The goalkeeper is still Fabianski, the central defenders are Djokovic and Koscielny, the right back is Sagna, the left back is Clichy, the defensive midfielders are Alexander Song and Wilshere, the central midfielder is Fabregas, the right winger is the little tiger Walcott, the left winger is Nasri, and the center forward is Van Persie.
It is particularly worth mentioning that Arsenal legend, the King of Highbury, Thierry Henry, also sat on Arsenal's bench.
Henry moved to Barcelona in 2007. In 2008, he became the club's top scorer, surpassing Eto'o. In 2009, he moved to the New York Red Bulls to play health-preserving football.
However, on January 6, 2012, Henry was loaned back to his beloved Arsenal. This was also his first game after returning on loan. Although he did not start, he was definitely a substitute in the second half.
Therefore, the reason why this game caused a sensation is that there will inevitably be a battle between the new and old generations of the King of Highbury.
After the game started, the two sides engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand confrontation in the midfield.
After undergoing a magical transformation and more than half a season of running-in, Southampton is no longer as cautious and nervous as it was when it met Arsenal before. It is no longer simply defending and relying on physical strength and Gu Ran's incredible performance to win. Instead, it adopts a high-pressure approach and directly confronts the powerful Arsenal.
Arsenal's passing and cutting style is also very afraid of this kind of close combat and the rhythm of passing the ball is disrupted.
The movements of both sides were a little bit big.
Just 8 minutes into the game, Salah, playing as a center forward, made a standard defender's flying tackle, bringing down Fabregas who was about to turn around and launch a fast break after receiving the ball.
Fabregas was completely stunned.
How can there be a difference between playing as a center forward and playing as a defender?
Fabregas knelt on the ground to protest to the referee, and the referee gave Salah a yellow card.
Salah accepted it with a smile.
After all, Salah was very happy that he could make a flying tackle on Fabregas, who is as famous as Messi in this era.
The game continues.
The offensive and defensive rhythms of both sides were very fast.
Southampton's defense was also pressed forward, and Luke Shaw on the left and Van Dijk on the right were under a lot of pressure.
In the 16th minute, Southampton failed to intercept in the midfield. Fabregas used his outstanding personal ability to get past Mikel, and then before Gu Ran came up to intercept, he quickly kicked the ball to the empty area on the right side of Southampton. Nasri rushed to the right side like the wind, took the ball and made a cross to Van Persie who had already moved forward to the top of the penalty area.
Just as Van Persie jumped up and prepared to volley, Van Dijk stepped forward and kicked the ball out of the baseline before Van Persie touched the ball.
This interception is very critical!
Arsenal's passing and cutting was seamless and broke through Southampton's midfield defense. However, Arsenal never expected that Southampton's young right-back was so strong.
However, Arsenal still got a corner kick.
Fabregas took a corner kick and Walcott headed the ball at the back post, but unfortunately the ball went wide.
The game continues.
In the 25th minute, Arsenal again broke through the flank guarded by Mikel and Henderson through the cooperation of Fabregas and Wilshere. Wilshere passed the ball to Walcott, who broke through with the ball, was intercepted, dodged to create space, and then made a cross.
Rudiger stretched out his long legs and blocked the ball.
Arsenal fans suddenly sighed.
Southampton continued to press high against Arsenal, putting pressure on them and forcing them to make passing errors.
This kick was not a pass, but a self-clearance.
Southampton immediately seized the opportunity.
Henderson jumped up and stopped the ball with his chest. Without waiting for Arsenal players to rush up to press and block the ball, he directly passed the ball to Gu Ran who had already started.
Gu Ranfeng's son, the King of Highbury, was in full swing, eating up Arsenal's midfielders and forwards at full speed! Henry, who was sitting on the bench, couldn't help but widen his eyes, and his eyes were full of his own appearance when he was young.
Gu Ran dribbled the ball along the left side, and after attracting most of the Arsenal players to double-team him, Gu Ran made a simple quick stop and pressure step, then passed the ball to the middle with his left foot! Salah, who was at the front point, missed the ball, and Lallana, who was following behind, took a powerful shot! Fabianski was only paying attention to Salah, and he didn't expect that the second striker Lallana was right behind Salah.
By the time Fabianski reacted, the football had already gone into the goal!
The ball went in! The referee gestured to the center circle, indicating that the goal was valid!
On the big screen at the Emirates Stadium, the score was changed to Arsenal 0:1 Southampton! Southampton scored first away from home!
This ball was very beautiful! Not only was Gu Ran's long-distance run beautiful, nor was it just Lallana's one-shot beauty, but Salah's miss was a classic among classics.
Just based on this leak of Salah, everyone can see that Salah will become a great player in the future! Southampton players happily gathered together to celebrate.
After all, being able to score a goal first against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium is definitely something to be happy about.
The Arsenal players looked depressed.
Fortunately, there is still a lot of time left in the game.
The game continues.
The Arsenal players held their breath and quickened the tempo of their attack.
In the 39th minute, Fabregas, Wilshere and Nasri made a wonderful triangle cooperation in the midfield. After Fabregas got the ball again, before being knocked away by Mikel, he sent a deadly and accurate half-high pass to Southampton's penalty area. Gu Ran retreated and double-teamed Van Persie with Van Dijk!
However, Van Persie did not stop the ball, but headed the ball directly from outside the penalty area! This diving header was very beautiful!
Gu Ran and Van Dijk were both a beat too slow! Southampton goalkeeper Davis quickly stood up to save the ball, but it was too late!
The football is shot into the net!
Arsenal equalized the score!
Tens of thousands of Arsenal fans cheered wildly!
On the big screen at the Emirates Stadium, the score was changed to Arsenal 1:1 Southampton.
The two sides are back on the same starting line.
In the last few minutes of the first half and injury time, both sides had wonderful offensive scenes, but unfortunately neither side was able to seize the opportunity.
The score in the first half was also fixed at 1:1.
...(End of this chapter)