The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 40 Temporarily Leading (please follow up!)
  Tottenham head coach Martin Jol's idea is very simple. He has no way to solve the team's defensive problem, so he might as well just let go and attack.

As long as they score more goals than they concede, they can still win the final game.

This idea has been fully implemented, as can be seen from their previous 6-4 home game against Reading.

In this way, in order to release Leo's passing organization ability, it is naturally most appropriate for him to play back in the midfield.

At the same time, Bell was able to move forward and give full play to his offensive capabilities.

Although Leo is happy to be able to return to midfield, he is not completely without problems.

That is, when playing in the center, his own defensive tasks and the defensive pressure he needs to face from his opponents are much greater than when playing on the wing.

While taking on the offensive tasks, it is impossible for Leo to not need to participate in the team's defense at all. There are no fierce defensive teammates behind him who can support both teams.

And after returning to the center, Leo seems to have lost many of the scoring opportunities he had when playing on the left.

Because now his range of activities is mainly between the two teams' penalty areas, there is rarely a chance to enter the opponent's penalty area.

In addition, Leo's long-range shooting ability is not outstanding, and his personality is not the kind of person who likes to waste opportunities by casually shooting long-range shots dozens of yards away from the goal.

This has resulted in Leo not having the same scoring efficiency as in the first half of the league in recent times. As for assists, it depends on the status of Berbatov and Robbie Keane. It cannot be decided by him alone. .

At the beginning of the game, Fabregas, whose legs were not yet healed, was watching the game from the bench in a wheelchair.

Not bad, the core midfielder is in a wheelchair. This may become a big tradition for Arsenal in the future, which is good.

Arsenal, playing at home, had no intention of testing at all, and started a fierce attack from the first minute of the game.

Hleb made a diagonal pass from the middle, and Adebayor knocked away Dawson's defense and passed into the penalty area.

Flamini's volley from the right side of the penalty area missed the near corner of the goal.

In the fourth minute, Rosicky's free kick was passed. Kolo Toure defeated Lee Young-pyo before the penalty spot and barely managed a header, which was confiscated by Tottenham goalkeeper Robinson.

After a while, Tottenham finally found the rhythm of the game and gradually entered the game.

As soon as Leo got the ball, Arsenal defensive midfielder Gilberto Silva pressed towards him.

The Brazilian had been reduced from the main force to a substitute player this season, but Fabregas was reimbursed for the season, giving him a chance.

After all, Gilberto should thank Leo for helping him eliminate a competitor.

Of course, this was just a joke and there was no way it would happen. Silva fell to the ground fiercely from Leo's left front and tackled him!

Leo's deliberate smash changed direction and passed, and the Brazilian scooped up the ball.

And his reckless tackle also created a gap in Arsenal's defense. Leo accelerated the ball and advanced past half-time!
  Seeing that his teammate was out of position, Flamini rushed to defend. Leo's heel shot the ball over his head, and he easily got rid of it with a rainbow pass!
  Although the speed is not fast, looking at Leo's extraordinary performance now, it feels like he is doing it with ease and ease.

After passing two defensive players, Leo brought the ball to the front of Arsenal's penalty area.

In this position, Gunners players dare not take a shot easily. If a foul is committed and a free kick is given to Tottenham, Bell's footwork is no joke.

Leo was not in a hurry, the ball was firmly under his feet, and he patiently looked for opportunities.

Several Tottenham offensive players were moving back and forth in the penalty area, and finally Leo found a fleeting gap!

Leo made a decisive diagonal pass with his right foot. Robbie Keane made a wonderful pass with his heel near the right baseline. Berbatov volleyed from a small angle on the right side of the penalty area into the top corner of the net!
  One to zero!

The Lily Legion, playing away from home, took the lead in breaking the deadlock on the field!

Leo is very happy that the team has taken the lead, but where does his assist come from? Keane got an assist just now. In the previous games, Leo often passed to others like this.

It's true that he created the opportunity, but in the end he didn't get any goals or assists. At most, it can only be regarded as a threatening pass.

Thinking about the previous game in which Tottenham scored six goals but had no assists, Leo felt helpless.

Seeing the Tottenham players excitedly celebrating the goal, the Gunners fans in the stands gave up. They did not want to see the home team lose to their rivals in Derby at their home court.

The faces of Arsenal's players on the field were not very good. In their opinion, this game should be without any suspense.

They are ranked higher than Tottenham, are stronger than their opponents, and they are at home. How can they lose? As a result, they conceded the goal first.

There’s nothing to say, let’s see the real results on the field.

Eboue stepped in from the wing and was knocked down by Bale, giving Arsenal a free kick opportunity.

Rosicky took a free kick from the right, and Adebayor's header in the penalty area went wide under the close guard of Kabul.

Flamini passed to Rosicky on the left, and the Czech crossed from the wing. Adebayor headed the ball into the goal, but it was picked off by Tottenham goalkeeper Robinson.

Several attacks failed, and Arsenal's offensive could not help but slow down slightly.

Then the two sides entered a stalemate. The leading Tottenham formation retreated into the penalty area, allowing Arsenal to control the ball, but at the same time their offensive space was greatly compressed.

Leo cooperated with his teammates to steal from Hleb in front of the penalty area, and even Berbatov returned to his own half to help defend.

During this period, the home team's possession rate reached nearly 80%. Arsenal's goalkeeper Almunia had nothing to do but jump around in front of the goal to get rid of the cold.

After Eboue and Adebayor hit the wall and cooperated, Robinson fell to the ground and stabbed at the edge of the penalty area, but Robinson flew under him.

Leo made a long pass from the backcourt, Berbatov responded, and Janus' long shot missed the right post of the goal.

"Actually, you can also try the long shot."

"My feet are not strong enough. Doesn't a long shot mean giving the ball back to the opponent?"

"Did you practice the outer instep for nothing? I remember that in addition to passing, I also taught you shooting with the outer instep, right?"

Leo was awakened by Berbatov. Yes, I have practiced this specifically, but I never thought of using it!

In the 38th minute, Leo passed through Arsenal's defense with a direct pass. Center defender Gallas tripped Berbatov behind his back and was given a yellow card by the referee.

However, Bell's direct free kick shot was confiscated by the home team goalkeeper Almunia.

Two minutes later, Robbie Keane and Malblanque passed the ball continuously on the right, and finally they passed the ball to the top of the penalty area.

Leo inserted the outer instep of his right foot into the goal with great force and spun towards the goal, passing Almunia's fingertips towards the ball and slightly higher than the crossbar.

"Oh, what a pity. I still don't practice it often enough."

The quality of Leo's outside instep volley is already quite high, but it's a pity that it's just a little bit behind.

Berba applauded him, "Very good, just play like this, no problem."

The first half entered stoppage time. Arsenal's corner kick was passed into the penalty area. Toure shook off Chimbanda's header and was saved by Robinson.

At the end of the first half, Tottenham, playing away from home, temporarily led the Gunners 1-0.

(End of this chapter)