My light shines on Arsenal

Chapter 253 Dawn of the Arsenal ()

1933, old Wembley Stadium.

FA Cup final.

"It is no easier to find excellent defensive central midfielders than it is to find excellent offensive players." Herbert Chapman said, "Our system needs a steady and calm interceptor, as well as a creative attacker. Hands and, of course, a reliable goalkeeper are also essential.”

"This is simply the 'Chapman Equation'." Chen Yao smiled, "The equation leading to victory."

"And now, we have them all."

Chen Yao and Herbert Chapman looked towards Wembley Stadium. Arsenal's formation was operating with machine precision.

Manchester City's players wanted to get past Arsenal's midfield defence, but N'Golo Kante was like a mountain in front of them.

Kanter spread his legs and swept across the vast court like black lightning.

His body is much stronger than two years ago, and his body outlines strong muscle lines.

Kanter's stature is not that of a tall player, but his physical confrontation is no weaker than that of a tower-like player.

Furthermore, Kanter seems to have an unusual nose for where people are and where the ball is.

On the field, the Manchester City player dribbled the ball forward. The space in front of him was vast, and Manchester City successfully pushed the threat closer to the Arsenal goal.

N'Golo Kante runs towards his opponent from behind.

There seems to be a large area for Kanter to fill, but Kanter is not panicked.

After all, there is only one person holding the ball. As long as the ball is stolen from his feet, the defense will be successfully completed.

The Manchester City ball-carrying player only focused on the front of him, two Arsenal defenders, a goalkeeper, and the remaining three or four people were Manchester City forwards.

Now it is a situation where Manchester City plays more and plays less.

Kanter was still approaching him. Chen Yao and Herbert Chapman watched the distance between the two gradually shrink and involuntarily relaxed their breathing.

The Manchester City player touched the ball a few steps away, trying to follow up and continue dribbling. He was sure that the Arsenal player would not get close to him in a few seconds.

And N'Golo Kante is close to him.

Kanter burst out from behind the Manchester City players, leaned forward, stretched out his long legs, and took advantage of the moment when the Manchester City players pushed the ball forward. He twisted his body and let the football come to him.

At this time, he pressed his back against his confused opponent, pushed hard with the arch of his foot, and turned around to counterattack.

Kanter only took two steps forward. His mind was very clear. He was not a firepower for offensive creativity. His tactical task was to send the ball forward as quickly as possible.

He made a long pass, and the ball flew through the air and landed at the feet of right inside forward Jack Wilshere.

The formation adopted by Manchester City is also the w-m formation.

This new formation has become popular in England and has become a regular formation favored by various teams at an incredible speed.

In the 3-2-2-3 formation, the two central midfielders are just man-to-man to keep an eye on the two retreating inside forwards.

Wilshere stopped and ran forward. Arsenal's long pass counterattack was accurate and quick. Even in strict man-to-man defense, there was a brief dislocation on the vast field.

Jack Wilshere suddenly moved to the right, and the Manchester City central midfielder chasing from behind was shaken forward and staggered a few steps.

Wilshere took the opportunity to pass forward, and Aubameyang, like a long-distance runner, received the ball and galloped forward.

He passed Manchester City's first defender, ran wildly, and passed Manchester City's second defender.

Only the Manchester City goalkeeper was left in front of Aubameyang, and he volleyed towards the upper left corner of the goal.

Whitecaps rolled and Arsenal scored a goal.

The scoreboard was turned over to 1:3.

The tabloid reporter quickly wrote the following lines in his notes: After Arsenal won the FA Cup in 1930, they won the First Division title for the first time in team history in the 1930-31 season. In the 1932-33 season, they won the Premier League again. Once won the First Division today, at Wembley Stadium, Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3:1 and won the 1933-34 FA Cup...

This is Arsenal's dynasty.

……

1933, Christmas.

"Now let's have something to drink."

In a restaurant, Herbert Chapman smiled and took out a bottle of wine. Chen Yao poured the wine into two glasses, and the two coaches touched the glasses gently.

"Here's to Arsenal."

"Here's to Arsenal."

Chen Yao drank the wine in the glass. He put down the glass and saw Herbert Chapman also wiping his mouth and smiled: "This is the happiest holiday for me. I didn't lie, Sir Norris told me The trust is not wrong."

"It's a pity that Sir Norris has left the team."

"Oh, yes, he is the kind of guy who can cause trouble." Herbert Chapman said with a hearty smile, "But Norris is indispensable for Arsenal's success today. Team history will remember him. of."

"You will also be remembered in team history, Mr. Chapman."

Herbert Chapman was tipsy and waved his hands, "I'm just doing my job. I'm almost sixty years old. At my age, I'm getting older every day. I just want to be more Watch more football, watch more games.”

"As for whether my name will be in the history of the team." He smiled sadly, "I hope people will remember Arsenal first... This is a great club, and its greatness needs to be built upon from generation to generation. Determining this The essence of a team is not its coach or its owner, but its legacy."

"So Gillespie Road subway station is now called Arsenal station, isn't it?" Chen Yao joked.

"Yes, that is part of the club's heritage." "Mr. Chapman." Chen Yao raised his glass, "Your name will be together with the word Arsenal and will not be forgotten."

"I hope so." Chapman also raised his glass.

……

The first training day after the holidays.

When Herbert Chapman saw several players in the queue who were dizzy and smelled of hangovers, the usually kind and polite old man's face quickly darkened.

"What's going on with you?" He picked up Wilshere's collar and pulled him out.

"And you." Chapman also took Szczesny out.

"And..." He looked at Aubameyang who was at the end of the queue. Aubameyang was even late and was quietly hiding behind the team. "This guy."

Herbert Chapman said in a low voice: "Other players, train with the assistant coach... you three stay."

The air in the training ground was very quiet, like the calm before the storm.

Chen Yao took the players to normal training. Today, the players trained extremely seriously and did not dare to make a sound.

Not far away, Chapman’s scolding voice could be faintly heard.

The voices of their arguments gradually became louder. Chen Yao listened with perked ears, and the other players involuntarily slowed down their movements.

"Please, Dad, it's not a big deal, it's just to relieve boredom..."

"Don't you also smoke and drink? Mr. Chapman? Why are you so harsh on us? This is just...just relaxation, relaxation in such a high-intensity occupation."

"You are a coach, and you also know how tortured our industry is. Professional players, yes, we are professional players, but we also have to have some hobbies. How many players do not smoke or drink?"

Herbert Chapman's roar broke out.

"enough!"

There was silence in the venue for a moment.

"Gentlemen, you are right. I, a fifty-six-year-old old fellow, smoke and drink." Herbert Chapman said word by word, "but not once did I let myself be distracted. Been to training. Not once, not once."

"Everyone else is drinking...does that mean you should be too? Others are throwing their professionalism away like worn-out shoes. Should you be imitating them?"

"I am a coach and you are players. I am not your father, and you are not my children. You are not even my employees. I can watch you degenerate and turn into an incompetent showman early. People are spurned and leave football."

"Believe me, gentlemen, I will enjoy all of this." Herbert Chapman's voice was a bit sarcastic, "But I didn't do it. I chose to interfere in your lives, even if you have to lose your life because of it. I treat it like an old man meddling in other people’s business, and you’re here to get angry with me.”

"I pay just because you are my players, my Herbert Chapman players. You also have an identity, that is, an Arsenal man."

"I will not allow anyone to give up on themselves, become mediocre, or even ruin their lives with these two identities."

Herbert Chapman sighed and said softly: "Gift is a gift and a curse. I can't bear to see you murdered by yourself."

After he said this, the venue was still quiet.

The sun hid behind the clouds at some point, casting a deep filter over the sky and earth.

"I'm going to Nottingham soon. I have to go to a few places after that. When I come back, you guys had better show me something."

Herbert Chapman gave his players a stern look and turned towards Chen Yao.

"Coach." He said softly, "Jack, Wojciech, and Pierre... they are all good players. And Theo, N'Golo. They are geniuses. Our sports system is still too rough. They're so far behind that they're destined not to realize their full potential here."

Chen Yao nodded.

"I sometimes wonder if they lived half a century later, would they have been more scientifically trained, would they have been more self-disciplined, and would they have been able to create greater achievements." Herbert Chapman He smiled and said, "It's a pity that this is just an old man's wishful thinking. They are good children and they have no choice. We have to help them."

"Watch them carefully, coach. Wait until I come back." Herbert Chapman put on his coat and waved goodbye to Chen Yao.

"Mr. Chapman... no, Herbert." Chen Yao couldn't help but call out to Herbert Chapman.

"what happened?"

"How about taking a few days off."

"Why? My time is very tight, I have to prepare my luggage."

"You are too tired, let me go to the game instead of you."

"Haha." Herbert Chapman turned around and walked back, smiled at Chen Yao, and put his arm around the assistant coach's shoulders, "I said, I am getting older every day. The only game left for me to watch is a game. One less game. I love this business, I love this team. Don’t worry about me."

Chen Yao hugged Herbert Chapman and whispered: "So, is this fate?"

"I'm not sure fate exists," Herbert Chapman replied, "but I accept it."

"Even if it costs you, even if it costs you your life."

"Death is the end of greatness, the ultimate journey, it is the continuation of life." Herbert Chapman smiled with emotion, "D. H. Lawrence, that bastard said this. Besides, football is not so heavy. .Coach, you seem to be very reluctant to leave me today."

"No, it's okay, Mr. Chapman."

"It's nothing at all." Herbert Chapman winked slyly and gave Chen Yao a hug as well. "The next time we hug will be at this season's championship celebration."

Chen Yao forced out a smile and said, "It's a deal, Mr. Chapman."

"It's a word."

(End of this chapter)