Despite the wave of boos from 50,000 Manchester City fans, referee Mark Clattenberg blew the offside whistle.
When Sturridge made a quick forward move and hit Arsenal behind, the linesman raised the flag for offside.
This was originally supposed to be a very threatening single-handed attack.
But unfortunately, he started too early.
At this moment, the game time is already nearly 60 minutes into the second half.
The scoreboard shows the score of the two teams at this moment: one to one!
In the first half, Manchester City seized an opportunity. Giroud received a pass from Hazard and hit a header from close range. It opened the scoring for Manchester City and also scored Giroud's first goal since joining Manchester City.
ball.
Arsenal's two central defenders, who are only about 1.8 meters tall, were unable to stop Giroud's header from close range.
This was something Gao Shen did not expect.
Giroud actually scored!
But Manchester City was not happy for long.
Just twenty-two minutes later, Manchester City's defense made a defensive error. Adebayor overpowered Cahill, received the ball, turned around, and sent a direct pass to Van Persie's feet.
The Dutch center stopped the ball, turned around, and took a precise shot, sending the ball into the blind spot of Manchester City's goal.
Goalkeeper Neuer was powerless against this shot, even though he had previously saved one close shot from Robin van Persie and Adebayor and performed very well.
The first half ended with the two sides one to one.
After changing sides and fighting again in the second half, Manchester City once again launched a wave of offensive in an attempt to suppress Arsenal, but the Gunners were not soft persimmons.
Tonight, as Gao Shen expected, Wenger deployed a three-midfielder tactic.
Goalkeeper: Almunia.
Defence: Clichy, Vermaelen, Gallas and Sagna.
Midfielder: Denilson, Alexander Song and Diaby play deep, with Fabregas up front.
Forwards: Robin van Persie and Adebayor.
Gao Shen's guess was not wrong at all. Wenger adopted a relatively safe three-midfielder tactic.
Manchester City's attack on Arsenal was very fierce in the second half, but the Gunners were not bad either. They counterattacked whenever they got the opportunity. They played very decisively and resolutely, with Adebayor and Robin van Persie as the axis of the frontcourt counterattack, harassing them again and again.
With Manchester City.
Seeing that the time was about to enter sixty minutes, neither side still had the intention to make substitutions.
…
"Shen Shen's on-the-spot command and adjustments are always impressive, but so far tonight, he has not made any substitution adjustments. I have to say, this is quite surprising."
"You know, Manchester City has generals like Robben and Suarez sitting on the bench. They can't attack for a long time. Manchester City should further strengthen the team's offense, but Gao Shen doesn't seem to have any intention of replacing them."
"I have to say that this is very interesting, and even makes people wonder whether there is really a so-called conflict between Gao Shen and Robben?"
Andy Gray took advantage of the gap in the explanation to explain the inside story of the rift between Gao Shen and Robben, which was rumored by the outside world.
It's all just gossip and gossip.
Some Dutch media revealed that the national team coach van Marwijk originally had Robben on the national team roster, but the Dutch Peter Pan did not appear in the national team training and competition roster.
In this regard, Van Marwijk said that Gao Shen personally called him. Because Robben has been in poor condition recently, Gao Shen hopes that the Dutchman can stay in the team to train and actively adjust his condition.
However, the British media revealed that during the two-week national team competition, among the Manchester City players who participated in training at the Carrington training base, Robben was not included. The Dutchman went on vacation.
Manchester City clarified that this was Gao Shen's permission. Gao Shen himself even explained at the pre-match press conference that he was the one who asked Robben to take a vacation. However, this situation was so rare that the media immediately started conspiracy theories.
What it means is that Robben was placed on the right wing by Gao Shen, which he is not good at. Coupled with Gao Shen's intense training, the Dutchman had long been dissatisfied. After Gao Shen blocked him from participating in national team training and competitions,
, Robben left Manchester angrily.
"This is not the first time this has happened to Manchester City."
"Just at the beginning of the year, Robinho left Manchester City's training camp in Spain, which caused an uproar."
"The difference is that the head coach at the time, Mark Hughes, accused Robinho of leaving the team without permission, but Robinho said that he had permission to leave the team, but the head coach didn't know why, so he came back and refused to admit it.
.”
"What happened to Robinho is exactly the opposite of what is happening to Robinho, but both of them left the training camp during the league period, which naturally aroused speculation from the outside world."
"Especially tonight, everyone discovered that Robben was in the squad, but actually sat on the bench. Even now, Gao Shen has no idea of arranging for him to play. It is really surprising, even
I have to guess, are the rumors of internal strife from the outside world true?"
…
Wenger stood on the sidelines, turning his head from time to time to glance at the coaching bench and bench of the home team Manchester City.
Players often come out to warm up, which is normal, including Robben.
But Wenger could never see through what Gao Shen was thinking.
Why not use a superstar like Robben?
Is it because his recent state has been so bad?
Or are the rumors of internal strife from the outside world true?
"It's going to be sixty minutes soon." Pat Rice came over and reminded.
Wenger glanced at the time and nodded, but couldn't help but frown.
He has a secret weapon up his sleeve.
That is Rosicky and Arshavin.
According to Wenger's strategy, these two players will come off the bench in the second half to further strengthen Arsenal's ability to pass and control the ball in the midfield, as well as the offensive firepower in the frontcourt. They both have excellent personal abilities and foot skills.
This is also the reason why Wenger played three defensive midfielders in the game.
At Manchester City's home court, there is no need to fight with Manchester City from the start. This is not good for Arsenal, so Wenger chose to avoid the edge temporarily and consume Manchester City to a certain extent before using this killer move.
But the problem is, he always feels that something is not quite right.
But he couldn't tell what was wrong specifically. He just felt that things were going a little too smoothly, without the sense of loss of control that a football game should have.
After all, in such a high-level competition, the head coaches of both teams are calculating against each other. No matter who it is, it is impossible to completely control the opponent, so there will inevitably be a sense of loss of control.
But today seems to be going well.
The scene was not going well. Manchester City scored a goal first, especially Giroud. This goal was completely unexpected by Wenger.
He never thought that this French compatriot could score Arsenal's goal with a header.
What Wenger said about Shun was more of a plan between him and Gao Shen.
"Perhaps he really is at odds with Robben." Pat Rice guessed, "You also know that he has always wanted to be the boss in the dressing room. Robben is very aloof and will be fixed by senior staff in the new season. After playing on the right, he didn't perform well again. If he had a temper, it would be normal for the two of them to have a fight."
This kind of thing is very common in any team. Usually after the head coach has been idle for a period of time, the players have given in and the matter is over.
Even in a relationship like Wenger and Henry, there will be some discord at some sensitive moments such as contract renewal.
What's more, this is the first time Gao Shen and Robben have collaborated.
Wenger gritted his teeth secretly, "Whether there is a real conflict or not, we must take away a victory from here tonight!"
Having said this, Wenger turned to look at the bench, shouted "Thomas", and then saw Rosicky stand up from his seat, get up and run over to warm up.
…
"Wenger is going to replace someone!"
In front of the home team's coaching bench, Carlo reminded Gao Shen softly.
After seeing Arsenal's starting lineup in the locker room before the game, the coaching staff and players all admired Gao Shen because Gao Shen completely guessed Arsenal's starting lineup and tactics.
Wenger really plays as a defensive midfielder.
This is a very obvious, conservative tactic.
But Gao Shen also miscalculated.
He has repeatedly reminded the players many times to pay close attention to Van Persie, but Cahill could not stop Adebayor, and Kompany could not stop Van Persie. The Dutch center stopped the ball and turned around, and scored in a stylish way.
If we were still one goal ahead, Gao Shen would be more confident.
One to one, Gao Shen is still quite stressed now.
"Rosicky." Gao Shen saw the players going out to warm up.
There is nothing to hide about this, Wenger just made it clear that he wants to strengthen the midfield.
The difference is, who will Rosicky replace?
Diaby Denilson? Or Alexander Song?
It is impossible for Adebayor and Van Persie in front, and Cesc Fabregas is even less likely, so he must be one of the three midfielders to strengthen the midfielder's ability to pass, control and pass forward.
"If this substitution goes well, his next step should be to replace Arshavin." Gao Shen guessed.
Wenger's use of troops is actually quite easy to guess.
"Would you like to change as well?" Carlo suggested.
Gao Shen pondered for a moment and shook his head, "Wait a little longer and take a look first."
…
Sure enough, Rosicky replaced Denilson.
The three defensive midfielders suddenly turned into two defensive midfielders, with Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas taking the ball, organizing and passing the ball in the midfield.
After the Czech midfielder came on as a substitute, the Gunners began to attack more vigorously. In just a few minutes, they continuously broke into Manchester City's 30-meter area and even the penalty area, forcing Gao Shen to adjust the team and signal the court. The players on top should move back a bit.
But this further boosted Arsenal's arrogance, and the Gunners were eager to score again and reverse the score.
As long as they lead, the initiative is in Arsenal's hands.
This is also Wenger's wishful thinking.
The situation gradually turned around, and the Gunners players became more excited.
Especially the two full-backs, Clichy and Sagna, are the ones who attack the strong and defend the weak. As soon as they saw the team's offensive, they started to move forward actively and became more active.
This immediately made Manchester City's situation look a bit dangerous.
But at this time, when the time was approaching seventy minutes, Gao Shen made his first substitution adjustment.
