"Ah."
On the Sheffield United coaching bench, Gareth Speed grimaced, revealing a pained expression. He hadn't expected Maël to turn what was already a complete defeat into a crushing one.
There's a significant difference between losing zero to three and zero to four; it evokes different feelings.
He shook his head, returned to the bench, grabbed a bottle of water, took a sip, and nervously watched the field, fearing Arsenal might continue to pursue goals in the final moments.
While drinking, he noticed Joelson biting his inner lip, suppressing a smile, his body slightly trembling as if holding back his emotions.
"Having a hard time holding it in?"
Seeing his friend's expression, Gareth Speed couldn't resist teasing, "It would have been better to rest today and let the new stamina coach sit in your spot.
"You could have celebrated such a wonderful goal without restraint at home."
"Tch." Joelson rolled his eyes dismissively, retorting, "Isn't your face just as complicated? Why not say we both should have taken the day off and let the stamina coach lead the team against Arsenal? Besides, it's not like I have no sense of collective honor. Conceding so many goals certainly doesn't feel good, but I just couldn't help but laugh when I saw him."
Seeing Gareth Speed silent, Joelson pointed at Maël, trying to lighten the mood, "It's not just me who's having a hard time holding it in; he is too."
"Haha." Gareth Speed forced a bitter laugh, feeling somewhat better after seeing Maël's expression.
He turned his gaze towards the box, wondering what owner McCabe was thinking at this moment. Would he also have mixed emotions?
"Gareth Speed, you pig!"
Inside the box, McCabe was with his family. Seeing Gareth Speed looking up at them, he couldn't help but fume, "What is he doing? How could they let in four goals?"
His wife comforted him, while his two sons stared solemnly at the field, afraid of McCabe's anger affecting them.
Isabella's reaction was different. She was cheerfully nodding her head to the music, a smile on her face.
That familiar feeling, everything was back... except Maël had gone from being the Sheffield United God to the Arsenal God.
After moving to London, she rarely came back to watch games, but today was an exception.
Looking at her father's expression, Isabella couldn't help but say, "It's already like this, so don't worry about the score. Just enjoy the football. Maël used to be one of us."
McCabe glanced at Isabella, opened his mouth as if to say something, but finally deflated, "This is my team, like my beloved child. How can I bear to see it concede four goals?
"I can't appreciate Arsenal's beautiful attack, nor can I appreciate Maël's World Wave. All I feel is heartache."
Isabella shrugged, gave up on trying to persuade him, and turned her attention back to the field.
Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder how great it would be if Maël were still one of them. She could sit here every week, celebrating and cheering with her family.
Unfortunately, he had moved on too quickly, leaving Sheffield United far behind. He was now beyond the reach of a team like Sheffield United.
They could only dream of players like Arshavin, not Maël.
Boom!
On the field, Sheffield United won a corner kick in the attacking third through a counter-attack, their second of the game.
And the match was already nearing its end... They had to adjust their mindset, accept the crushing defeat, and seek a chance to score and salvage some pride.
Janu Hans took the corner kick for them, but the ball was cleared by Mertesacker at the first point. The second ball was then taken by Lotton, who had followed up.
Maël had also leisurely walked back to his own penalty area, checking if there was anything he could help with.
Seeing Lotton get the ball, he accelerated towards him, but Lotton sent out a pass first.
He looked towards the penalty area and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Mertesacker in a good position. There was no need to worry about the German Iron Wall's defensive abilities.
Boom!
Mertesacker headed the ball out of the penalty area, and it landed near Maël.
Maël's eyes sharpened, and he looked around, realizing he was surrounded by four players.
He looked for a passing lane but found that all options were blocked by the opponents. Helpless, he could only stop the ball and turn, trying to get it away from the danger zone before looking for a pass.
Boom, boom, boom!
The outside of his right foot quickly touched the ball, gradually increasing his speed, and the encirclement quickly tightened.
Hmm? Maël suddenly realized that although there were many players surrounding him, only a young midfielder in front of him and Janu Hans, who was chasing back, could effectively defend against him.
The defense is so weak!
I can try to break through them!
"Bang bang...!!"
Maël started sprinting, each step he took was extremely forceful, his stride maximized, using all his strength.
Janu Hans beside him was struggling to keep up. Now, as long as he gets past this young midfielder in front of him, the opponent's midfield line will be breached! When the situation opens up, whether he continues to break through or pass, he can create a good threat!
"The counterattack starts now!"
In the broadcast booth, Zhan Jun watched the situation on the field, analyzing the current situation, "The area where Maël is located is densely defended, but the player is still accelerating!
"Facing Tek's defense! A shift to the right, Tek makes a move, but he's not as fast as Maël, another shift! He's going past!"
"..."
"Pa!"
Near the center circle, Maël flicked the ball to the right, breaking through Tek's defense. His legs once again exploded with a powerful force, accelerating forward.
He must ensure his dribbling speed is faster than the chasing speed of everyone behind him!
"Deng deng deng!"
Maël frantically stomped the ground, after opening up the situation, he glanced at the situation of his teammates on both sides, watching Van Persie diagonally running forward, he paused, wanting to pass the ball.
But the defender marking Van Persie seemed to have guessed his intention, his feet fidgeting, seemingly wanting to get in front and steal the ball.
"Bang bang...!"
Maël put aside this fleeting thought and continued to grit his teeth and charge forward. There were still three of the opponent's defensive players in front of him.
This raid has exceeded 30 meters, should he continue to charge? "Bang!"
Maël used a large explosive touch to strengthen his belief, and this touch also attracted his old Sheffield United teammate Lotton to quickly step forward, leaving his defensive position, wanting to intercept in advance.
"Lotton!"
At the live commentary booth, the Sky Sports commentator saw Maël speeding all the way, his tone becoming enthusiastic, "Maël is still faster, he is approaching the ball as fast as a cheetah! "Aaahh! He's past! He broke through all the encirclements, now there are only the last two center-backs in front of him!"
"..."
"Pa!"
In front of the center circle, Maël took down Lotton in the same way. He overcame all obstacles, as if he was about to reach the finish line.
All thoughts of passing were gone, now, he just wanted to charge straight to the opponent's goal! A solo effort!
"Bang!" He touched the ball towards the middle position of the opponent's two center-backs, and then quickly stepped on the ground to chase the ball, his face straining.
"Wow! AaOh!"
On the field, the exclamations of the Arsenal fans resounded throughout the stadium. Everyone showed an unbelievable expression. Maël broke into the opponent's penalty area step by step from near his own penalty area? What kind of ball is this?
Wenger and a group of assistant coaches came to the sidelines, watching Maël's raid, their eyes flashing with light.
On the other side, the Sheffield United fans were unusually silent watching this scene, watching their own defense easily eaten up by Maël's speed and dribbling, almost completely outplayed.
"..." Gareth Speed and others came to the sidelines with their mouths wide open, wanting to say something, but found it was too late.
Under everyone's gaze, Maël ran wildly towards the two defenders running back, he approached one position in almost two steps, approaching one position in two steps.
Slowly parallel, then slowly surpass, arriving in front of the ball one step ahead of the two center-backs!
At this moment, he had already rushed to the edge of the penalty area, one step away from the goal! "Bang!"
Maël's foot touched the ball, taking a step towards the front side, occupying a positional advantage.
The defender who chased over saw that he had entered the penalty area, and hurriedly slowed down and dodged, fearing that he would knock him down and give away a penalty.
But in this situation, it was not much different from a penalty. The only thing he could hope for was that Maël's shot would be weak after a long run.
"Yeah!!"
The cheers of the Arsenal fans in the stadium had reached their peak at this moment, everyone showing an unbelievable expression. Maël broke into the opponent's penalty area step by step from near his own penalty area? What kind of ball is this?
Wenger and his team either held their heads or raised their hands high.
Many people didn't actually react to what happened. This breakthrough was too fast. In less than ten seconds, running more than 70 meters made it impossible to fully change their emotions.
"Ah!" Gareth Speed and his group on the other side also clutched their heads, some with knees slightly buckling, legs slowly contracting, their whole bodies sinking.
If they could really make a wish to God, their choice at this moment would definitely be for the ball not to go in.
They didn't want to be Maël's backdrop! Stop it, pretend you miskicked, don't be so heartless!
"He's past them all!!"
In the broadcast booth, Zhan Jun stared wide-eyed, watching the figure in the Sheffield United penalty area in astonishment, "He got the ball first! He's going to shoot!! This could be a magnificent solo goal!"
Inside the stadium's commentary box, the English commentator's voice also became shrill, he had no time to say anything else, he could only keep raising his tone, "Aahh! Aahh!!"
Inside the penalty area, Maël forced himself to calm down, he first made sure of one thing in his mind, after scoring, resist the urge to celebrate with a knee slide.
"Bang!!"
Then, he aimed at the far right corner of the penalty area, flicked his ankle and shot the ball towards the near corner, this was his usual trick.
The Sheffield United goalkeeper indeed pounced to the right, and after seeing the football fly to the left, sat on the ground in despair.
"Swish!" The football hit the bottom of the net, violently shaking the net before being bounced back out by the net's elasticity.
But everything was settled, Maël had scored this solo goal after dribbling past several people and sprinting dozens of meters!
"Wow!!!" Arsenal fans were celebrating the New Year again, everyone waved their arms in the stands, excitedly hugging and exclaiming with their closest relatives and friends.
"Genius!!"
"Monster!"
"This ball! God!!"
"."
"Yeah!"
Mr. Wenger and the others were just standing in place, but at this moment they all rushed to different positions, jumping and celebrating, the place instantly turned into a chaotic mess.
"Oh!" A surprised female voice also came from a box somewhere in the stands, along with the sound of wine bottles breaking.
Gilbert, in front of the player tunnel, gritted his teeth and returned to the player tunnel, walking all the way into the locker room before clenching his fist and shouting excitedly, the sound could be heard from a long distance.
"Absolutely!"
In the commentary box, the English commentator's voice became even more shrill, even a little breathless, "Incredible long-distance goal!
"Wow! Amazing! Wonderfulwonderfuland wonderful!!!"
On the field, Maël couldn't help himself this time, he quickly ran to the side of the field, turned around, pointed at Mertesacker who was rushing from the backfield, and smiled.
"Too shocking!"
Mertesacker never thought that this clearance could turn into an assist, nor did he expect Maël to be able to get past the Sheffield United players, he rushed up quickly and tackled Maël with a flying shoulder charge.
The Arsenal players who came later mostly jumped directly on top of the two of them, since Maël was too embarrassed to celebrate, then they would press down on Maël, so that the fans couldn't see his face.
"He scored again this time!!"
In the broadcast booth, Zhan Jun was stunned for a long time before continuing, "An earth-shattering goal! The aircraft carrier has pushed its horsepower to the maximum at this moment, rampaging in its own waters, unable to find an opponent!
"This is an extremely wonderful goal! Maël ran more than 70 meters after receiving the ball outside the penalty area, completing a solo goal!
"Five to zero! On December 31st, on this last day of 2011! The last game of the first half of the season! Is he going to launch an attack on the Puskas Award?
"We all know that Maël already has several goals this season that are hotly debated as Puskas candidates, but this goal obviously gives people a stronger sense of impact!
"In the absence of particularly strong opponents, this is really possible, is he going to use his old club as a backdrop?"
He revealed a smile, Maël really didn't show any mercy, this was completely a full-strength attack.
On the field, the defensive line led by Lotton turned around and put their hands on their hips in unison the moment the football touched the net, perfectly synchronized.
They looked at the midfield reproachfully, questioning with a bellyful of anger.
"Why didn't you foul him?!"
"Foul him when he just started accelerating! Why were you so polite to him?"
"Damn it!"
"Pillar of shame!"
Janu Hans and a group of midfielders also ran back at this time. They were panting heavily, squatting down with their hands on their knees to recover their stamina.
Listening to the complaints of the defenders, they couldn't complain either, and could only lower their heads.
Maël's goal was indeed a big blow to the team. They should have made a tactical foul at the beginning, even if it meant getting a yellow card.
"Gulp." Janu Hans swallowed, his eyes looking at Maël in the Arsenal away jersey on the sidelines. He had already gotten up and was hugging his teammates to celebrate.
"Sigh!" He sighed heavily, a sense of frustration welling up in his heart.
Evans on the front line also came back at this time. He had been chasing back, but he was too far away.
He stood next to Janu Hans, shaking his head and sighing, "Too fast, really too fast. I couldn't close the distance at all when he was dribbling the ball.
"I felt like it was just an instant, and he ran from Arsenal's penalty area to our penalty area."
Janu Hans didn't want to speak at first, but finally said, "The gap is too big. He makes every opponent tremble now."
On the sidelines, in front of the coaching bench.
Gareth Speed returned to his seat and sat down, picking at his fingers with his head lowered, not daring to look up at the field.
Zero to five! Too brutal!
"Good shot."
Joelson next to him didn't look too good this time, but he still said, "The peak of speed and physique, the peak of ball control, the peak of changing pace and rhythm!
"Speaking of which, aren't you going to tell him a secret? I feel like Arsenal has a chance to win the championship this season, just tell him directly."
Gareth Speed knew that Joelson was mocking him. He curled his lips speechlessly. This was not the time for that. "Stop arguing, think about how to bear McCabe's anger."
"Anger?" Joelson turned his head, "6 wins and 5 draws in 19 rounds, what's there to be angry about? Just focus on staying in the league with this investment."
Gareth Speed didn't speak anymore, sitting in his chair, staring at Maël's back for a long time without recovering.
If he was still a Sheffield United player, he could help the team score 28 goals and provide 8 assists in a season. Not to mention staying in the league, helping the team enter the European war zone would be hopeful.
"Beep! Beep! Beep—!"
Before long, the referee blew three long whistles to end the game, and the nightmare of the Sheffield People was finally over.
Many people collapsed directly on the ground, their chests heaving violently, not wanting to return to the locker room, which was bound to be filled with an extremely depressing atmosphere, immediately.
Gareth Speed came to the sidelines and shook hands with Wenger, smiling bitterly, "I praised Arsenal and Maël in an interview program, but I didn't expect you to be so ruthless."
Wenger spread his hands apologetically, "Sometimes, some players are in explosive form, and I can't stop them."
Speaking of this, he couldn't help laughing, "Just like that goal just now, five or six people didn't stop him, how can I stop him?"
Hearing this cold joke, Gareth Speed originally wanted to laugh, but he couldn't.
After hearing the whistle to end the game, Maël rested in place for a while, then went to the sidelines to perform a thank-you ceremony with the Arsenal fans.
"Clang clang clang clang!"
The familiar singing sounded above, and everything implied beauty.
16 wins and 3 draws, 51 points in the first half of the season, winning the mid-season championship undefeated! He also leads Van Persie by 4 goals, firmly sitting at the top of the scorer list!
"Is there a Mid-Season Best in the Premier League?" During the thank-you ceremony, he asked Van Persie next to him, "I don't seem to have heard of it?"
"No."
Van Persie shook his head, "But the media and fans will vote, don't worry, many people will choose you."
"Haha..." Maël laughed, and a sense of unsuitability rose up, "After coming to the Premier League, I found that the gap between top players is so small, it's difficult to play an absolutely phenomenal performance.
"In the EFL Championship, I already had a relatively obvious dominance in the first half of the season, widening the gap with other shooters and passers.
"This first-half finish is still relatively perfect, but unfortunately my performance is not perfect enough."
Van Persie stared at his face fiercely, looking at it for a long, long time, his expression very complicated, "The last sentence, are you serious? This kind of performance is not perfect enough?"
Maël patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "Okay, I'm different from you, I"
"Oh!" Van Persie sensed danger and suddenly waved and shouted towards the fans in the stands, which was considered a timely stop loss.
Maël smiled, turned, and walked into the Sheffield United fan section, also thanking the Sheffield United fans.
He had blasted his old club's goal twice today, and still wanted to express his apologies to them.
"Clap clap clap!" The Sheffield United fans saw him and stood up to applaud him, just like at the start of the game.
Looking at those lovely faces, Maël seemed to hear them saying to him, We forgive you, kid. Go pursue more.
...
Soon after, the players who returned to the locker room completely entered a carnival mode.
Led by Sagna and Alexandre Song, everyone formed a circle, dancing strange dances, and twisting their bodies magically.
"Mid-Season Champions!"
"Undefeated! Undefeated!"
"Is this Arsenal's highest Mid-Season score in history? Or even in the English Football World?!"
"Read the reports after the game!"
Alexandre Song didn't know where he got a bottle of champagne, wanting to spray it on everyone, but he was quickly intercepted by Mertesacker, who threw it into the trash. The defensive awareness of a top defender is just that good.
Song remembered Milan, slapped himself, and then pointed at Maël and laughed, "The Mid-Season Golden Boot is here too!"
"Long live Maël!"
"Long live Van Persie!"
"Long live Mr. Wenger!"
"Ooh!"
The locker room was ablaze, as if rewarding merits, although there were no actual rewards, getting the men's approval of 'you're awesome' was also good.
"Haha...!"
"Mr. Wenger will definitely become the Mid-Season Best Coach selected by the media, right? Maël, the top scorer, Van Persie, the best player?"
"Reasonable!"
Everyone laughed, and Maël jumped and danced with everyone, laughing loudly.
At this moment, the door of the locker room was pushed open, and Gilbert sneaked in from the opposite locker room, walked to Maël's side, "That last goal was amazing! That was the most violent solo run I've ever seen!"
Before Maël could speak to him, Gilbert was dragged into the central dance floor by everyone to celebrate together.
"Hey! Hey!" Gilbert felt that this was a bit inappropriate and was very resistant at first.
"Ooh!"
But when he felt Maël personally give him a push, pushing him into the center of the crowd, he still laughed and danced with everyone.
Maël felt a burst of beauty looking at this scene, wondering if Gilbert could come back by the end of this season.
He had always looked forward to fighting alongside the two of them, looking forward to this friend being by his side.
...
After the game, they were not in a hurry to return to London, but prepared to find a restaurant or pub locally to celebrate winning the Mid-Season title.
"Maël, you've been in this city for a year, where do you think is better?"
On the bus, Wenger and others turned to look at Maël, consulting his opinion.
Maël first thought of the restaurant where he first met Mendes, but after thinking about it, he pointed to the front, "There's a good pub on Bar Street, and the owner inside is still a good friend of mine."
"Bar Street?" Wenger thought for a while and nodded, "Okay, there should be a lot of food nearby, so let's go see your old friend."
Maël came to the front seat of the bus to show the driver the way, and soon arrived at Kodall's shop.
Many Sheffield United fans were wandering around nearby in a depressed mood, and there were also many people sitting in the store.
When Maël smiled and pushed the door open, Kodall, who was bragging to his friend, instantly lit up and walked out of the counter, "Maël? You really came?! I knew you wouldn't forget me and would come here! Quickly sit in the private room inside!"
Maël looked at him and smiled, "We want the two largest private rooms, they should be empty, right?"
"Yes!" Kodall nodded subconsciously, then looked puzzled, why did Maël need two large private rooms? But then, he saw Wenger also walking in.
"Ah!" The old man screamed strangely, because he had seen the mighty Arsenal team from outside the door.
"They, you" He suddenly became incoherent, "How did you bring them all here? Please come in! We must take a group photo together later, I want to hang it in the most conspicuous place in the bar! Thank you, Maël!"
Maël smiled and led the Arsenal players in, entering the private room amidst the amazed gasps of the Sheffield United fans.
Kodall called on two young clerks, excitedly running up and down, quickly arranging the private room, glasses, and other necessities for everyone.
After learning about everyone's dining needs, he volunteered, saying he knew what was delicious nearby and wanted to buy it for everyone.
"Ooh-rah!"
"Let's drink beer!"
"The carnival has begun!"
Soon, a burst of excited voices came from the two private rooms as the Arsenal players and coaches all made an exception to drink a few beers today, feasting on some junk food they usually wouldn't eat.
Kodall stayed outside the door, seemingly finding extreme joy just listening to their voices.
His face flushed red, he waved to the old man next to him and bragged, "See? Old Kodall still has a lot of face. I told you, everyone who knows Maël knows me."
An elegantly dressed old lady next to him looked at him, her eyes gleaming, seemingly developing some interest in him.
Kodall noticed this, but remained outwardly calm, waving his hand and saying, "Back in the day, two days before the championship game, I drank a case of beer with Maël, and I said it was 'Game-winning Goal Wine'.
"Sure enough, he used a game-winning goal to send Queen's Park to heaven. After returning, to thank me, he downed two bottles of 275ml beer."
At 11 p.m., the Arsenal players came out of the bar, tipsy and with rosy cheeks.
The bar was packed with people, all seemingly wanting to see their glory up close, and many police officers came to maintain order.
Maël felt like he was seeing double, swaying as he raised his hand, "We, we're going for an undefeated championship!"
"Go Arsenal!"
"Clang clang clang clang...!"
A burst of singing rang out here. The players finally took a group photo with Kodall in the bar before boarding the bus back.
There was no offseason. The second half of the season would follow one after another, which would be a new journey!
Maël arrived at the bus and looked at Kodall below, who was holding his phone and shouting excitedly. He opened the car window, wanting to hear what the other party was saying, "I'm going to raise the price of the three most expensive beers by 1 pound!"
"Haha..." Seeing the cute old man, he smiled, and then sang with the Arsenal players.
That day, they continued their joy all the way to the hotel. Everywhere they passed seemed to be infected by them, becoming cheerful.
Football, this sport that brings people joy, a sport that enriches people's spiritual world... Once you fall in love with it, it's really addictive.
Especially when you keep winning, when you approach honor, approach legendary achievements! Here ends the first half of the season! ps: The second half of the season will be faster, only writing a few key games.
Monthly update of 273,000, goal of 540,000 + 5*7k, please give me monthly tickets!
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