host must win

Chapter 143 Shortlisted for Double Awards
On the evening of April 30, local time in the UK, Premier League No.[-] played the first game in five rounds. Manchester United challenged Arsenal away.

This is a game that is decisive for the Premier League champions this season, and it can be called the battle of Tianwangshan.

Before the game, the British media revealed the news that Beckham would transfer to Real Madrid after the end of the season, and it was reported that Ferguson and Beckham broke out again at the Carrington training base afterwards, while Beckham In an interview with the media, he said that he was ready to play, but Ferguson did not bring him to London. This undoubtedly proves from the side that the relationship between the two has completely broken down.

In this crucial battle of the Premier League at Highbury Stadium, both sides formed a 442 formation.

For the home team Arsenal, Seaman, who performed well in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend, was absent due to a bad cold, and the teenager Stuart Taylor replaced him.Lauren, Keown, Campbell and Ashley Cole at the back, Ljungberg, Gilberto, Vieira and Pires in midfield and Bergkamp and Thierry Thierry Henry up front.

For Manchester United, Butters, who has a minor injury, still starts the game. O'Shea and Brown occupy the two wings of the defense. The Neville brothers can only play as substitutes. Ferdinand and Sylvester are partnered as central defenders; Coles, Keane and Giggs form the midfield, with Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy up front.

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In the opening minutes, the two teams started a high-tempo fight in the midfield, but it was difficult to get close to the opponent's penalty area, and Arsenal took the initiative.In the 5th minute, Bergkamp's left elbow hit Sylvester's face behind him when he responded to the high ball. Sylvester covered his face and fell to the ground, and soon returned to the game.

Although Manchester United was at a disadvantage, their counterattack was more efficient and they broke the deadlock with a third threatening attack.

In the 24th minute, Manchester United played a quick attack. Giggs responded with a long pass from the backcourt and flew the header from the left side of the midfield. Van Nistelrooy hit the ball back with his right foot. Quickly passed Campbell with his right foot from the wing, and it was too late for the old Keown to catch up behind Van Nistelrooy. :9 lead.
This is Van Nistelrooy's 37th goal this season, one more than the total number of goals scored last season.It was also his first goal against Arsenal.

In the 51st minute, Pires made a direct pass from the left. Bergkamp lightly blocked with the arch of his right foot at the front of the penalty area. The football barely changed direction. Ashley Cole broke into the penalty area and changed the line. Brown, who had no time to turn around, shot with his right foot 10 meters in front of the goal. The football hit Henry's leg and changed direction. It passed through Butters' crotch and rolled into the lower right corner. Arsenal tied the score.

Ten minutes later, Arsenal scored their second goal of the game.Gilberto made a 1-meter direct pass with his left foot in the midfield, and the ball went behind Brown and Ferdinand. Henry, who was in an offside position, received the ball and passed it at the front of the penalty area. He shot with his right foot 35 meters in front of the goal and scored. In the dead corner at the bottom right of the gate, Arsenal overtook 15:2.

The conceded goal made Ferguson on the sidelines furious, and almost had a quarrel with Wenger. Finally, under the intervention of the fourth official, the two returned to the bench angrily.

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The United players were also brooding over the second goal, and after the restart, they launched a frenzied counterattack.

In the 63rd minute, Yin Jun divided the football to the front of the penalty area on the right. Solskjaer sent a curve ball with an excellent line. Campbell did not touch the ball. With a header from 5 meters, the ball bounced into the near corner and Manchester United drew 2:2.

Arsenal's lead lasted only 63 seconds!
Ferguson saw the loopholes in the central defender and quickly made substitutions adjustments. Gary Neville replaced O'Shea. At the same time, Sylvester and Brown also switched positions, returning to their familiar positions.Wenger replaced the mediocre Bergkamp with Wiltord.

In the ensuing game, although both sides tried their best to rewrite the score, the strength of the two teams was similar. Under the desperate efforts, neither one took advantage of it, nor did they get the coveted third goal.

On the contrary, the home team, Arsenal, suffered heavy losses at the end of the game.In the 82nd minute, Solskjaer received the high ball from the front of the penalty area. Campbell chased back the steal and turned to dribble the ball along the left. Solskjaer followed closely behind. Campbell hit Solskjaer's face with his right elbow. Solskjaer Immediately covered his face and fell to the ground. After discussing with the assistant referee, the referee Halsey took out a red card and sent Campbell off. Campbell will face a 4-match ban. Although he can participate in the next 2 rounds of the league, he will miss the last 3 league games and the next. month's FA Cup final.

In the last ten minutes of the game, although Manchester United, who played one more man, played against Arsenal at the Highbury Stadium, they failed to break through Arsenal's city in the end. Both sides scored a point 2:2.

This is a result that both parties are not very satisfied with, but can barely accept.Manchester United is still only 1 points ahead of Arsenal in the case of 3 extra game, and the suspense of the championship battle is still unresolved.

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On the second day of the game, the focus of the British media was not that Manchester United and Arsenal ended in a tie in this season's Tianwangshan battle, each scoring one point and continuing to maintain the suspense of winning the championship, but another news.

Just at six o'clock on Wednesday night, two hours before the game between Manchester United and Arsenal, the Premier League Professional Players Association announced the 2003 Premier League player of the year and the best rookie of the year.

The nominated candidates are proposed by every player participating in the competition, so they have certain reference value.

Among the nominees for Player of the Year are Southampton striker Beatty, who leads the Premier League's top scorer charts with 21 league goals and helped his side reach the FA Cup final.

The other 5 people selected include: Arsenal's French striker Henry, Manchester United duo Yin Jun and Ruud van Nistelrooy, Newcastle striker Shearer and Chelsea veteran Zola.Among them, Ruud van Nistelrooy was the last player of the year.

Among the candidates for the best rookie of the year, last year's winner Bellamy was selected again. The Newcastle striker and teammate Janus will join Everton striker Wayne Rooney, West Ham's black striker Telford, Charlton defender Parker and Manchester United young talent Yin Jun competition for this award.

Yin Jun is the only player who has been selected for these two shortlists at the same time, and he is the biggest favorite for the best young player.Judging from the current situation, it is difficult for the remaining candidates to pose any threat to him.

On the 27th local time in the UK, the final winners of these two awards will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel.

(End of this chapter)