Breaking through the Wall

September 3rd – League Matchday 5
Emirates Gunners vs. Northern Wolves (Home Game)

The Emirates Stadium pulsed with energy. The Northern Wolves were no strangers to this ground. The last two times they played here, they won both, but the Gunners faithful were in full voice, filling the air with chants and flares of red.

Wolves were no easy team to play. An organized and disciplined team known for their counter attacks. Their captain, Viktor Havel, was a midfield enforcer, a man built like a tank with relentless energy, capable of disrupting attacks.

Arsenic sat in the locker room, pulling his socks up, and tightening the laces on his boots. The last two games had been stepping stones, but tonight demanded more.

Coach Rivera stood in the center, his sharp gaze cutting through the tension. He unfolded the tactical board, revealing a 3-5-2 formation.

“Today is the day,” the coach said, his eyes sweeping across the squad. “ I know the media has been dragging us through the mud for our lackluster previous games. And they are right. We still haven’t won a single game and at the moment we are in the relegation zone. But this is our house and we control the pace. Wolves play a 5-man defence so they are gonna sit back as usual. But this time we won’t let them play their game, will we? We are going to get chances, we just need to capitalise on them. “

Arsenic nodded

“For this game specifically we are starting with two strikers up top, Arsenic and Kai Hevartz. I need you both pressing their center-backs and running in behind. Make them uncomfortable. The fullbacks are gonna be key in this formation.  From out previous training drills and games, I believe that the best players suited for this are Yuri Katsuki and Temidayo Saka on either side of the flank.”

He stopped and looked at them. “You two are our width. They’re gonna let us have the ball so when we push forward, I need you stretching their backline. Attack hard and when we lose possession, you need to track back otherwise we will lose.  I need nothing other than your best this game. Wolves are gonna exploit the fact that you are not defensive fullbacks, so keep your heads on a swivel. “

He turned to Resurrección, the captain.

“Jorge, you’re the anchor. You’re gonna be as the lone defensive midfielder falling back to the defense when necessary. You’re job is simple, to stop their attack before they get to our goal and distribute it to our two midfields.”

Finally, he faced Pryce and Mendes, the attacking midfield duo.

“You two control the tempo. Everything runs through you. They’re going to play really narrow so you will open them up. Their captain is going to be a handful...we need to keep him from getting the ball.  The two of you will be linking up with the fullbacks and the forwards. Until the last whistle, don't stop running. Find the gaps and when you get the chance, release Arsenic or Kai early. We’ll keep pilling on the pressure until we get all the three points.”

Rivera took a deep breath, scanning their faces. Then, his voice hardened.

“I know this is going to be difficult. This is not just another match. This is a test. And how we approach this game might just determine the rest of our season. But I know that you can do it.”

There was a small silence then Resurreccion stood up and clapped his hands. “Let’s go win this game.”

As they walked through the tunnel, the roar of the fans hit them like a wave. Floodlights gleamed off the freshly cut grass. This was it.

First Half 

The Wolves sat deep, exactly as predicted. Five men in defense. Havel and his midfield unit swarmed every passing lane, suffocating any attempt to progress upfield. For twenty minutes, it was frustrating. They had possession, but no breakthroughs. Pass after pass, but no gaps.

By the 25th minute, the first mistake appeared. However, it was the from the home side. A misplaced pass from Pryce. A quick one-two from Havel to the Wolves’ winger. The winger whipped in a low cross. A ruthless finish past the keeper.

0-1.

That goal sucked all the momentum the Gunners’ had. The stadium was quiet. For the next 15 minutes they looked shaken until an opening. Mendes received the ball from Resurreccion under the pressure and trapped it with his left foot before flicking it over Havel’s head and drifted wide with speed. He then made a precision outside-foot pass to Yuri who sent a direct curling cross. Arsenic read it early outpacing the Wolves center-back and lunged for it. The ball connected with his right foot and hit the crossbar and ricocheting to Hevartz who tapped it in for a Goal. The stadium roared back to life.

1-1.

The whistle blew for half-time.

Inside the locker room, Rivera clapped his hands once.

“We had good possession for a while but we switched off for a second and they got their goal.” He turned to Arsenic and Kai. “Your movement is good, but you need to drag their defenders out of position. I'm not seeing movement from you. Don’t stand in one spot—pull them left, pull them right.”

Then, to Yuri and Saka.

“You’re playing well but not quite my speed. When we have possession, I need you sprinting, not jogging. Their defense is lagging and I need you attacking their wings. Give them a reason to chase you otherwise they are just gonna stay back.”

He pointed at the midfield. “Jorge, Pryce, Mendes—you have three seconds maximum on the ball before they swarm you. Quicker transitions. Find the runners earlier. ”

Then, his voice dropped lower, but carried more weight.

“They're going to try and grind out a draw but this game is ours to take. But you need to believe it.”

No one said a word. But the fire in their eyes said enough.

Second Half – The Breaking Point

The Gunners returned to the pitch with a different tempo. Faster transitions. One-touch passes. The Wolves’ formation started to break apart. 

Then, the 68th minute.

A counterattack. Resurrección spotted Arsenic’s run early.  He made a perfectly weighted through-ball, slicing the Wolves’ defense apart. This was it.

The ball came towards Arsenic’s right foot, he sprinted making a deft touch controlling the ball before he rushed towards the goal. The keeper rushed out his arms spread wide.

For a splint second, he seemed to hesitate. Then instinct took over.

He dropped his shoulder and made a feint to the left and went right sending keeper going the wrong way and he did a soft tap with his foot rolling it onto the empty net.

2-1

Arsenic ran straight to touchline and celebrated with the coach. The rest of the players swarmed in and it was awesome. 

The Wolves were rattled after that second goal and the momentum had shifted to the Gunners. The Gunners pressed harder, suffocating their opponents in the dying minutes. The Wolves made a last ditch 3-man substitution to replace their backline and switched their formation. In response the Gunners substituted in their two newcomers Callum Waters and Alain André for Yuri and Kai Hevartz.

Then, the 89th minute. A loose ball in midfield. Saka pounced, whipped a pass through ball. Arsenic was already running in behind. The defenders reacted late. He burst through and the keeper came out of his line. Arsenic took one look at the keeper and chipped the ball with his right. The ball soared over the keeper, perfectly weighted and dropped gently into the net.

GOOOOL!

3-1

Arsenic celebrated by removing his shirt and celebrating with the home fans.

The whistle blew. Game over.

Arsenic looked up as the stadium chanted his name.

A Statement