the match.

Everton got a chance.

Barkley successfully intercepted the ball in Arsenal's half, forty-meter zone.

Decisively switched to the flank.

Deulofeu displayed a dreamlike cadence, trampling over Maguire from the front!

That's right.

This type of winger is the nemesis of Arsenal's heavily armored central defenders.

What a great chance!

Lukaku took Mustafi away!

Mirallas is in a great position!

Why isn't Deulofeu passing the ball!

I'll take a shot myself!

Wow! It's an inside-of-the-foot curler!

We seem to have seen young Messi!

「Chuh! 」

「The body stretched to the extreme! 」

「A brilliant save! 」

The 78th minute of the match.

Morata attracted two centre-backs.

Giroud cut into the penalty area.

Everton's defensive line was thrown into utter chaos.

The ball rolled to the left side of the penalty area.

Li Kang accelerated, shook off Barkley, and fired a powerful shot!

「Thud! 」

The ball slammed heavily into the crossbar, ricocheting towards the stands!

The whole crowd sighed.

Arsenal's number 10 jersey was already soaked with sweat.

Koeman's voice was hoarse from shouting.

Wenger regrettably covered his forehead.

Always just a little bit short.

The Gunners' perfect season—could it really fall into a slump in Merseyside?

Time passed minute by minute.

The mighty presence of the Toffees' fans occupied Goodison Park.

Their team will hold the Premier League giants to a draw tonight.

What's this Guardiola-style Manchester City?

What's this 200‑million‑euro man?

Coming to the blue Merseyside army, they will surely return empty‑handed!

The Arsenal fans watching the Gunners struggle on the pitch gradually began to console themselves: "It's okay, not winning the match is fine; it's just a half‑season champion, after all—not the Premier League title."

Damn it.

Why has this year's slump come earlier than in previous years?

The match entered injury time.

With Baines' timely clearance, Arsenal's attack was thwarted again.

While Bellerin went to retrieve the ball,

Li Kang bent down, placed both palms on his knees, and gasped for air.

In God's perspective.

Countless red lines stretched out densely.

Everton's tactical system is very simple.

But Koeman's attention to detail made the defensive arrangement too perfect.

In the field of view, aside from the drowsy True Eye, no other legendary apparitions appeared.

No.

What is condensing in the wind?

Red‑blue number 10?

White‑clad number 11!

「Bellerin should pass the ball to Li Kang! 」

「Indeed! 」

「Everton's three defenders are closing in! 」

「There's hardly any chance! 」

「Li Kang's connection with Morata and Giroud has also been cut off. 」

「Is it a pass back... or should we go hard? 」

The LED screen in mid‑air showed the time as 92:23.

The last thirty‑seven seconds.

Arsenal is about to miss out on the half‑season championship.

Koeman sat back on the bench, rubbing his palms.

For a small club, nothing is more satisfying than thwarting a powerhouse.

Boerde hung his head, dispirited.

Wenger still stood in the technical area, body straight.

Li Kang received Bellerin's sideline throw‑in on the wing.

He turned and accelerated.

He shook off Tom Davies, who was blocking head‑on from the outside.

In the field of view.

The phantom of Barcelona's number 10 and Real Madrid's number 11 gradually overlapped.

His feet dug hard into the turf.

In an instant, a terrifying speed burst forth!

His steps became ever more frequent.

The moment he was intercepted.

His left foot tapped the ground repeatedly as he stopped abruptly and changed direction!

Made McCarthy and Barkley lose their balance!

The spectators in the nearby stands couldn't help but exclaim!

"This is..."

"Lateral dribbling on the wing!"

"Unbelievable!"

"Oh dear!"

"Mori couldn't keep up!"

"Li Kang's footwork..."

"Approaching the top of the penalty area arc!"

"Baines!"

"Can't stop Li Kang!"

"Cut inside!"

"Shot!"

Thud!

Everton players' tense nerves.

The football drew an elegant arc in the air above Goodison Park.

Koeman stared, mouth agape.

Wenger looked astonished.

The Toffee fans felt despair.

The Arsenal fans enjoyed the sudden happiness.

Robles gave it his all!

Even if his arms were a few centimeters longer, it couldn't change the outcome.

Everton's net was lifted.

1:2!

!

The second hand pointed to twelve.

A last‑minute winner!

Arsenal secured the Premier League half‑season title in the final moment of injury time!