After playing all 29 rounds of the Premier League,
Arsenal's ranking rose to third place, Tottenham lost because they were dragged down by the Champions League, Chelsea got a draw, and Manchester United was also tied by the relegation team.
Arsenal took these three points very crucially and firmly grasped the initiative in the fight for fourth place.
3rd, Arsenal, 18 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses
No. 4, Tottenham Hotspur, 18 wins, 3 draws and 8 losses
No. 5, Manchester United, 16 wins, 8 draws and 5 losses
No. 6, Chelsea, 16 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses
The competition between Manchester City and Liverpool belongs to another dimension entirely, and it is not something that the following teams can get involved in.
As for who will eventually win the league championship, the Premier League media are discussing it every day, and celebrities from all walks of life often come out to gain popularity.
As a result, the battle for the top four can only appear in the corners of the front pages of major newspapers.
After Arsenal's game against Wolves, only two days later, they once again faced the FA Cup.
This is a knockout round in the fifth round. Arsenal faces Swansea. If they win, they can enter the quarter-finals.
However, Professor Wenger still chose to rotate the lineup.
The main players are already very tired, and there will be big problems if they don't rest.
Fang Fang sat on the bench as expected.
In the midfield position, Iwobi plays as a defensive midfielder, and captain Xhaka moves up front.
In the game against Wolves, Iwobi performed well, so Wenger was assured to continue to let Iwobi play as a defensive midfielder.
March 11th.
Arsenal came to the away game to face Swansea in the fifth round of the FA Cup knockout round.
At the beginning of the game, Arsenal still suppressed their opponents and attacked aggressively!
Although Arsenal rotated through most of the rotation, youngster Nketiah was also used as a forward.
But the Swansea team still dare not come out to fight for the bayonet.
It was not until the 70th minute of the second half that Mkhitaryan broke the deadlock with a follow-up shot in the chaotic penalty area.
Immediately afterwards, taking advantage of the gap created by Swansea's attack, Arsenal launched a clean counterattack, and Nketiah once again broke through the opponent's door!
The score is 0:2!
Arsenal advanced to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
However, coach Wenger was not very happy. He shook hands with the opponent's coach and turned towards the tunnel.
Wenger's mind is now occupied with Arsenal's next game -
In the quarter-finals of the Europa League, they will face Atletico Madrid at home!
In the previous Europa League draw, Arsenal once again drew this La Liga team.
Under the coaching of head coach Simeone, Atletico Madrid has been promoted to the "Top Three of the Western Premier League". Under the rule of Barcelona and Real Madrid, there is still a chance to compete for the La Liga championship. They are very competitive! The defensive strength is also extremely terrifying!
If you play a game with them, you will shed a layer of skin even if you don't die!
This is a life motto.
In particular, Arsenal had a deep understanding after being eliminated by Atletico Madrid with a total score of 1:2 last season.
On this day, Arsenal’s training base was off work.
But Professor Wenger has not left the office yet, standing in front of the tactical board, still thinking.
The teaching assistant passed by the office and saw that Professor Wenger had not gotten off work yet. He asked curiously: "Do you still want to do it?"
Wenger nodded, "I'll think about it again."
The assistant coach understood, did not disturb the head coach, said goodbye and left.
Wenger frowned and looked at the suddenly "crowded" midfielders on the tactical board, including Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Xhaka, Equation, Ramsey, Torreira, Cazorla
At first glance, Arsenal's midfield configuration seems luxurious.
However, there are not many actual choices!
Professor Wenger was caught in a difficult decision-making situation for a while.
Who should he field in the home game against Atletico Madrid?
finally,
Professor Wenger silently raised his hand and took down some number plates representing the players from the tactical board.
There's Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Cazorla, and Equation
Although Equation was also excluded from the starting lineup,
But the next day, head coach Wenger left the equation alone to explain it after training.
The reason why Fang Fang was not selected from the starting lineup was only due to tactical adjustments, not because of his lack of ability. It just so happened that he could continue to maintain his physical fitness.
But when it comes to Atletico Madrid's home court for the second leg, it's time for him to come on and make an impact!
After hearing these words, Fang Fang understood instantly.
It turns out that Professor Wenger planned to have a decisive battle in the second round!
This is a trick to treat him as the bottom of the box!
Knowing that the head coach trusts him, Fang Fang feels that the responsibility on his shoulders has become heavier.
Therefore, in the first round, Arsenal naturally wants to focus on stability.
If you can defend a 0:0 game at home, that's a victory.
For this race strategy, the equation feels like it makes sense. Since Simeone and Atletico Madrid are known for their defense, they are even worse than Mourinho's defensive counterattack.
Then they will use the away goals rule to play a tactic that is more stable than their opponents.
However, on March 14, when Arsenal announced the match roster one hour before the game, the outside world instantly became hotly debated.
Arsenal's formation is 442,
Goalkeeper Leno,
Backcourt: Monreal, Koscielny, Mustafi, Lichtsteiner,
Midfielder: Iwobi, Xhaka, Torreira, Kolasinac,
Frontcourt: Nketiah, Aubameyang.
soon,
Some celebrities from Tottenham and Manchester United put a big question mark on Arsenal's starting lineup on social media.
"What's going on with Professor Wenger? Lacazette isn't here either?"
"I don't understand the lineup. Is Wenger preparing to surrender at home?"
"Could it be that Wenger suspected that the Orientals had let the Orientals off during the Wolves game and now punished the Orientals for sitting on the bench?"
Many Gunners fans feel confused. This starting lineup has no hope of winning at all.
Amid many doubts, the game soon started.
Arsenal got the ball and tried to attack. Then teenager Nketiah kicked a long shot, and his teammates quickly retreated.
It seems like he actively handed over the ball.
Then, it was Atletico Madrid's turn to start attacking, and they did not invest many attackers, only Lemar, Morata, and Griezmann.
Morata, who was in front, was still a double-footed monster. The football stopped two meters away at his feet!
Monreal came up and easily defended Morata!
Stopping the ball two meters away is worse than an amateur!
Sometimes the double-footed monster can trip itself up.
Fang Fang was sitting on the bench. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but lower his head.
Really annoying
Lacazette next to him almost couldn't help laughing when he saw Mortara's stop.
However, there is still no shortage of market for this double-backed Morata.
From now on, Morata's total transfer fee in the transfer market will reach 189 million euros, which is second only to Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lukaku.
Won the reputation of "rich transfer player"!
Then, Morata also ranked second on the list of Spanish player transfer fees. The first place is Chelsea’s goalkeeper Kay.
So sometimes, Equation cannot understand the European transfer market. It feels like a game of capital.
(End of chapter)
