A top-tier goalkeeper storms the football world.
Lei Ming – a man with a fierce, domineering appearance whose aura overwhelms all 21 players on the field. As Portugal's guardian deity, ...
"Holy crap, guys, that was incredible! Arsenal showed absolute dominance against CSKA Moscow today, and it was absolutely spectacular."
"Only 38 minutes into the game, Arsenal are already leading by three goals. It's hard to imagine whether this match will turn into a one-sided massacre!"
"Come on, let's take a look at Moscow's attack this time. Oh, number 7, Musa, he actually chose a long shot. Doesn't he know that our Lei Ming is best at receiving penalties and long-range shots?"
As soon as Lao Jiu finished speaking, Lei Ming on the screen easily and steadily blocked the opponent's No. 7 long-range shot.
His nonchalant demeanor silenced many Moscow fans who had traveled from afar to cheer on the team.
This was the first time they had seen Arsenal's goalkeeper perform live, and it was so amazing that they were speechless.
Although I had heard that this goalkeeper was very capable and had seen many amazing saves from the opposing team's matches, you can only truly appreciate what it means to be amazed when you see it live.
Moscow's few shots posed absolutely no threat to the opposing team. Even when the ball was crossed from the wing, it was quickly neutralized due to the opponent's anticipation. They really had no chance at all!
Throughout the first half, Moscow was almost entirely dominated by Arsenal.
Lacazette scored two goals, while Ramsey scored the other from a long-range shot.
He was delighted to score twice in this crucial match, but Lacazette also knew his own goals. However, in the Europa League, Aubameyang was more likely to win the Golden Boot than him. So, in the following minutes, he moved back a bit, giving Aubameyang more space to operate.
It was precisely Lacazette's drop back that completely activated Aubameyang, who finished the first half with a header after receiving a pass from the opponent in the last minute.
Arsenal took a commanding 4-0 lead in just the first half, forcing Wenger to bring on his substitutes earlier than expected.
Lacazette, Ramsey, and Aubameyang were all substituted. As for the other key players, he told everyone to be careful and to ensure they don't get injured while winning the game, which would be the biggest victory for them.
However, the final score did not settle for 4-0 as Wenger had envisioned, but instead ended the match with a 6-0 victory.
Substitutes Wilshere and Iwobi each scored a goal, completely killing any suspense in this quarter-final match.
It's worth mentioning that the two players scored in almost the exact same way in the second half, with Lei Ming providing the assist in both instances.
That's right, they were using a fast counter-attacking tactic. After nearly a season of training, Lei Ming not only improved his throw-ins a lot, but his long kicks are also quite good now. In the counter-attack, he found Wilshere and Iwobi in front of him one after another, and completed two assists.
"A one-sided massacre: the Central Army in Moscow is in dire straits!"
The biggest scoreline of the Europa League season has occurred: 6-0!
An overwhelming victory puts Arsenal on track to advance further in the Europa League, and could even secure the title.
After the match, major media outlets praised Arsenal's performance highly, and their dominance in the game left a deep impression on many people.
Most people knew instantly upon seeing the score that Arsenal was a shoo-in for the Europa League semi-finals.
Even if CSKA Moscow's away game is tough, they can advance as long as they can hold off five goals. Besides, they might even prevent their opponents from scoring a single goal.
Many people who know Arsenal understand that even if Arsenal fielded their second team at this point, it would be a guaranteed win, and they would undoubtedly be in the semi-finals!
Arsenal's players may have been complacent about the praise they received, but they really didn't have time to digest that pride. The next day, with almost no rest, they faced Southampton, who came to challenge them.
This is a match in the 33rd round of the Premier League. Don't be fooled by the fact that Southampton is currently ranked 18th in the league and seems weak. Arsenal's players are not taking their arrival lightly.
Because they are a team in the relegation zone.
It is well known that relegated teams at the end of the season are extremely aggressive, driven by the desire to escape the relegation zone, which fuels their incredible fighting spirit.
Because they were fighting with a completely fearless attitude, like someone who has nothing to lose.
As many predicted, Southampton showed a fighting spirit from the very beginning, subjecting Arsenal's players to intense physical challenges right from the start.
The match had only been going on for less than ten minutes when the referee had already blown the whistle three times. This showed that although the two teams seemed to be mismatched, Southampton were definitely not losing face.
Perhaps it was that fighting spirit that allowed Southampton to perfectly hold onto the score throughout the first half, going into halftime with a 0-0 draw.
But they really paid a heavy price for this score; the excessive tackling made them exhaust their energy very quickly.
Everyone was a little out of breath when they went into the locker room to rest.
They all understood that although it was tiring, it was worth it.
They will never give up, even against the Premier League leaders.
The Southampton players listened attentively to their manager's instructions for the second half.
"In the second half, we stopped trying to limit the opponent's attack with a tight defense. Instead, we switched to a defensive counter-attack strategy and used our last bit of energy to wear them down. Our goal has always been clear: a draw."
"draw!
draw!
A draw!
Southampton players clasped their hands together to cheer each other on.
Yes, against Arsenal, they only want a draw; for them, a draw is a victory!
They knew Arsenal's goalkeeper was tough to deal with, so instead of wasting time on hopeless attacks, they decided to focus on their defensive duties.
Football is not just about attacking; defense is just as important as attacking.
In this match, Southampton's manager demonstrated to the fans what professional defense truly means.
After the start of the second half, as time went by, Arsenal's players began to show signs of anxiety.
The head coach had already warned them that the opponent might choose to park the bus in the second half, but they struggled to break through such a dense defense.
Will it end in a draw?
No, they were not reconciled.