Reborn Liverpool

Chapter 381 The Defeated Arsenal
The second to third week of November is the national team match day. The Premier League only arranges three league games, plus the just finished English League Cup and the fourth and fifth rounds of the UEFA Champions League group stage. matches.

There is no winter break in the Premier League, and the cruelest December and January devil's schedule is a major challenge for every team and professional player.

利物浦在12月一共有九场比赛，7场联赛、1场欧冠小组赛和英联杯1／4决赛，基本上三天一赛。

As for the first month of next year, that's none of Zhang Mai's business anymore. Huaguo Chaoju will return to China to participate in the Asian Cup in Qatar.

Therefore, starting in October, Klopp began to rest the main players between major competitions to ensure the team's combat effectiveness and endurance.

Zhang Mai has taken turns in the league and the Champions League group stage this season. Unlike Salah, Van Dijk and other guys who desperately demand full attendance, Uncle Zha prefers to hide Zhang Mai in less important games.

Zhang Mai readily accepted this, and once again emphasized his desire not to let go of the FA Cup and League Cup this season. Uncle Zha expressed his full support.

On November 11th, in the 4th round of the Premier League, Liverpool challenged Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, staged the only strong dialogue in this round of the league.

利物浦近6战阿森纳取得5胜1平保持不败，其中近5场至少打入3球。

双方英超历史交锋52场，利物浦21胜17平14负稍占上风，其中客场7胜10平9负。

The starting lineups for the two teams are as follows:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1):
19 - Leno;

2- Bellerin, 16-Holding, 20-Mustafi, 31-Kolasinac;
11- Torreira, 34- Xhaka;

7-Mkhitaryan, 10-Ozil, 14-Aubameyang;

9- Lacazette.

Liverpool (4-3-3-):
13- Alisson;
66-Arnold, 12-Gomez, 4-Van Dyke, 26-Robertson;
10-Zhang Mai, 5-Winaldum, 7-Milner;
11-Salah, 9-Firmino, 10-Mane.

For Arsenal, Kolasinac returned from injury and Mkhitaryan played in rotation; for Liverpool, Milner, Robertson and Gomez played in rotation.

Before the game, the two teams and the fans in the audience paid a silent tribute to the Armistice Day and the Leicester City chairman who died in the crash.

When the players of the two teams shook hands before the game, Zhang Mai couldn't help smiling when he saw the dodging eyes of his "good friend" Ozil.

At the beginning of the game, the home team Arsenal obviously entered the state earlier than Liverpool, and the first few waves of offensives were initiated by the home team.

In the 6th minute, Kolasinac made a cross from the left, Lacazette shot from close range and was saved by Alisson.

2 minutes later, Xhaka sent a direct pass, Aubameyang broke into the penalty area and shot a near corner from the left side, which was blocked by Gomez from the bottom line.

In the 11th minute, Lacazette returned a tactical corner kick, and Xhaka's low shot was confiscated by Alisson.

Shortly afterwards, Aubameyang made a cross from the left, and Mkhitaryan's header from 12 yards missed the right post.

Liverpool didn't have their first shot until the 18th minute. Salah passed back from the right side of the penalty area and Wijnaldum shot from the edge of the penalty area.

In the 21st minute, Arnold made a direct pass. Firmino volleyed 10 yards from the right rib of the penalty area and hit the right post.

Two minutes later, Salah made a long pass. Van Dijk stopped the ball in the chest and shot in front of the small penalty area, which was bravely saved by Leno.

In the 28th minute, Zhang Mai went straight in the middle, Salah's shot from the right side of the penalty area was blocked, and Robertson's shot from the left side of the penalty area was confiscated.

Liverpool's attack for nearly 10 minutes was ineffective, and then it was Arsenal's turn.

In the 30th minute, Bellerin volleyed wide.

Three minutes later, Ozil got rid of Milner and sent a direct pass, and Lacazette missed a small angle shot from the right side of the penalty area.

In the 37th minute, Ozil crossed again, and Aubameyang headed high.

In the 40th minute, Ozil passed a free kick obliquely, Mustafi flew the header, and Mkhitaryan scored from close range and was ruled invalid for offside.

Liverpool almost scored in the 45th minute. Zhang Mai made a free kick. Van Dijk's header from 12 yards hit the left post and bounced back.

The two teams entered the intermission with a score of 0-0.

The two sides fought again in the second half without making personnel adjustments. Liverpool strengthened the midfield fight and took the lead in launching the offensive.

After a wild attack, Liverpool finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Mane made a pass from the left side of the penalty area and was saved by Leno. Zhang Mai shot into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

1-0!Liverpool's offensive worked, and Zhang Mai took the lead in scoring with a supplementary shot.

Then Arsenal began to counterattack. Torreira kicked the wall with Mkhitaryan and then shot from the edge of the penalty area and was saved.

In the 68th minute, Arsenal replaced Mkhitaryan by Iwobi to strengthen the attack on the right side of the frontcourt.

In the 70th minute, Milner took a corner kick and Firmino missed the goal with a header.

In the 73rd minute, Arsenal made another personnel adjustment, and Ramsey replaced Aubameyang.

In the 76th minute, Zhang Mai took a corner kick, and Van Dijk headed the goal 10 yards before the goal, and Leno lifted the crossbar again.

Three minutes later, Liverpool also started to make substitutions, with Shaqiri replacing Firmino.

Shortly thereafter, Arsenal, who were behind, ran out of their last substitution, and Welbeck, who had a strong impact, replaced Kolasinac.

Emery's desperate gamble paid off quickly, with Arsenal equalizing in the 82nd minute:
Iwobi made a direct pass, Lacazette took the ball around the left side of the penalty area and passed Gomez, and shot into the far corner from a small angle, 1-1.

After equalizing, Arsenal struck while the iron was hot, trying to reverse Liverpool in the final game time.

In the 86th minute, Ozil passed the ball, and Bellerin's left-footed arc shot from the edge of the penalty area slightly missed the upper left corner.

Seeing that the game was about to end in a draw, the Red Army, who were busy resisting the Gunners' attack, killed their opponents at the last moment.

In the 90th minute, Liverpool quickly counterattacked. Shaqiri broke into the right side of the penalty area and passed back. Mane shot from the edge of the penalty area and shot the goal immediately. Bellerin blocked it in time. Mustafi, who made up the defense, scored a full moon scimitar into Arsenal's goal.

2-1!Zhang Mai scored twice to kill Arsenal, and the Gunners fell at Zhang Mai's feet again for four consecutive years.

In the last 5 minutes of stoppage time, neither side achieved anything, and Liverpool kept the score 2-1 until the end.

Zhang Mai helped the Red Army defeat the Gunners in an away game and continued to maintain a complete Premier League victory. Arsenal's league winning streak was terminated.

Klopp, who continued his winning streak, was very satisfied. In an interview after the game, he said: Winning Arsenal in the away game is our best result.

Liverpool led Arsenal 1-0 in the away game and was equalized by their opponents in the 82nd minute. In the end, they relied on Zhang Mai's lore to narrowly beat their opponents.

After the game, Liverpool coach Klopp accepted an interview. He first said that Mane's goal was not offside:
"We scored a goal that wasn't offside and Van Dijk had two chances, he can usually score with his eyes closed. I wasn't happy with the state of the defense in the first half, it wasn't The counterattack effect I want."

"There's only one person who can answer that question and that person is the linesman. That's football and if he was offside with the one before Mane, then I think he was wrong. The result can't be changed, we committed more mistakes than the referee. Mistake, fortunately Zhang Mai came to cover the situation."

"Fortunately, we finally got 3 points. It is a good result for Arsenal to get 3 points. They performed well. Both teams may win, but we have Zhang Mai!"

Emery, who lost the game, was very unconvinced, saying: I am very unhappy to lose because I want to win Liverpool.

In a Premier League focus match between Arsenal and Liverpool, the Gunners lost 1-2 at home to the Red Army who came to challenge.

After the game, Arsenal coach Unai Emery, who was quite satisfied with the process, said it was difficult to accept the result:
"We wanted to win, we played well, we pushed the game, our supporters pushed us. It was a great, good game for the supporters, but I'm not happy with the result, Because I want to win. Our speed and intensity were average today. We played well in 90 minutes and his (Zhang Mai) two goals were the key to the game. It should have been a draw and a point, Maybe we deserved more."

"Every game is a good test for us, we keep going and it doesn't matter if we lose a game. Our challenges are against Sporting on Thursday and Wolves on Sunday. Team and fighting for a good place in the table. I think the fans helped us a lot today and the players felt that help on the pitch, which was especially touching."

At the same time, Emery also regards Liverpool as a learning object:

"In terms of this result, we have not been rewarded. But Liverpool is a good test, we are now continuing to work hard and improve, we are not far from that performance (beating a strong team)."

"In 90 minutes we had a lot of moments where we could control the game. It's not bad, we need more of those moments. Liverpool can win the Premier League this season and they played in the Europa League final three years ago They also won the Champions League last season and they are a great example for us."

Objectively speaking, there is a reason for Emery to be unconvinced. In this campaign, the Gunners did not lose to Liverpool in terms of statistics or content on the field.

The statistics of the game also prove that the Gunners have the strength to wrestle with a super team like Liverpool, and they have the ability to return to the Champions League.

From the third round of the league to the ninth round of the league, Arsenal won a wave of 7 consecutive victories. Coupled with the League Cup and the Europa League, Arsenal's winning streak once reached 11 games, becoming one of the top five European leagues. The team with the most consecutive victories in this event surpassed Juventus' 10 consecutive victories.

But at this time, some so-called critics came out and questioned that Arsenal's opponents in this wave of winning streak were relatively weak, and they were not convincing. They still had to fall when they encountered a strong team.

Liverpool in this game is definitely the best touchstone, it is a good opponent to test the level of Arsenal.

From OPTA statistics, Arsenal is still the dominant side on the field, with a ball possession rate of 61.8%, 12 shots, 4 shots on target, and Liverpool 13 shots, also 4 shots. just.

Judging from these statistics, Arsenal is definitely capable of competing with the top teams in the Premier League.

The team has many offensive routines, flexible movement, fast fighting speed, and the strength is not lost to Klopp's team.

Really open up the posture, Arsenal's skills, tactics and spirit are refreshing.

When the score fell behind, Arsenal did not panic:
Unai Emery deployed his troops slowly, and Iwobi he sent in the second half provided an assist for Lacazette, and finally helped the Gunners equalize.

It should be said that Emery has built this Arsenal very successfully and gradually formed his own system.

Every player can play his own value in his system:
There is the eye-catching new aid Torreira, and Xhaka who is getting more and more comfortable playing. The former "wastewood" Holding is also growing up;
In the frontcourt, the attack line led by Aubameyang, Lacazette, Mkhitaryan and Ozil also showed extraordinary power.

In addition, Emery gave Ozil the captain's armband. Arsenal star Keown said that this is to enhance Ozil's sense of responsibility and make him more active on the court. This is a good idea.

Pires also said: "The atmosphere of this Arsenal is a bit like the atmosphere when I was at the club. Every player can find his own suitable position. I think the Gunners can at least enter the top four this season."

I have to lament the cruelty of the Premier League competition.Arsenal only suffered one draw and one loss, one was a draw that ended the winning streak, and one small loss defeated the champion team Liverpool, but they have already been expelled from the Champions League.

目前阿森纳11轮比赛积22分，排名联赛的第5位，距离第4名的热刺有1分的差距。

But it will be a season-long rivalry - with Arsenal looking to break their demons, battling Tottenham and a resurgent Manchester United.

It just so happens that the Gunners have not played against Tottenham and Manchester United this season, and these two games are bound to be crucial.

As for Arsenal, the team that Emery took over is ranked 6th in the league. Last year, the team was 4 points away from Liverpool, which was 12th.

It is not easy for Emery to raise the team to this level when the signings are not too strong.

Arsenal's advantage is that the team's record is very stable when facing weak teams, their ability to capture positions and defend is good, and their confidence is constantly improving.

If Arsenal can still hold on when facing the "Big6" team, Arsenal's hope of reaching the top four is still very high.

(End of this chapter)