Chapter 68: Elimination of Arsenal
The Arsenal players didn't even have time to look at that number when the fourth official held up the stoppage time sign on the sidelines, and the increasingly impatient Arsenal had completely given up everything and threw themselves into attack, all they were after was a goal, an invaluable goal.
Of course, for Arsenal, who are aiming for the league title and the Champions League breakthrough, the League Cup is just an appetizer, and the importance of the FA Cup is not even high, even if they lose, it doesn't matter, and no one even grieves too much.
But now that the game has been carried out at this point, the meaning of promotion has become unimportant, the important thing is to score a goal to equalize or even win the game, which is about honor, about dignity, about the sweat of each of them on the field.
In the final stoppage time, the Notts County players all retreated into the penalty area to defend, and even did not hesitate to block Arsenal's shot with a physical wall, at this moment, there was no superfluous distraction in everyone's mind, and the only thing they had to do was to hold on to the last few minutes and win the game.
Benfoster saved Thierry Henry's header, then Carvalho used his calf to block Parlour's shot in the box, and the next moment, it was Ljungberg's powerful volley that smashed on Big Altentop, and in a short period of time, Arsenal bombarded the Notts County goal, and the Notts County players also used their last physicality and will to stubbornly block Arsenal's attack.
David watched from the sidelines with a stirring heart, and even had a feeling of tears, although the game was not played vigorously, but it deeply touched his ignition and tears, this is his team!
The referee looked at his watch frequently, every player was exhausted, and the only thing that sustained them in the fight was the desire to win.
After Meleles shoveled the ball at Ljungberg's feet off the touchline, he didn't get up and he cramped.
"Don't pretend, get me up!" The impatient Ljungberg didn't care so much, he thought that Meireles was deliberately lying on the ground to stall for time, grabbing Meireles' arm and dragging him off the field.
Alonso quickly ran over and opened Ljungberg's hand, then grabbed Mereles's foot to help him press his leg and relieve the pain of the cramps.
And Di Natale and Villa had already rushed over and yelled at Ljungberg: "Get out of here, do you want to be beaten!" ”
More and more players from both sides poured in, and although there were no radical movements, pushing and shoving each other was still indispensable.
The referee decisively ran over and kept blowing the whistle to separate everyone, he didn't want an accident in the final stage of the game.
"Sir, he's just stalling for time!" Ljungberg kept complaining in front of the referee, but he still couldn't escape the yellow card, and even though the Swedish fast horse accepted the punishment, he left muttering with unspeakable anger on his face.
Wenger was angry on the sidelines, not only because Notts County was delaying time on the field, but also because of his own group of players who don't have long brains, at this time, they are still angry with the referee, and they don't look at the few seconds left, there is time to mess around, and it is good to hurry up and play an attack.
By the time the two sides were really apart and the game could restart, stoppage time had already passed.
The Notts County fans in the stands booed, they didn't care so much, they just knew that stoppage time was over, and the referee still didn't blow the whistle to end the game, so their boos were given to the referee on duty.
Arsenal sent a throw-in and a long ball into the Notts County penalty area, but it was picked up by Ben Foster, and at this moment, everyone knew that the game was over.
Ben Foster held the football, looked at the referee, and found that the referee was still looking at the watch, so he pretended to be ready to kick off in a hurry, but kept calling the names of his players, directing them to run, and silently counted to 6 in his heart, before driving the ball high to Arsenal's half.
At this time, the referee finally blew the whistle for the end of the game, two short and one long.
With a "coax", the Meadow Lane stadium turned into an erupting volcano under the sea, surging and violent, and the shouts of the fans seemed to be able to break through the sky.
At the moment when the whistle blew, the players of Notts County were as excited as bulls in heat, running towards the home team's bench, and the players on the Notts County bench also threw off their towels and rushed into the field, all the players hugged each other, shouting unbridledly, and were extremely hysterical, as if only in this way could all the emotions in their hearts be vented.
David and Loew also hugged each other excitedly, incoherently, when victory really came, who could be calm!
Arsenal's players were frustrated, it was Notts County, a team that they didn't pay much attention to before the game, but they beat themselves in the game and advanced to the last four of the League Cup, while Arsenal themselves had to leave the stadium in disgrace, this strong contrast is really unacceptable to them.
Arsenal captain Vieira adjusted his mood on the field and began to fulfill the responsibility of captain, comforting his teammates, although he may have a heavy scar in his heart, but a tough guy like him has never shown it.
David looked at Arsene Wenger, who was distracted on the sidelines, smiled and walked over with Loew.
"Mr Arsene Wenger, I'm sorry that this game didn't get Arsenal to qualify, but I think it's good for Arsenal as well, so you can concentrate on playing in the league!" Taking the initiative to reach out his hand, David said with a smile.
It sounded sarcastic, but David didn't really mean to taunt Wenger, it was just what he really thought in his heart, because he wasn't very good at comforting people.
Wenger stared at David intently, but only found sincerity in David's expression.
"Notts County's performance deserved this victory, and I have to admit that you have done a very good job of limiting Arsenal, and if you can maintain a good momentum, I'm afraid there will be a headache for us old guys in the future!" Shaking his head with a wry smile, Wenger said to the two young men in front of him.
Arsene Wenger was born in 49, and although he looks young, he is already 52 years old, even if this age is definitely young among managers, but it is still incomparable to the two young people in front of him.
Loew was born in 60, more than 10 years younger than Wenger, even if the two are not a generation of managers, it is very suitable, as for David next to Loew, he is not even 30 years old, and there is no comparison.
David and Loew smiled humbly, although they really wanted to communicate more with Wenger, but looking at each other's expressions, Wenger was definitely not in the mood now, after all, the team lost, this is human nature.