My light shines on Arsenal

Chapter 265 A winter fairy tale ()

Shots per game: 16.8

Average pass success rate per game: 85.2%

Average ball possession rate per game: 54.3%

League ranking: third.

This is Liverpool's record after the 21st round of the season.

Melwood training ground.

Brendan Rodgers crossed his arms and watched the Liverpool players training that day.

Captain Steven Gerrard ran past him.

During Liverpool's group offensive training, Gerrard passed a good pass. Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling passed two teammates like a wolf and shot the ball away.

"Rahim!" Gerrard's expression twitched, "This...is this a shot?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Captain." Sterling touched his head and smiled warmly and innocently, "I just feel very happy..."

Gerrard shook his head helplessly, ran over and slapped Sterling on the forehead, "Next time on the court, just calm down."

"It's up to you, captain." Sterling had a good attitude.

"Go."

Gerrard watched as Sterling ran over to two other players.

Sterling, Sturridge, Suarez.

Liverpool's "3S" combination this season is also the reason why the team can cling to the first group in the first rounds.

Gerrard watched dozens of times as the pair in front of him put the ball into the opponent's goal to give his team three points.

He expected this scene to continue.

He is already thirty-four years old, and his time playing in mainstream leagues is numbered.

It's always sad to say goodbye. After Gerrard entered the threshold of thirty years old, he knew that his career had entered a countdown.

Gerrard does not lament about growing old. He clearly knows that a professional athlete's career is only fifteen years and he will grow old. Fortunately, in his career, he has already become older. A memorable achievement was achieved.

Apart from the championship, the Premier League title.

Liverpool have yet to win their first Premier League title in team history, and this season is the last chance Gerrard is looking forward to.

At an age when he can still contribute to the team, Steve Gerrard is extremely eager to help Liverpool win the first championship in team history as captain.

In this way, his name will be completely recorded in the history of Liverpool and become a glorious page.

Originally, Gerrard felt that this dream was not far away.

In Brendan Rodgers' second season, Liverpool once faced chaos in the summer. Luis Suarez lost his heart and was targeted by wealthy teams. He once fell out with the team.

But in the end, Gerrard helped Liverpool convince Suarez to stay for another season, and the tactical system created by Brendan Rodgers for Liverpool gradually took shape. The sudden emergence of Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge, and Suarez Together, they formed Liverpool's sharp offensive line.

Mignolet on the goal line also ushered in the best season of his career. In the first few games of the season, Liverpool relied on the attacking group to open up the opponent's goal, and Mignolet was cheating. The goalkeeper scored three points.

But Liverpool have never been able to break into the top two in the standings - thinking about this always gives Steve Gerrard a headache.

Arsenal and Manchester United once again dominate the Premier League this season.

Gerrard could barely understand Manchester United's strength - they had been runners-up for two consecutive years and Sir Alex Ferguson's desperate retirement had suppressed this veteran team's desire to win to the extreme.

Coupled with the addition of Cesc Fabregas, a world-class midfielder has brought qualitative changes to Manchester United. Manchester United is indeed nothing less than the strongest contender for the Premier League this season.

But what about Arsenal? This team has risen silently. Although Liverpool defeated Arsenal in the first round of this season, the Gunners' status has been improving since then, and they have the potential to overwhelm Manchester United.

Liverpool can only try its best to bite the heels of the two teams in front of them. More than half a season has passed, and Steve Gerrard's heart has gone from full of longing to worry, and now to sadness.

There is no other choice. The only way to win the first championship in team history is to defeat Arsenal and Manchester United in a head-on confrontation.

These thoughts swirled in Gerrard's mind. He breathed evenly and walked towards Rodgers on the sidelines.

"Coach." Gerrard said, "Let's talk about the game?"    "Okay." Brendan Rodgers agreed, "We should have a good talk."

……

In the 22nd round of the Premier League on January 18, Liverpool visited Villa Park and defeated Aston Villa 2-1. Brendan Rodgers' side remain third in the Premier League with 47 points.

Manchester United defeated the Chelsea team coached by Mourinho 3-1. After 22 rounds, Manchester United's record is 16 wins, four draws and two losses, with 52 points. In the history of Manchester United, this is also the second half of the league. A quite remarkable achievement.

Arsenal also easily defeated Fulham, which ranked 19th in the Premier League. Before the difficult schedule came, Arsenal had an easy schedule with relatively weak opponents in the Premier League, and was also regarded as the "gunners" in the tough schedule. A period of time where points must be scored before the test.

Craven Farm is in London, so Arsenal's away game against Fulham also avoids the hardship of traveling.

Chen Yao disbanded the team after defeating Fulham. Arsenal's next game is against Southampton at home. There is an eleven-day break from the end of the 22nd round.

Chen Yao doesn't mind giving the players more time off during this rare period of relaxation.

After all, what he is most worried about now is problems with the team's physical fitness and condition. Arsenal will have to face strong opponents continuously in the future, and this schedule may determine Arsenal's fate this season.

……

January 29, Emirates Stadium.

In the twenty-third round of the Premier League, Arsenal faced Southampton.

"We shouldn't have gotten this score." Dennis Bergkamp complained in a muffled voice. Juan Lillo hugged his arms tightly and remained silent.

The score on the scoreboard was 1-0, with Southampton ahead of Arsenal away from home.

Chen Yao has used up his third substitution. The time is now 79 minutes. Arsenal's formation is fully pressed, trying to score a goal or even two goals at the last moment of the game.

Since the New Year, Arsenal's efficiency in winning and scoring has dropped a lot compared to the first half of the season, and Chen Yao clearly feels this.

The situation Arsenal is facing is getting more and more difficult. Their opponents now completely regard Arsenal as a team that is difficult to beat, so putting an airtight bus in front of the Gunners is already a regular option.

No matter which team, when facing every opponent, they have to dig through the defense line with difficulty, which is a consumption and test for the team.

And football is full of randomness.

For example, in this game, Southampton goalkeeper Boruc performed amazingly, making six saves and blocking all Arsenal's attacks.

Southampton midfielder Wanyama, who has significantly shrunk the defense line, has had good results in interception and defense in the frontal area, and his partner, the 24-year-old French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, has good offensive and defensive abilities. , performed well in Southampton's defensive organization and offensive transition.

Arsenal's goal came from Schneiderlin's precise hit on Arsenal's waist, and his pass was accurately passed to Adam Lallana.

Lallana passed Jorginho with his first touch of the ball, and Southampton easily faced Arsenal's defense. In the end, Jay Rodriguez succeeded in countering offside and scored Arsenal's goal with a semi-single shot.

It's that simple. Southampton only had five shots in the game, two shots on target, one of which was a free kick, and the goal came just like that.

Arsenal got the only corner kick opportunity in the fourth minute of stoppage time, and goalkeeper Szczesny also came to the frontcourt.

A corner kick was taken and was immediately cleared by Southampton center back Lovren.

The game is over.

Chen Yao lowered his head and sighed. There is no doubt that Arsenal lost three points in this game.

The wind blowing against him was a bit cold, and he glanced at the court. Southampton's players were happily celebrating their unexpected victory.

He just hoped that this was an unexpected failure rather than a habitual collapse.

　The exam is finally over.

　　I have to say that this exam is indeed physically and mentally damaging.

　　The feel is gone too. I slept all day today and stayed up ten nights in a row. I can't stand it any longer.

　　I'll rehab tomorrow and get back to my normal rhythm.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)