On the evening of November 5th, as night fell, the Etihad Stadium was brightly lit, shining like a dazzling pearl.
The huge and spectacular stadium was packed to capacity, with a huge crowd and an exceptionally enthusiastic atmosphere.
Every seat was occupied by enthusiastic fans, who wore team jerseys, held flags and banners, and had their faces beaming with anticipation and excitement.
This match is destined to be a highlight – the 11th round of the Premier League, with league leaders Manchester City facing off against equally strong Arsenal this season.
Both teams are formidable forces in English football, boasting numerous world-class players and loyal fans.
The atmosphere before the match was tense and exciting, with fans shouting slogans and cheering for their favorite teams.
In the stands, blue and red intertwined to form a sea, creating a vibrant spectacle. The fans flooded the stadium with songs, drumbeats, and shouts, as if trying to transfer their energy to the players on the field.
This passionate scene was exhilarating and allowed people to experience the charm of football.
The moment Raymond followed captain Mertesacker onto the pitch, the only 10,000 Arsenal fans in the stadium gave them their loudest cheers.
Everyone knows that Mertesacker's form has declined significantly, so his inclusion in the starting lineup for such a crucial match is far more significant than the game itself.
Yes, in this match, Mertesacker not only has defensive duties, but also plays a mentoring role. He is destined not to play the full match. After he leaves the field, he will put the captain's armband on Lei Ming, so that everyone will remember this new Arsenal captain.
The moment Lei Ming stepped onto the field, he felt a surge of excitement. He waved towards the team's family stands. Although he couldn't see where Viya was, he was sure she could see him waving at her.
Although this was Lei Ming's first encounter with Manchester City this season, to be honest, he didn't feel unfamiliar with them at all.
Leaving aside his previous encounters with the opposing team in the Champions League when he represented Monaco, he has also frequently contacted several strikers from Manchester City during this period, especially their star players Aguero, Sterling, and De Bruyne. He is now extremely familiar with their habits.
Moreover, they have Bernardo Silva in their squad, whom they know very well. Psychologically speaking, Manchester City is not at an advantage over their previous opponent, Swansea.
But that was only something Lei Ming experienced; the rest of the team didn't have that special experience. Moreover, Manchester City is one of the best-performing teams in the league this season, and the team strengthened several positions during the winter transfer window. It's absolutely impossible for there to be no changes after such a long time.
After all, Guardiola, as the world's strongest championship coach, is definitely not someone to be underestimated.
On the sidelines, Guardiola returned to his seat after exchanging polite hugs with Wenger. He glanced at the tall, handsome Arsenal goalkeeper, seemingly surprised by what had recently happened to him.
He truly hadn't expected that such a young player could gain everyone's approval in just a few months, and that even the usually meticulous Professor Wenger would be so bold in trusting him.
But he had to admit that the other party's abilities were indeed phenomenal in the present day.
...
"Brothers, wake up! The exciting moment has arrived! I believe you all already know that Lei Ming has been appointed Arsenal's vice-captain. Now that the old captain Mertesacker has come on in this match, I dare say that our Lei Ming will definitely carry the Arsenal team flag in this game."
"In this match, both teams used their main lineup. Manchester City's attacking front was still led by De Bruyne, with Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Sané, Sterling, and Aguero. This lineup can be described as luxurious."
"On the other side, Arsenal also fielded their strongest lineup. Led by Lacazette, their attacking force has also achieved excellent results this season. Since Reming came on, Arsenal has achieved several consecutive wins and is closing in on Manchester City in points."
"Although Arsenal's veteran captain Mertesacker came on early in this match, his physical condition is still reassuring despite his age. I'm really looking forward to seeing how our Thunder will perform tonight under the guidance of their veteran captain!"
"I've said it before, I, Lei, have the bearing of an emperor, and I often exude an aura of dominance. I wasn't wrong, was I? Even our respected professor is clearly captivated by President Lei's charisma."
"Brothers, don't underestimate the value of Lei's vice-captainship. It's really not easy. Otherwise, why can't Lacazette, who also just joined the team and even scores goals frequently, become vice-captain?"
In Lao Jiu's live stream, the streamer Lao Jiu delivered a long and impromptu speech late at night, which was full of reason and evidence, leaving many of the trolls in the live stream speechless.
He was genuinely pleased that Lei Ming had been appointed vice-captain at Arsenal in such a short time, and he believed that many others shared his joy.
He had long wanted to give some of his haters a good talking-to, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
While he was chatting with his fans, the 11th round of the Premier League's key match slowly began, and the players from both sides started running after the referee blew the starting whistle.
In this match, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola fielded a classic 4-3-3 formation.
This lineup is known for its powerful attack and flexible tactical changes, aiming to break through the opponent's defense through the rapid breakthroughs and passing combinations of the front three.
In contrast, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger adopted a more aggressive 3-4-2-1 formation.
However, judging from their actual positioning, they are more like a modified version of 3-4-3.
The biggest difference lies in the fact that the experienced captain Mertesacker is positioned slightly deeper than the other two defenders. This arrangement allows him to utilize his excellent defensive abilities while also enabling him to better organize the defense and direct his teammates in dealing with Manchester City's attacking threats.
At the same time, this tactical change also gives Arsenal a numerical advantage in midfield, allowing them to better control possession and launch effective attacks.
At the start of the match, the players from both teams engaged in a fierce battle for possession in midfield.
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