Li Shiguang also noticed the change in Arsenal's formation. Fabregas dropped back to form a double defensive midfield with Gilberto. Although he was further away from the Leeds United goal, he at least had a chance to pass the ball thanks to Gilberto's protection and support.
After he dropped back, Rosicky and Hleb's range of movement was no longer limited to the flanks. After the start of the second half, their range of movement became even wider, and they have repeatedly come to the middle to support Fabregas.
Since Ferguson started using technically gifted defensive midfielders like Modric in the Premier League, many teams that saw the results have begun to experiment with it. For example, Ferguson tried playing Rooney as an attacking midfielder or central midfielder, and then moved Scholes to the back to partner Carrick in defensive midfield. Moyes also experimented with the left winger-turned-playmaker, Arteta, after signing him.
Wenger, who has always emphasized technical skill and teamwork, was not to be outdone. He had already transformed the highly malleable Fabregas into a versatile midfielder, and he did not seem to be uncomfortable at all after moving back to a deeper position.
Seeing Fabregas easily shake off Toure's pressing after a one-two with Gilberto on TV, Norman frowned: "It seems Wenger has found a way to deal with Leeds United's high-pressing style. Now, Toure alone can no longer contain Fabregas."
“Hmm.” Eddie Gray agreed with Norman’s assessment. “Judging from these last few minutes, Arsenal’s midfield has indeed been revitalized. Now it depends on how Li will adjust it. After all, running around like this all the time will take a toll on the players’ stamina.”
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In Li Shiguang's observation, the game had been going on for another 10 minutes or so, and the score was still 0-1. However, Arsenal was no longer playing with the same restraint as in the first half. They had completed several threatening attacks. If Walcott and Van Persie hadn't been a little off-target, the score would probably have been tied long ago.
Until the 67th minute, Leeds United were still executing Lee Shih-shih's high-pressing tactics in Arsenal's half.
Arsenal players, already used to this, passed the ball around, and a few seconds later, it was passed back to Lehmann, who was standing in front of the goal.
Ibrahimovic got his kicks in the first half. Whenever Lehmann got the ball, he immediately charged in again, heading straight for the veteran German striker.
At the same time, Fabregas, who had dropped back, also ran towards the right side of the penalty area. Not only that, but he almost didn't notice Yaya Toure following closely behind him. As he approached the penalty area, Toure waved to Lehmann to signal for the ball.
Such an obvious movement was clear to both Toure and Ribery, who was still behind him.
Near the penalty area, with no other defenders nearby, and Lehmann passing the ball in front of the goal—these three conditions combined simultaneously conjured up an image in the minds of both Toure and Ribery: the entire Leeds United team celebrating a goal together... If they could intercept that pass, wow!
So the two of them didn't exchange any signals and rushed toward Fabregas at the same time.
On the goal line, Lehmann had already seen Yaya Toure and Ribery running towards Fabregas. But the veteran German, who had been singled out and criticized by Wenger during halftime, fearlessly passed the ball to the waving Fabregas, adopting a "better to sacrifice a friend than myself" mentality!
Seeing this, Toure immediately charged towards Fabregas, intending to use his body to knock Fabregas away from his receiving position.
"Great opportunity!" Eddie Gray shouted excitedly as he saw Toure charge at Fabregas.
A look of surprise also appeared on Norman's face. If they could get the ball in, Leeds United would have a 99% chance of taking a two-goal lead!
Just as the ball was about to reach Fabregas's feet, Toure collided with him, and in everyone's sight, Fabregas was knocked forward two steps by Toure's impact.
"Great! The referee didn't blow the whistle!" In Eddie Gray's eyes, Toure had completed a perfect tackle.
Touré, however, was somewhat surprised. He had been battling Fabregas for almost the entire match. While the kid's physique was indeed inferior to his, he wasn't this fragile! He hadn't used much force in that collision because he was afraid of being called for a foul by the referee, but wasn't the kid's reaction a bit excessive?
Something's not right!
Toure quickly shifted his gaze to Fabregas's feet.
What the hell? Where's the ball?
Looking again, Clichy on the sideline had already received Lehmann's pass and started dribbling the ball towards Leeds United's half! And when the gaze returned to the front, Fabregas, who had just been stumbling in front, had already turned around and rushed towards the midfield before I could react.
After taking a few steps, Clichy passed the ball back to Fabregas, who was now completely unmarked!
Seeing this, Eddie Gray's tone instantly shifted from joy to panic: "Toure didn't get the ball! This was a trap deliberately set by Fabregas! What did I just say?! The hunter often appears before the world as the prey!"
Norman was also nervous, but he couldn't help rolling his eyes at Eddie Gray. What the hell did you say?
"Get back to defense immediately!"
On the sidelines, Li Shiguang was also anxiously shouting at his players. Because Leeds United had been pressing high up the pitch, their entire defensive line was pushed very far forward. Now, Arsenal's sudden acceleration had caught most of the Leeds United players off guard.
But Fabregas didn't give Leeds United a chance to react. After receiving the ball, he only slightly deflected it, then adjusted his footwork and launched a long pass that sent the ball skimming across the grass.
The instant the ball left the barrel, Van Persie and Walcott simultaneously pushed off with their feet, darting out from behind the center line and heading straight for the ball's landing point.
Walcott blocked Fabregas's pass with his right foot from about 30 meters from the Leeds United goal, then flicked the ball forward with his left foot, dribbling it into the Leeds United penalty area.
"It's over!" Eddie Gray grabbed his hair, closed his eyes, and couldn't bear to look anymore. "This is an absolute one-on-one chance; we can only rely on Neuer!"
When Neuer saw Walcott dribbling towards the penalty area, he decisively abandoned the goal and rushed towards him, waving his hand. The two met almost outside the six-yard box. Neuer lowered his center of gravity and spread his arms to his sides to expand his defensive range. His expression was as ferocious as his predecessor Kahn, trying to intimidate the 17-year-old in front of him.
But Walcott didn't give Neuer a chance to fool him. He gave up his chance to score his first Premier League goal and instead passed the ball across to Van Persie, who was making a run down the left flank.
Faced with this easy goal, Van Persie simply stretched out his left foot and gently deflected the ball into the Leeds United goal!
1:1
Arsenal finally equalized in the second half...
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