Chapter 311: Popeye!!! (Daily Transition)

CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, friends and viewers.

We are now live broadcasting the 2016-17 Premier League season, Arsenal at home against Southampton.

Can the Saints break their away winless curse and repeat the massacre at St Mary's Stadium?

Last season, Southampton thrashed Arsenal 4-0; can Wenger avenge that tonight?

Let's wait and see.

Southampton have never won against Arsenal away.

But they have never lost to Arsenal at home either; the scores in their last two meetings were 2-0 and 4-0.

The head coach at the time is now Everton's manager, Koeman.

The player tunnel.

Welbeck looked somewhat glum, ignoring his teammates' greetings.

Gibbs punched him in the chest: "You idiot, you finally got a starting chance—shouldn't you be happy?"

Xiao Heidan shook his head and whispered: "Li Kang is sitting on the bench."

Gibbs couldn't retort at once and weakly said: "And me—I'll pass you the ball."

To avoid giving Chamberlain another scapegoat again, Gibbs grew his hair long.

Welbeck pouted: "Forget it—your crossing now isn't even as good as it was in the youth team."

Years ago in the Youth FA Cup, the two faced off separately for Manchester United U18 and Arsenal U18, leaving deep impressions on each other.

Not far away.

Van Dijk was also quietly reminding his teammates: "Do as the boss said—attack boldly; we want to grab an opening... while Li Kang isn't on the pitch."

Returning to Southampton with the halo of Champions League semifinalists, this season the Dutch centre-back's combat power has surged wildly, repeatedly showcasing brilliant defensive art.

"One man is a defensive line."

His value has also risen with the tide.

Liverpool initially bid 30 million pounds, Arsenal followed with 50 million, and United jumped in with 60 million...

Media outlets worldwide predicted: this summer's European transfer window will see the highest-ever defender transfer fee.

Van Dijk took a deep breath, clenched his fists.

He is no longer the "rookie" blamed by Saints fans last season.

Complete form.

Strongest defensive state.

Steadfast gaze, looking afar at the dazzling spotlights outside the tunnel.

Tonight.

Is my stage.

Emirates Stadium.

Li Kang sat on the bench, he hadn't enjoyed such leisurely appreciation of North London's night sky in a long time.

Brilliant fireworks.

A sea of red and white.

A hazy moon.

Morata crossed his hands over his chest and said: "If I don't play tonight, my assist efficiency will surpass Kroos and Sigurdsson's!"

Boerde paced back and forth.

Wenger stood in the technical area, glanced at his watch.

Shortly after.

Both teams' players took their positions on the pitch.

Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

The match officially began.

"Now let us introduce both teams' starting lineups."

"Attacking from left to right in black jerseys are Southampton!"

"Their formation is 4-3-3!"

"Goalkeeper: Foster."

"Defenders: Bertrand, Van Dijk, Fonte, Cedric."

"Midfielders: Davis, Romeu, Clasie."

"Forwards: Raymond, Rodriguez, Tadic."

"Arsenal, likewise, have deployed a 4-3-3 formation."

"Goalkeeper:..."

"Perhaps to prepare for the Champions League knockout rounds in a few days, Wenger has made massive rotations!"

Live broadcast room.

-【Li Mingdeng isn't playing, Arsenal will get upset, no worries—Chelsea lost too, so this game lets the starters rest and prepare for the Champions League knockout!】

-【Overthinking—what if Wenger substitutes at 45 minutes?】

-【Don't say all of Europe has studied Wenger's habits... even I know he only substitutes after 70 minutes.】

-【Van Dijk and Fonte's combination is strong—top few in the Premier League! Southampton have this locked!】

-【Wenger underestimates Southampton too much—their strength is solid.】

-【Damn, Arsenal scored!】

The fans haven't reacted yet.

Verbeek had already rushed to the corner flag area and was celebrating wildly.

The Emirates Stadium fell silent for two seconds, then erupted with a roar like a collapsing mountain and tsunami.

"Lightning strike!"

"Less than two minutes into the match!"

"Gibbs on the left flank was unstoppable, charging all the way to the byline before delivering a deadly cross!"

"Verbeek's header... ah! From the replay, this is an own goal—Van Dijk's head touched the ball first, sending it into his own net!"

"That shouldn't have happened!"

"The Premier League's best centre-back this season actually made such a basic mistake!"

"Well... this goal is half Verbeek's doing—he blocked Van Dijk's clearing angle."

"The clearing angle..."

Duan Xuan weakly repeated the phrase, feeling embarrassed by his newly coined term.

Happiness suddenly came knocking.

Van Dijk dejectedly rubbed his hair, then immediately apologized to goalkeeper Foster.

The two had been a solid defensive partnership since their Celtic days, and Southampton's sharp-eyed scouts had brought them both to the Premier League overnight.

Head coach Pierre remained calm, pressing his hands down in the air to signal the players not to panic.

"Quickly forget this conceded goal."

"Play as we planned before the match."

Play restarted from the centre circle.

Southampton, having regrouped, launched a fierce attack.

"Pierre's team usually gives the impression of being slow and methodical."

"But tonight is different."

"Southampton are pressing deep!"

"Even Fonte has joined the attack!"

"The defensive line has only Van Dijk left behind!"

"Arsenal can't afford to dwell in the joy of their lead..."

Southampton are not lacking in players who can push forward.

Clasie is one of them.

A prodigy from Feyenoord's youth academy in the Eredivisie.

There's a fun fact: Stoke City had initially eyed Clasie years ago, but Southampton snapped him up first, forcing Ranieri to consider a backup plan... the French little black egg—Kanté.

Clasie's footwork is not bad.

After receiving the ball, he sharply stamped the turf, suddenly accelerated, and charged into Arsenal's thirty-metre zone.

Suddenly.

A burly figure stepped into his path.

Maguire.

With a slap.

The Dutch midfielder's frail body was easily shoved aside.

Maguire won the ball, pushed forward, then immediately took small steps to turn and return to the defensive line.

"A crucial interception!"

"The passing lane was also very clever!"

"Found Verbeek!"

"Arsenal's counterattack... eh?"

The passion at the Emirates Stadium could not be reignited.

Verbeek hadn't even settled the ball before Romeu stole it from him!

On the touchline.

Wenger helplessly shook his head.

It wasn't that he blamed Verbeek, but rather that Southampton's little baldy... had almost joined Arsenal back then.

Romeu, a product of La Masia's youth academy.

One of the trialists for the number four position.

At that time, La Masia had a pair of twin stars: "Better than Messi" Bojan and "Not inferior to Busquets" Romeu.

He made his Barcelona debut at 18.

He joined Chelsea at 20.

However you look at it, Romeu's professional career hasn't been bad at all.

Unfortunately.

This little baldy changed his own developmental path:

From a technical Spanish midfielder into a physical powerhouse;

From a timid, pretty-faced youth into a master of picking up cards.

"No wonder he's Busquets' successor."

"His anticipation and positioning sense haven't been lost."

"Wow, what a beautiful deep strike!"

Romeu delivered a sharp through ball, easily tearing through Arsenal's midfield defence.

Maguire, isolated and without support, was really struggling.

Like a banana that's been peeled.

He was facing "Little Henry" Raymond.

The opponent flicked it a bit, stomped on the accelerator, and accelerated past him!

Maguire instinctively swung his left leg backward... but hit nothing.

The aircraft carrier turned around.

Fans in the nearby stands burst into waves of laughter.

"Raymond has charged into the penalty area!"

"Beautiful through ball!"

"Tadić!"

"Fantastic! Cech's incredible save!"

"Ah! Didn't clear it far!"

"When did Van Dijk come up!"

"Wow!"

"Goal!"

"One-all!"

"Redeem himself with merit!"

"Brace!"

"The Dutch centre-back has breached the goal twice in this match."

"Southampton equalized."

"Both sides are back on equal footing!"

"Whenever spring arrives, Arsenal always encounters something unexpected."

Arsenal fans' stand, silent as tombs.

Southampton fans' stand, cheering and leaping.

Football matches are just like this.

Their respective supporters exchanged joy and sorrow.

Van Dijk ran excitedly toward the corner flag area, lifted his chest badge with his right hand, bowed his head, and kissed it.

Southampton teammates excitedly swarmed over.

Maguire stood with one hand on his hip, the other gesturing toward the defensive gap just now...

"Why am I, a centre-back, making a fool of myself on the flank?"

Zakaria, playing in the defensive midfield position, had an embarrassed expression, raised his hand to apologize.

Can't say they're terrible.

But Southampton really isn't weak.

They're very good at exploiting mismatches during ball possession transitions.

Zakaria and Maguire, these slower-paced players, find it hard to adapt.

Losing possession too casually in the front puts immense pressure on the back.

Why doesn't Wenger arrange fast defenders?

The problem is, there aren't many like that in all of Europe: Bayern's Alaba, Real Madrid's Varane, Roma's Rüdiger and Manolas...

Premier League civil war, just this intense...

Play resumed.

Gradually became dull.

The young fan in the stands took out his homework notebook from his schoolbag.

Pierre changed formation.

Southampton reverted to "slow and steady."

"The English villain" quickly changed attire, becoming a "gentleman."

Li Kang sat on the bench.

God's perspective quietly unfolded:

Southampton's formation became 9-0-1!

Simple and practical.

Time passed unnoticed.

Arsenal launched a fierce attack.

The sharp passing and cutting initiated by Ramsey was always disrupted by Van Dijk and Fonte.

The dense web of passing routes, like steel wires, yet seemed to strangle two water columns.

The Dutch centre-back calmly directed the backline.

Time and again, after neutralizing Arsenal's attacks.

"Arsenal's attacks are mostly neutralized outside the opponent's thirty-meter zone."

"No need to rush!"

"We see Morata warming up!"

Live broadcast room.

-【Dare to strike back? The professor is getting serious!】

-【No need to bring Li Mingdeng, Morata alone can resolve the battle.】

-【The super divine striker isn't just talk—Morata has been godlike in assists this season!】

-【Quickly break through Southampton's turtle formation, help the professor avenge past shame!】

-【Avenge past shame!】

-【Is it strange? Southampton slaughtered full-strength Arsenal 4-0 last season.】

Match minute 55.

Vardy, thirty-five meters from goal, unleashed a world-class strike.

The ball grazed the crossbar and flew toward the stands.

The sighs at Emirates Stadium lasted only a few seconds before being drowned by a tidal wave of applause.

Only because a handsome, striking face appeared on the sideline.

Morata!

"Wenger made the first substitution adjustment."

"Morata came on for youngster Yin Wobi."

"Looking forward to his magical performance!"

"This is the difficulty of fighting on multiple fronts—once you conserve energy for the Champions League, facing tough opponents in league puts you at a disadvantage."

Morata's arrival greatly improved the situation.

His movement created more space for Vardy.

His occasional tracking back also greatly enhanced midfield progression efficiency.

"Beautiful!"

"Immediate effect."

"This is the new-generation superstar striker worth fifty million euros!"

"He can shoot now!"

"Oh, Van Dijk's timely block!"

"Arsenal fans need not panic."

"The next goal won't be too far off."

Duan Xuan suddenly realized his commentary was biased, quickly adding: "Tenacious Saints!"

Next goal?

Too far away.

Arsenal fans noticed something was off on the pitch.

How come Morata's finishing is so inaccurate?

Agile movement helps create space for teammates.

But in dangerous zones, he and Vardy just can't generate chemistry.

Accompanied by the ball flying out of bounds again.

Morata and Vardy exchanged words: both spread their hands.

Sideline.

Boerde helplessly covered his forehead.

He only then realized: before Li appeared, Morata and Vardy were wasting chances—could compile a blooper reel of strikers...

Heavy emotions gradually swallowed Emirates Stadium.

Some Yin Shilington fans began berating Arsenal's coaching staff.

Scattered debris rained down on the coaches' shelter, clinking.

Wenger's expression remained calm.

Cold wind brushed against cheeks.

Left hand in jacket pocket, right hand directing the team.

"The situation is not optimistic."

"Southampton has had multiple counterattack chances, luckily Cech is in godlike form."

"Van Dijk's performance has conquered North London!"

"He will surely become the hottest center-back in the summer transfer window!"

"On the European stage, such a one-man defensive hero hasn't appeared in ages!"

It felt like hearing the commentator's lines.

Van Dijk's gaze grew ever more resolute.

As if commanding from the rear, strategizing, directing ten thousand troops like a great general.

Tonight's Emirates Stadium is my stage.

The invincible arsenal cannot be breached...

Suddenly.

He saw a familiar figure appear outside the center circle line.

His face changed dramatically.

"Arsenal may yet face another draw."

"Li Kang!"

"Match minute 83, Li Kang appeared on the sideline!"

Dead-ball phase.

The director immediately moved the camera to outside the center circle.

The entire Emirates Stadium focused its gaze there.

Wenger patted Li Kang on the shoulder.

The fourth official raised the LED number board.

"Arsenal's second substitution adjustment."

"Subbing off Gibbs, on comes Li Kang!"

"Only seven minutes remain in regular time."

"Two-hundred-million-pound man, can you change the game?"

It happened to be Arsenal's throw-in opportunity.

The throw-in position was approximately in the Southampton half, thirty meters from the goal line.

Li Kang stepped onto the pitch.

A hulking phantom appeared in his vision.

Stoke City number 24.

Delap!

"Eh?"

"Li Kang signaled to Monreal, indicating he would take this throw-in?"

"How rare."

"Monreal's face showed utter disbelief, as if saying: Big bro, you're preparing to receive the ball and organize the attack?"

"The broadcast cut to the technical area, where Wenger and Boerde also looked somewhat shocked."

"Wasn't this tactic arranged by Arsenal's coaching staff?"

Amid everyone's astonished gazes.

Li Kang received the football, stood at the touchline, and began to retreat.

Pierre remained very calm, slowly and methodically directing his disciples: "Don't panic, widen the defensive spacing a bit—could Li possibly launch a cannonball-like pass with his hands?"

Van Dijk also expressed agreement.

Impossible.

Li couldn't possibly, from that far away... directly create a threatening opportunity with his hands.

Hmm, he must be passing to Ramsey.

Arsenal's attacking direction should focus on the half-space area.

Everyone thought this was just an ordinary free kick.

Media reporters believed Li Kang merely wanted to try a throw-in in an official match.

But.

The next moment.

Li Kang's movement posture made them change their minds!

"This posture?"

"Is he trying to directly smash the ball into the penalty area?"

"He has a golden left foot, but not a golden arm!"

During the run-up.

Li Kang lifted the ball high above the back of his head.

His body leaned back to an extremely exaggerated extent.

The whole person resembled a giant siege trebuchet!

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Arsenal number 10's footsteps seemed to make the entire Emirates Stadium tremble slightly.

In the vision.

One person and one phantom completely overlapped.

The football left those hands.

Terrifying running speed, as if it would tear the air apart!

Super heavy cannon!

Violent and domineering!

Unstoppable!

Roaring as it bombarded toward Southampton's penalty area!

Emirates Stadium, deathly silent.

All spectators were dumbfounded!

Is this still a football match, damn it?

Pierre trembled all over.

Wenger stared, mouth agape, this inconceivable scene reminding him of an unpleasant memory.

Van Dijk tensed mentally.

He immediately turned around.

Too late.

A person can be fast, but not as fast as a ball!

Thwack!

The football slammed heavily onto a small black egg.

It ricocheted into the net!

2:1!

!

Goalkeeper Foster, stunned like a wooden chicken.

Truly stunned like a wooden chicken.

Have you ever personally witnessed the opposing side throwing hand grenades from dozens of meters away a few times?

"A hand grenade throw-in that astonished everyone present!"

"Li Kang changed the score as soon as he came on!"

"Beautiful!"

"This ball went in... alas, the goal-scoring hero Welbeck collapsed on the ground!"

"The referee immediately urged the team doctor onto the field!"

"It's fine!"

"Welbeck got up!"

"A magnificent header!"

The long-silent livestream room, the barrage suddenly dominated the screen.

Like a tranquil pool of water, struck by a hand grenade.

-【Awesome!】

-【Popeye!】

-【Am I watching a football match?】

-【Can football still be played like this... kicked? punched?】

-【Let's play football together after school!】

-【Li Mingdeng's arsenal +1!】

-【On the Premier League pitch, Popeye reappears!】

-【Welbeck has no concussion? Black physique is truly awesome!】

-【Li Mingdeng: You stand there and don't move, I'll feed you biscuits with my hand.】

-【Trivia: In the 2008/2009 season, Stoke City defeated Arsenal 2:1 at home, both goals originating from Delap's powerful hand throw-in!】

-【Trivia supplement: Back then, many coaches urged FIFA to revise the throw-in rule... when Premier League clubs faced Stoke City, they'd rather give the opponent a corner kick than a throw-in!】

-【Back then, there was a man who, using hand throw-ins for half a season, produced nine assists!】