From Arsenal to the Ball God

Chapter 439 - 122: Ma Sanfei’s Running Stats! The Promise with Isabella! Zurich Golden Ball Award Ceremony! (2)

The football slipped through Martin Kelly’s legs and into the penalty area. Martin Kelly wanted to turn back and continue defending, but he was completely exhausted, a sudden sharp pain hit the back of his calf.

"Hiss...!" He fell to the ground clutching his leg, just hoping it was a cramp and not a muscle strain.

Ma’el slipped past him quickly and saw Henderson and Gerrard approaching from the right, Agger and Skrtel approaching from the left, blocking all his routes both inside and outside.

After just scoring a solo goal, their fear of him seemed to reach its peak. As soon as they saw him with the ball, they lost their minds!

Complete double-teaming!

Additionally, with a distant Spirin doubling down, this scene was somewhat reminiscent of the 2012 European Cup, where Italy’s five-man "White Crane Spreads Its Wings" defense against Iniesta.

To minimize the space within the penalty area and prevent him from advancing with the ball, Liverpool’s defenders were doing everything they could.

But unlike Iniesta, he was physically stronger, with more stable ball control... even against a five-man pinch, he could quite easily turn and pass the ball out.

"Bang!"

Ma’el pulled the ball and turned, resisting the clash from Gerrard, and passed the ball to Arteta behind him with a kick.

The five immediately looked at each other, realizing that something big might happen.

At this moment, they couldn’t let Ma’el pass the ball out!

"A brilliant touch, after bypassing Martin Kelly and drawing in five opposing players’ defense! Ma’el passed the ball out, leaving only four defenders in Liverpool’s penalty area!

"Arteta with a cross... oh, the speed of the ball was a bit slow! But Van Persie still jumped in the central position, his core power burst, and he jumped very high!

"..."

"Boom!!"

Van Persie wasn’t very tall, but his jumping and core strength were top-notch, as could be seen from his diving header in the 2014 World Cup later on.

That goal could be said to be representative, but far from the entirety of his abilities.

In the Premier League, he often leaped to compete for headers with the opponent’s tall defenders and scored!

This ball was a very good example. Arteta’s cross was slow, actually considered a mispass... yet Van Persie’s header after jumping still carried a powerful force.

"Whish!" The ball then passed over Reina’s left hand, hitting the dead corner on the right side of the goal.

Two - two!

General Fan, who had been immersed in the match, after Ma’el drew away six defenders, won the one-on-one against Glen Johnson who covered and headed the ball into the net.

Equalized on the road!

"Aahh.....!"

Van Persie turned ecstatically after landing, pointing both at Arteta who sent him the pass, and at Ma’el who drew away six defenders, sticking his tongue out as he sprinted forward as if unbearably hot.

"Hurrah.....!!" Thousands of Arsenal’s expeditionary forces stood up in unison, their cheers seemed ready to swallow the entire Anfield Stadium.

"Header into the net!"

In the commentary box, guest commentator Reinke threw the data sheets he was holding onto the ground, watching the commentator next to him gasp in shock, "Van Persie equalized for Arsenal on the road!

"After Ma’el roared the first half with a spectacular solo goal! Van Persie also showcased his striker prowess in the final moments!

"Honestly, Jerry, this wasn’t much of a good opportunity, Liverpool’s defense was extremely tight! But Ma’el charged in like with a sharp knife, taking down Martin Kelly and drawing a five-man sandwich!

"We can’t say he deserves all the credit for this goal... Arteta’s cross wasn’t good quality, but Van Persie still used amazing finishing ability to head it in, he did it exceptionally well.

"But at least he’s the second most credited person, the one who changed the offensive and defensive form, he dominated this English League Cup semi-final battle!

"If it ends in a two-to-two score, Arsenal will have an absolute psychological advantage in the second leg!

"....."

"Cool....!"

On Arsenal’s coaching bench, Henry and Wenger rushed to the sidelines again, the mentor and apprentice hugged tightly again at this moment.

Henry pointed at Ma’el, his face twisted with ecstasy, "His stats are great, but I have to say, his stats don’t reflect everything he does!"

He still loved Arsenal, the team that had given him almost everything, so when he saw the team equalize, and a player better than himself emerging, his feelings were imaginable.

"Yes."

Wenger laughed heartily, nodding heavily, "This season he’s had many similar contributions; in goals like these, his contributions are equal to the person who sets up penalties in net-point breaks.

"Liverpool players have lost to him for the second time, and of course, they also lost to Robin."

At the stadium’s corner flag area, Van Persie tackled Arteta to the ground, and then Ma’el came charging over, all three rolled on the ground laughing together.

After getting up, General Fan and Arteta high-fived and hugged, then both turned their gaze towards Ma’el.

"Everything was going...Ma-el! Ma-el....!"

Van Persie was the first to sing the club’s anthem, the fan-adapted version from the second half of the season, which included Ma’el’s name, acknowledging Ma’el’s performance in this way.

Arteta soon joined in, which led to the other Arsenal players following suit.

After a while, when seven or eight of them were walking back arm in arm, everyone was singing this anthem, expressing their recognition of Ma’el’s play.