431 The Arsenal Style (2/2)

Playing against such an opponent was quite tricky, especially in the context of the Champions League semi-final. It was not exciting enough.

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The Forest team launched another attack. Ribéry boosted the ball into the penalty area. Viduka tried his hardest to fight for a header while Anelka cruised at the back, ready to quickly plug in. The football was not headed by the two of them but was headed out of the penalty area by the fullback, Kolo Touré.

Fàbregas, who had retreated to the edge of the penalty area, received the football. This time, George Wood was not near him. He quickly rushed towards him.

The young Spanish leader glanced at Wood and then passed the football to the incoming Henry. Everyone's attention turned to the world-class striker. If everyone still remembered, they would feel that the way Henry took the ball now looked familiar.

On November 17th, 2002, in the North London Derby, Henry had scored the best goal of the Premier League that season in the first half of the game. He had hijacked the ball along the perimeter of his team's penalty area and then began a sixty-five-meter long lightning raid. He had bypassed several people. From one restricted area to another, he shot the football into Tottenham Hotspur's goal.

Was he going to do it again?

Henry began to activate his plan.

George Wood ran halfway and changed his target to chase after Henry. Presently, he was the only one in the backfield who could catch up with Henry with his speed.

Henry did not dribble in a straight line but dribbled the ball across. As a result, George Wood was able to easily catch up with him.

However, Henry used his experience and skill to shake off Wood and then to change his course to directly spearhead the attack against the Forest team's penalty area.

Wood was not shaken off at once. He turned and sprang. At that moment, Reyes already quickly came up to support. George Wood did not notice him as all his energy were on Henry, who was dribbling the ball.

Henry certainly knew that Wood had targeted him. He had played against Wood several times and was familiar with it. He was well aware that it would be trouble once the kid managed to stick to and entangle with him. Therefore, he did not tangle with him. While everyone was focused the direction ahead of him, he suddenly made an astounding pass.

At that moment, Wood threw himself in front of Henry, forcing him to slow down. It appeared that Arsenal's breakthrough was ended. Henry moved as if he was going to directly pass the ball to the goal area so that George Wood and the left-back, Leighton Baines, behind him would put all their attention in the penalty area.

Henry's feint was so convincing that he even deceived the television broadcast cameras. The camera shifted its focus to the penalty area when Henry swung his right leg but did not capture the football flying out after the kick. It was at this time that the television producer realized that he had been fooled as well. The camera angle quickly switched and cut to see that there was nothing at Henry's right leg. And the toes of his left leg, which originally should have provided the support, poked the football to the right flank, where Reyes swiftly plugged in from behind.

”Reyes! What a beautiful pass, just creative! Another exciting performance from Henry!”

Thunderous cheers erupted in the Highbury stadium. Henry played a beautiful hand. It not only won the applause from the stands but also boosted Arsenal's morale.

And the so-called slightly playful nature of his passing made the defensive side of Nottingham Forest look somewhat awkward in comparison.

George Wood was completely fooled by Henry. When he turned to help Baines to defend against Reyes, it was too late. Reyes did not stop the ball; instead, he directly crossed the ball. He used his weaker right foot to send the ball to the middle of the Forest team's penalty area.

The football skirted around Pepe and Piqué's defense and fell to the back where no one was around.

Who was going to show up there?

George Wood turned to look.

”Fàbregas!!” The commentator screamed.

Wood saw Arsenal's number 4. That slightly thin figure stealthily appeared at the point where the ball had landed and suddenly turned up in the front of Edwin van der Sar. Then he calmly lifted his left foot and gently tapped the ball passed from Reyes.

The football bypassed Edwin van der Sar, who jumped up to defend with both hands, and then fell into the empty goal!

All the Arsenal fans in brownish-red jerseys on the stands of the Highbury Stadium jumped up from their seats with their hands raised high.

”What a wonderful combination! A terrific goal! This is a classic example of the Arsenal style of offense. They played Nottingham Forest like a fiddle! Fàbregas, Henry, Reyes, and Fàbregas again! The perfect cycle, Arsenal leads with 1:0! They have an amazing start!”

All the Arsenal players ran up to embrace the ecstatic Fàbregas, Henry and Reyes. They ran past George Wood with open arms. Wood stood in the same spot and still turned his body to look back. He bit his lips hard as he watched their backs. He had failed to spot the kid.

At the same time, Twain threw a glance at Arsène Wenger, who was celebrating with his assistant manager. After Arsenal had taken the lead, it meant that the game was going to be on a track that Wenger would most hope to see in the rest of the game.

The situation was far from good.

After he had celebrated with his assistant manager, Wenger, also noticed that someone was looking at him. He turned his gaze to the Forest team's technical area and smiled at Twain.

Twain turned his gaze away.

Wenger turned back to his assistant manager, Pat Rice, and said, ”You see, Pat. As I've said before, we need to incorporate some of other people's strengths, but at the same time, we have to maintain our own style. This is the Arsenal goal style. Our old friend is in trouble.”

Rice burst into laughter.