Chapter 687: The Short Center

Arsenal's starting XI did not change much from the first meeting between the two sides.

Arsenal's injury problems have plagued them for a long time ago, but as December passed, the injured players began to return.

Van Persie, who has been out for three weeks with an injury, is finally in time for this game.

When the game began, Wenger's frown did not dissipate much.

Judging from the current formation of Manchester City, they have put on a 4231 formation.

The two midfielders are Casemiro plus Fernandinho, which are the two defensive gates.

Then there were three defenders, David Silva on the left, Antoine Griezmann on the right, and Christian Eriksen in the middle.

And at the front, it should be the position of the center forward, but it is Hazard who is standing?

Let Eden Hazard play as a central striker?

Or is it just a fake center forward who actually plays without a striker?

The game had just started, and Wenger didn't quite understand.

'Eden Hazard played in the centre-forward position! What did Coach Gao Bo think? You know, Hazard has played as a left winger since his debut, and when he was in Ligue 1, Hazard played in the middle, but only as a forward or shadow striker, he still needs a center forward in front of him to pull the gap. Commentator Rentkinson was also quick to spot the man in the Manchester City centre-forward position.

The camera first gave a shot of City's two central forwards on the bench, Vardy and Dzeko, before turning back to lock on to Eden Hazard.

Eden Hazard had just received the ball but he stood firm against Koscielny's press, secured it and then passed it back to Eriksen.

Eriksen has a long-range shot from the edge of the area and the ball is saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Mannone

It was City's first threat of attack, with Eden Hazard playing well in the centre-forward position and looking a lot like a centre-forward.

Hazard saw the ball fly off the bottom line and jumped on the spot with some regret.

He was going to shoot in the air, but Mannone would rather save the ball than hold it with his hands.

This left Hazard with no choice but to jump over him.

'Eden Hazard has just finished a shot for Eriksen like a real centre-forward.

Moya shook his head from the sidelines.

He is not optimistic about Gobo's whimsical idea of bringing Hazard to play as a centre-forward.

With Eden Hazard's height, in a football environment like England, can he carry a defender?

Although Eden Hazard looked okay at the start of the game, Moya is still not optimistic.

In fact, Hazard himself was a little surprised, Gao Bo communicated with him a few days before this game, and Gao Bo planned to move Hazard's position - to the middle!

"Aiden, you're solid and flexible enough, you'll have a chance in the box!!"

Hazard's ears remembered what Gobo had said to him.

Will there be a chance?

Where are the opportunities?

Hazard looked at the dense penalty area.

Koscielny and Mertesacker poked in the box like two goal panels, and if there was space to break down the flanks, Hazard wouldn't have taken them seriously.

But this is in the penalty area, and there is so much room for a breakthrough in the penalty area.

Hazard remembered the video he had been watching these days.

Gao Bo edited a whole bunch of videos of the small center, especially about Messi.

Messi plays as a central striker, which is something that Guardiola would rather have Ibrahimovic on the flank.

Messi's small range in the box, taking the ball and shooting at a faster pace are things that the tall guys can't do.

"Aiden, I'm not asking you to be Messi, I'm asking you to use your way to complete the task of getting rid of shots in the box! After a break on the wing, you have to cut inside or cross, but if you break through in the box, you can shoot right away!! ”

Hazard had been playing for a few minutes and he had been thinking about what Gobo had to say to him.

Now he feels like he's been cheated by the manager.

There's space in the restricted area.

Look at this dense no-go zone.

This short man stood in the group of guards, and he couldn't even see what was going on outside......

......

Gao Bo shook his head as he watched from the sidelines.

He asked Hazard to play as a striker in the centre-forward position, not to make him a centre-forward.

In that case, he would simply use Vardy or Dzeko, which would have been much more effective than Hazard's now.

He asked Hazard to play in that position because he wanted him to play the way Hazard was playing.

He's not trying to change Hazard, he's getting him to play the way he was going to play in his new position.

Running, catching, small dodging and spinning..... Then shoot!!

It was a flashpoint in a penalty area that he arranged.

What could be more dangerous than a breakthrough in the box, a more agile shot in the box?

Barcelona used Messi to play as a center forward a few years ago, which left a very deep impact on Gao Bo. Messi, who is not tall, is not a traditional center forward in the penalty area, but because he is closer to the penalty area, his threat and his ability to score goals have been greatly amplified!

But a player like Messi is rare to see in a century, and it is impossible for Gao Bo to find another Messi.

So after the winter window, Gao Bo plans to let Hazard try, if successful, Manchester City's frontcourt attack will undoubtedly go up a notch!

After a dead ball, Gobo called Hazard to the side.

"I put you in the center position, but I don't make you a center forward, you have your characteristics, Aiden!!"

Gobo put his arm around Hazard's shoulders and, after finishing beside him, pushed him back into the pitch.

Do I have my characteristics?

Hazard seemed to understand something.

At this time, Arsenal's players also found that Hazard's center forward seemed to be a little unqualified, he did not stand in the penalty area like an ordinary center forward, fighting with defenders for high points - let Hazard go to compete with Koscielny and others, which is probably difficult to succeed once in a hundred times. In the same way as the work of the center forward in other aspects, Hazard is also a second knife.

It looks like it was a mistake for Gobo to let Hazard play as a central striker....

With this in mind, Arsenal's defense relaxed towards Hazard, and it was the three players behind Hazard who were more attacking threats during this time, so Arsenal's players pushed the formation outward, trying to limit the play of the players in the Manchester City defensive line.

Despite Hazard's subpar performances. But the presence of David Silva and Antoine Griezmann on both flanks has made Arsenal's defence very tight.

In the twelfth minute of the game, Griezmann dribbled sideways from the flank, then made a feint to cut inside and shoot, and after deceiving the Arsenal defenders to react, he suddenly went outside, and then slammed the ball into the box and swept the ball low into the box!

Be myself?!!

Eden Hazard flashed out of the box, flicked the ball to the right with the outside of his right foot, then quickly turned and volleyed directly with his left foot!

Rapid change of direction in a small area!

This is Hazard's characteristic!

Before Koscielny could react, he watched Hazard finish the shot.

The goalkeeper also did not react.

“GOOOOOAL!!!! Hazard !! Pretty!!! ”

The commentators raised their arms and shouted.

Hazard has completely shown his fast and flexible characteristics this time!

"Well done!!"

Gao Bo looked at Moya proudly.

Eden Hazard could survive in the box.

In the stands, the Manchester City players who were not included in the squad also gave a standing ovation.

Everyone is looking at Hazard.

Except for Kaka!

Kaka looked at Eriksen's position.

'If you play in this position, how would you play? You're just going to watch this game from the stands, Kaka!! ”

Before the game, Gao Bo explained to him like this.

Kaka looked at his new teammates who were celebrating at this time, thoughtful.