My light shines on Arsenal

Chapter 68
Coach Massimiliano Allegri stood erect on the sidelines, the top of his thinning head sweating on an early spring night.

His assistant, Mauro Tassotti, also stood beside him gravely.

Milan's bench was silent - but that was relative.

Except for their small world, the entire Emirates Stadium was filled with shouts.

Allegri has considered the strategies that Arsenal may adopt. In such a situation where they are behind by a large score, their only way is to attack with all their strength and strive for slim hope.

But AC Milan's current lineup is seriously aging.

It is impossible for Allegri to overdraw the physical fitness of the main players for a game with a huge chance of winning.

After careful weighing, the starting lineup sent by Allegri is:
Double forward, El Shaarawi, Ibrahimovic
Attacking midfielder, Robinho

Three midfielders: Emanuelson, Nocerino, Van Bommel

Back four, Abarth, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Mesbach

Goalkeeper, Abbiati

Balance is what Allegri pursues.

The inverted triangle attack combination composed of Robinho, Shaarawy and Ibrahimovic can ensure AC Milan's offensive pressure.

As for Emmanuelson and Nocerino, Allegri limited the frequency of their forward penetration, but asked them to stay more in the midfield and protect the team's wings.

For the back line, Allegri also gave careful positioning.

He greatly reduced the requirements for defenders to advance forward, but asked them to hold the line of defense, not seeking merit, but seeking nothing.

Undoubtedly, Allegri's tactical ability and the conservatism and caution rooted in the Italian coach's heart were fully exposed in his formation.

But this is reasonable, Milan doesn't even need to score more goals, they just need to hold on without conceding four goals.

Just from the very beginning, Allegri found that the opponents did not have any intention of disarming and surrendering, and they had a firm belief in winning.

"Welcome to the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Arsenal faces AC Milan at home. The current total score is zero to four, and Milan leads by four goals." The commentator said.

"It can be said that Milan has almost advanced. For them, this trip to the UK is just a tourist trip." The guest responded.

"But Arsenal doesn't seem to give up the game. Coach Chen Yao chose a balanced starting lineup of new and old players for this game. I think we can appreciate whether this kind of Arsenal will show new characteristics."

"After the game started, Arsenal adopted a very high tempo. They did not hesitate at all, and all their actions were aimed at rushing towards Abbiati's goal..."

Not long after the game started, Mesbach's left wing was attacked by Arsenal's starting right winger Oxlade Chamberlain.

At that time, Milan's formation had just expanded into a 4-3-1-2 formation, but both Ibrahimovic and Robinho showed their absent-minded attitude towards the game.

The lazy two did not interfere with Arsenal's offensive organization in the backcourt at all.

The ball started from the goalkeeper, and after only three passes, it came to the feet of the midfielder Arteta.

At that time, Arteta's position was even in the middle of the pressing formation composed of Ibrahimovic, Robinho and El Shaarawy.

Shalawi faithfully performed his defensive duties and immediately followed Arteta, but Robinho and Ibrahimovic did not go to intercept Arteta's line of the ball.

After a few routine runs, they sat back and watched the right back Carvajal go up like a small bulldozer and get Arteta's diagonal pass.

As for Milan's right midfielder Emmanuelson, he was completely unaccustomed to Arsenal's ball-moving speed and was still standing stupidly in the middle of the midfield.

Allegri saw all this very clearly. At this time, Milan's main forces were concentrated in the center, with only full-back Mesbach guarding the wings.

And the opponent's coach obviously also noticed this problem - Chen Yao kept pointing at Mesbach's position, signaling the players to attack the side.

The starting player he sent, 19-year-old England young winger Chamberlain, who has the name of an NBA superstar, passed Mesbach at lightning speed.

However, after completing the breakthrough, he was obviously constrained by his own skills and golf quotient, and did not immediately take the action.

Thiago Silva immediately filled the position at the junction of the side and center.

At this time, Chamberlain made a cross, and Thiago Silva easily pushed it over the baseline and gave Arsenal a corner kick.

And this corner kick appeared in the penalty area with Arsenal starting defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Standing in the penalty area, the Belgian defender was reminded of the dressing room before the game.

Chen Yao supported his shoulder and said, "Thomas, don't forget your mission."

My mission?
Vermaelen smiled. I'm afraid no one would have thought that he played as a left back.

Moreover, his task is not to defend well.

Standing in Milan's penalty area, the players huddled together waiting for the corner kick to be delivered.

Vermaelen slipped quietly into the far corner, a position he has been accustomed to for a long time.

Milan's main defensive players are focused on tracking tall players such as Koscielny. Vermaelen, who is 1.8 meters tall, is not their focus.

However, Vermaelen also has a nickname

— A guard with a knife.

"Arsenal's corner goes far and someone jumps - header!!!"

It was Vermaelen who jumped high.

Allegri looked at the Belgian who took off at the back point, and suddenly thought of the opponent Tassotti introduced to himself before the game.

"Vermaelen, I don't know if he will start. It's a very injury-prone player."

"He is 1.8 meters three, not particularly tall, but his jumping ability, heading skills and judgment of the landing point are very accurate."

At this time, it was Vermaelen who outflanked the jump at the back point, shook his head, and threw the football towards the goal.

Abbiati was still adjusting his position from the near post at this time. Even though his eyes followed him, his body was helpless.

The football slammed into the ground and into the net.

Falk...

Allegri sighed.

He looked up at the scoreboard.

Time: 49 minutes [-] seconds

Score on field: One to zero
Total score: one to four
AC Milan conceded a goal first.

Looking back, Allegri is very upset. It was a completely unnecessary goal.

Their own players did not raise their vigilance at all, they let Arsenal advance and sent a corner kick.

Just the first corner kick, what Chen Yao expected to happen happened.

Vermaelen's attributes of a knife-wielding guard came into full play. He used his offensive ability to seize the asymmetric advantage his side had over Milan when defending the first corner kick.

This is a dream start.

If at least three goals can be scored in the first half, there is still hope for this round of the series!
After Vermaelen scored, he didn't celebrate much.

In fact, all Arsenal players did not celebrate much, but immediately kicked the ball back to the center circle.

Then decisively return to defense and arrange the position.

There are still 82 minutes left for them.

(End of this chapter)