Chapter 87: The ability to seize opportunities
Arsenal and Inter Milan teamed up at the Emirates Stadium to give the fans a wonderful game, which may not be a goal shootout in the traditional sense, and this game may not have a big score, but this does not affect the gold content of this game in the slightest. Both teams are going all out to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and they are not letting up in the slightest, and they are both sticking to their tactics to win the game.
Arsenal's players were not in a hurry, insisting on ground cooperation to open up open spaces and look for opportunities. Although Inter Milan's midfield has a lot of defensive intensity, although Arsenal has struggled to get into the front court to form a very haode attack in many times in the game; But it doesn't matter, the Gunners are patient, and these are things they expected before the game.
Inter Milan are one of the most defensive teams, and although they have become less aggressive defensively since Jose Mourinho's departure from the Stadio Meazza they are still one of the best defensively. Although Arsenal have the most attacking attack in football today, they are not overly proud; It's a battle of spear and shield, and no one can say it's a sure win in this game, but it's more important for both teams to be patient and stick to their tactics and wait until the opponent makes a mistake to get the initiative in the game.
Although there is nothing to do about Inter Milan's defense for the time being, Arsenal still continues to insist, they know that Inter Milan's defense is very strong, but the Gunners believe that the team's offensive ability is enough to tear apart any defense, although the current Inter Milan makes Arsenal difficult in attack, but Arsenal's players know that the winner of this game will only be Arsenal! Arsenal continued to stick to their tactics. They are constantly attacking the Inter defence. They were vigilant and watched Inter's defensive counter-attacks.
The Arsenal players still look certain at the moment. They are constantly attacking the Inter defence; Although it was difficult for Inter Milan in the back three to let Arsenal easily enter the front, when Xiao Qing also began to retreat constantly to help his teammates find space, Inter Milan's defense was also feeling more and more pressure.
In the twenty-sixth minute of the game, Xiaofa cleverly divided the ball in the front, and Van Persie inserted a left-footed shot on the left side and kicked the ball into the stands! Two minutes later, Xiao Qing burst into the penalty area and was cut off by Lucio, Walcott was also tackled, and Fabregas's powerful shot from the edge of the box was blocked by a defender in the scuffle.
Arsenal played well up front. They have a lot of momentum, and they keep making things difficult for Inter Milan in the game; Although Arsenal have not been able to take the lead in terms of points now, Arsenal are gradually starting to open up some situations in attack, and in such a situation, Arsenal will certainly be able to find their own rhythm of the game, and they will naturally be more confident of taking the lead at home.
Xiao Qing and his teammates began to exert their strength, although it was difficult for Arsenal to get more offensive opportunities at this time, but the Gunners did not slack off in the slightest, they were going all out. Arsenal need not scruple at this time, because Inter Milan are now suppressed by the momentum of Arsenal's ferocious attack; Defensively, Inter are doing well right now. But when it comes to fighting back, they don't have much power right now.
Xiao Qing also started more individual attacks, and Inter Milan's overall defense was very successful. It is difficult for Xiao Qing to tear apart Inter Milan's defense on his own; Arsenal need to work harder on the offensive end, and Xiao Qing naturally needs to help the team tear apart Inter's defense at this time.
With a back three and a luxurious back line, Inter's defensive prowess is really no joke; Xiao Qing felt that he was now stuck in a quagmire, he couldn't do more at all, he didn't have room to get the ball at all. I believe that at this time, Arsenal's other attackers are also like this, and the defenders of Inter Milan, who almost filled up their own backfield, are also fully prepared before this game, they are afraid of Xiao Qing's ability, and they will not give Cesc Fabregas space to break through the pass.
Therefore, the current Arsenal has not been able to find more good opportunities, although the current Arsenal is constantly trying to impact the Inter Milan defense, but there is still no more way for the time being. Arsenal struggled to take the lead at home, but were unable to create chances throughout the first half.
Arsenal's proudest attack was ended by Inter's reinforced defence, and despite their best efforts in the first half, they were unable to take the initiative in the game. Arsenal seemed to be helpless against Inter's defense, and Arsenal didn't have much initiative in the game. However, the Arsenal players don't care about that, because there is still a second half of the game; Although they were a headache for Inter's horrible defence in the first half, Arsenal are now confident of attacking Inter with a higher quality attack in the second half, and they believe Inter will make mistakes in the second half.
In the second half, Arsenal did not make any changes, they continued to insist on attacking; Arsenal have every reason to believe they will get a win for Zuihou in this game, and Arsenal believe Inter's defence is not really airtight. So Arsenal keep attacking, and they're going to use the attack to win this game.
The whistle of the second half of the game had just blown, and the little tiger Walcott made a diagonal pass from the right after a quick raid, and Xiao Qing, who had jumped in a hurry, shook his head in the penalty area, and the ball hit the crossbar and popped up.
Xiao Qing was very depressed, this was the second time he wasted a chance in this game; Although a large part of the reason for this attack was that he didn't have much preparation because of the little tiger's surprise attack, this was definitely not a reason for Xiao Qing to miss such a god-given opportunity.
Shaking his head with a wry smile, Xiao Qing definitely didn't expect that he would miss opportunities one after another in such an important game; Now Arsenal need to go far in the Champions League, then they have to beat Inter Milan. It's just that Xiao Qing's current performance is difficult to be satisfactory, because Xiao Qing, who was originally the core, is now a little lost in the game, he didn't find enough accuracy, and he missed a series of good opportunities to score when he should have helped the team to win the game.
Xiao Qing also knew that his performance was really unreasonable, so he definitely needed to work harder in the second half of the game, and he had to help the team win; Especially in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, the home-and-away schedule is not too good, and Arsenal will have to establish some lead in the first leg in order to be able to meet Inter Milan in the second leg at the Meazza Stadium.
Arsenal's Inter Milan goal was under siege and Arsenal believe they could be the victors for Zuihou; While Inter Milan are strong defensively, Arsenal's players are more confident that their attack is enough to tear apart any defence. While Arsenal was constantly besieging Inter, the Nerazzurri also seized the opportunity to launch several counter-attacks; The root of defensive counterattack is defense, but counterattack is also an important part of tactics, they are not just passively beaten and do not fight back, Inter Milan seizes the opportunity to give Arsenal some small threats.
After the start of the second half, the two teams continued to attack, and in the 47th minute, McCone cut in a cross from the right, and Eto'o flicked his head into the box to hit the goal. A minute later, Stankovic's shot from the penalty line was blocked by an Arsenal defender.
Both teams are very hungry to win this game, so at this time they are also constantly increasing the intensity in the attacking end, they are trying to tear apart the opponent's defence, and both teams look very good now, their tactics are still holding on, and the game is in their rhythm.
In the 63rd minute of the game, Arsenal played a delicate combination in the front, forcing a breakthrough to the side of Fabregas in the front, and then Nasri passed back, and Fabregas once again divided the weak side of the ball; And Xiao Qing also rushed to the penalty area at this time, and Walcott also sent a pick pass in time at this time.
The cheers at the Emirates Stadium suddenly became enthusiastic, seeing Xiao Qing entering the penalty area with a fierce momentum, and the current Arsenal also found some good opportunities after a series of cooperation; Inter Milan's defenders are not completely in place now, and now Xiao Qing only needs to face Lucio, an Inter defender.
Xiao Qing, who was running, raised his foot to unload the ball, and glanced up slightly at Lucio, who was hurrying to make up for the defense, Xiao Qing had his own plans; Now there is only Lucio in the penalty area, and Xiao Qing is obviously confident in breaking through Lucio, but once Xiao Qing is slightly delayed by Lucio, then the Inter players who return to the defense will be in place. So Xiao Qing took the ball into the penalty area, and in the face of the menacing Lucio, Xiao Qing suddenly volleyed directly!
"Bang!" This is an unscientific shot, because Xiao Qing is obviously more safe to break through Lucio, and Xiao Qing does have that ability; But such a sudden shot made the opponent unable to react, Xiao Qing didn't care about any science or not, as long as he could score a goal, the most important thing was to score!
Xiao Qing's shot was very sudden, and Liliang's full shot was also very accurate and flew straight to the goal; Although Inter Milan's goalkeeper Cesar had been prepared, Xiao Qing's vigorous bombardment still made Cesar save!
The Emirates Stadium was in a boil, and Xiao Qing's goal helped Arsenal take a 1-0 lead at home, which was a performance that Arsenal was one step closer to the quarter-finals of the Champions League! (To be continued......)