The Young Lion

The 2001-02 FA Cup final will be staged at the Millennium Stadium. Today the stadium is full of seats. The fans of the two teams, including local neutral fans in Wales, are very enthusiastic. The flags of the two teams are flying in the stands. The atmosphere in the stadium is extremely warm. During the game In the previous forecast, the probability of Arsenal winning the championship is slightly higher than that of Millwall, because Millwall will send a substitute lineup to play this game. Arsenal put away some of the main players in the final game of the Premier League to recharge their batteries. Just to prepare for this final, whether in terms of strength or player physical condition, Arsenal may have an advantage, but Millwall has cultivated the championship gene in the past few years, and they have never missed the final, but today I am afraid it will be A serious challenge, because even Aldrich Hall led the team, it was the first time to send 10 substitute players in the final, only the main central defender, captain Southgate was on the line. Now players from both sides enter the field, let's see Both sides' starting rosters.

Millwall starting 4312.

Goalkeeper: Pagliuca.

Defenders: Neil, Metzelder, Southgate, Baynes.

Midfield: Pedretti, Alonso, De Rossi, Larmor.

Forwards: Klose, Villa.

Millwall formed a 4312 formation today. Larmore withdrew from the previous striker line to play the midfielder. Klose and Villa partnered to attack. This is not the traditional British 442. In fact, Hall coached these In 2010, he used the traditional British 442 formation, but he completely abandoned it a few years ago. The 442 used in the last two years is a new technical and tactical system.

Arsenal starting 442.

Goalkeeper: Seaman.

Defenders: Lauren, Keown, Campbell. sylvinho.

Midfielder: Ljungberg. Vieira. Parlor, Pires.

Forwards: Bergkamp, ​​Ibrahimovic.

It is worth mentioning that the Swedish striker Ibrahimovic has significantly improved his ability, team awareness and teamwork ability this season. He partnered with Bergkamp and interacted with the wing, which played an obvious role in the game. And his own technical ability is also impressive. This season, he had a wonderful performance of breaking through three defensive players in a small area and then passing the goalkeeper to hit an empty goal. Because of his outstanding performance, he became Wenger. The main force, people are saying that he is the second Anelka trained by Wenger, but Ibrahimovic said that he will not become the second anyone, he will only become the great Zlatan Ibrahimovic, this is not lacking Will this young man with ambition and arrogance be the key player in today's game? Hehe, we will look forward to his performance.

From the beginning of the game. Aldridge and Wenger stood on the sidelines to supervise the battle.

Wenger observed for a while, his face darkened.

Millwall is determined to play a defensive counterattack.

Arsenal regardless of paper strength. Experience, physical fitness, all have advantages, so they occupy the initiative of the situation on the court.

But this is exactly where Wenger has a headache. There are praises and criticisms for Arsenal from the outside world. The criticism mainly comes from their lack of change, which is different from the lack of change of the middle and lower teams. The middle and lower teams rely on a set style of play. Maybe they can settle down, but they will definitely not be able to become famous because of their limited strength, but Arsenal can because of their strong players.

But on the stage of the European war, Arsenal’s lack of change is the fatal reason why it is difficult to go further. On that stage where there are many strong players, once the opponents figure out your technical and tactical style of play, and the targeted restrictions are in place, Arsenal will have nothing to do , the European war is weak.

Today is not a European game, but Millwall has clearly figured out Arsenal. Aldridge also pulled his face to fight counter-attack because he dispatched a substitute lineup. In other words, Arsenal took the initiative to play positional warfare. This is not them. What they are good at is the exquisite organization of the overall situation. They lack the traditional No. 10 jersey, so Vieira has organizational ability, but can players like Zidane and Pirlo compete in organizational ability?

Wenger's mind is already brewing the idea of ​​transforming Arsenal in the next stage. To make Arsenal's beautiful football to a higher level, the introduction of No. 10 players is imperative.

What you do in the future will not affect the present.

It is very difficult for Arsenal to play positional warfare now.

It is not to say that Arsenal will have a headache when they play positional battles. In fact, at their level, in most games in the league, they must face the opponent to strengthen their defense. Two points they played are particularly good. The first is Survival of the wing counterattack storm, Pires and Ljungberg one side, Bergkamp and Vieira or Parlor who inserted in the back form a combination of sides in the front field, and Ibrahimovic in the front sometimes acts as a side The bridgehead plays the ball. This season's counterattack is so passionate that it is dazzling. The second is personal ability. Pires, Bergkamp, ​​and Ibrahimovic all have the ability to escape in a small area. In positional warfare Partially tear apart the opponent's line of defense to defeat it.

Millwall possesses these abilities of Arsenal, but the overall organization ability that Millwall possesses is lacking in Arsenal. Still unable to shake the rule of Millwall, this is a partial strength comparison of the overall height.

In response to Arsenal's style of play, Millwall made countermeasures today.

First of all, based on defense, do not give the opponent space to counterattack, outside the 40-yard area, the opponent can attack whatever he wants, and the defense cannot be robbed.

Secondly, Pedretti, Alonso, and De Rossi strengthened the protection of the wing and the back line, compressed the space, and reduced the occurrence of one-on-one breakthroughs by the opponent.

Arsenal's regular lineup with forwards on the side is obviously unable to penetrate Millwall's defense line, the ball will be harassed from the side, and the side-to-center cooperation will cut off the passing line because Millwall has more defensive players. Arsenal's full-backs and defensive midfielders are required to assist, and when they assist, Millwall's defensive pressure will be particularly high, but as long as the defense is successful, when the defense turns from defense to offense, the key player for Millwall's connection between the front and back is A For Lonzo, Lamor is the one who controls the rhythm of the offense.

Lamour, who is characterized by his outstanding game reading ability, was given a more important task by Aldridge.

Instigate a counterattack?

No, it's not just that, when there is the best opportunity, he will firmly increase his speed and fight back. If there is no good chance. Klose and Villa's route was blocked. When the running position lacks space, Lamore must control the ball and stabilize the rhythm. In this way, Arsenal players will run back to defend and consume straight up and down.

Welsh fans were disappointed today. Millwall and Arsenal are typical examples of England's so-called beautiful football. The collision between the two teams should be a magnificent matchup. But what catches the eye is a game that lacks exciting scenes.

It was difficult for Arsenal to find shooting opportunities, and Millwall's counterattack was not ideal, and it even gave people a feeling that they would not even fight back!

Wenger couldn't understand it either. Lamour was obviously unmarked when he took the ball in the half-court a few times, but he didn't pass forward firmly and cooperate. Millwall took the initiative to slow down the rhythm when he counterattacked. After the pressure on the back waistline eased, they patiently played and cooperated to reorganize their offense. It has become positional warfare, and positional warfare. They don't go on the wing, and they can hardly pass Vieira and Parlor's defense zone, and only after Neal assists up does they look a little threatening.

The advantage of playing fast is the high threat, and the disadvantage is the low success rate. Maybe 10 through balls, only 1 can be successful.

The advantage of playing slowly is to ensure the possession of the ball, and the disadvantage is that the threat is low. After Arsenal arranges the defense line and then plays a positional attack, the probability of success can be imagined to be much lower than the counterattack.

However, Aldridge's requirements for the team are to seek stability first. On the one hand, it is to gradually increase confidence, and on the other hand, it is also to ensure that Arsenal will not be quickly attacked in a short period of time because of the failure of the counterattack.

The rhythm slows down, Arsenal players run back to set up the defense line, and it will take a certain amount of time to attack again, so Millwall's defensive pressure will not be too great.

In the 31st minute of the first half, Arsenal almost broke the goal. They passed a cross from the side. Bergkamp stopped the ball perfectly with his feet and gave it directly to Ibrahimovic. Sgate, but Southgate was not fooled. When Ibrahimovic tried to shoot again, the ball was blocked by Southgate with his foot. It was less than 10 yards away from the goal. It was very dangerous. best chance.

Seven minutes later, Pires made a long-range shot from outside the penalty area to the far corner. The shot was extraordinary.

It wasn't until the 42nd minute that Klose created a considerable threat on the offensive end for Millwall. He used the rhythm change to stop and dribble. While stopping the ball, he swayed Keown's defense. Klose volleyed from the penalty area line, he didn't dare to make other moves, and Vieira was rushing from behind him aggressively.

Seaman also made a wonderful save. The two veteran goalkeepers did not experience many tests in the first half, but their performances in the face of threatening shots are commendable.

Before the end of the first half, Vieira went up with an assist, knocked over De Rossi and flew into the stands with a long shot that rubbed against the crossbar.

After the game ended 0:0 in the first half, Southgate followed the referee and put pressure on the referee, thinking that Vieira had fouled De Rossi before, De Rossi himself only felt aggrieved , He felt that his strength was already good, but compared with Vieira, he was still a bit weaker, and he was really overwhelmed by a sudden bump.

Aldridge calmly walked towards the tunnel, but behind him, about five meters away, Wenger frowned.

How did Arsenal crack Millwall's tactical setup today?

Is it a good deal for Arsenal if it goes to a penalty shootout?

Arsenal should have the upper hand in all aspects, and Wenger will certainly not want to pin his fate on the penalty shootout.

The scene in the first half was turbulent. This is a final to determine the title of the champion. It is understandable that the two sides played a little conservatively, but as the game time is getting less and less, I believe that both sides will definitely try their best to fight for it. Victory, on the whole, Arsenal had a slight advantage in the first half. They were more active on the field and their players played better, while Millwall was slightly passive. Of course, the strength of the lineup that played today is slightly weaker than Arsenal. The reason for the limited performance, especially in terms of experience, it can be seen that after Vieira assisted, De Rossi and Alonso could not take advantage of the face-to-face confrontation, and could only rely on more active fighting and fighting. Filling up each other to avoid loopholes in the defense, whether Millwall will strengthen this link during the halftime break, we can only wait for the second half to start and observe. (To be continued..) ()