Chapter 74: Gunners Fire first

*** Join my Patreon for Advance Chapters ( about 30 or so) and my other 2 stories Link is Below. Remove space after http. https:// www.patreon.com/c/Virtuosso777?redirect=true Leave some comments, stones and review if you like it so far *** "Alright, Alan," Martin Tyler's voice filled the commentary box with its familiar warmth. "Both sides have kept their lineups mostly unchanged, but form has been shaky for both recently. Who do you think has the edge today?" Alan Smith leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Well, Martin, it's not exactly a simple call, is it? Both teams have their strengths and their glaring weaknesses. Honestly, I think it all comes down to which manager can exploit those weak spots better. Let's start with Leeds United. Their biggest weapon is their youth—loads of energy, quick on the break, fearless in attack." Martin chuckled. "And also prone to moments of sheer madness," he added. Alan laughed. "You took the words right out of my mouth! Youth is a double-edged sword. Against seasoned veterans like Arsenal, sometimes that bravery turns into recklessness. And let's be honest, even if Arsenal have been stumbling around a bit lately, Thierry Henry still looks like he's playing on cheat mode. Give him half a chance, and he'll make you regret getting out of bed in the morning." The camera panned to Henry, warming up with that effortless grace, stretching like he was preparing for a light jog instead of a Premier League clash. "And then there's Arsenal's full-backs—Ashley Cole and Eboué," Alan continued. "They love bombing forward, don't they? It's like they think they're wingers. But that leaves gaps. Big gaps. The sort you could fit a double-decker bus through. And that's where Leeds could hurt them on the counter. Especially with Milner—he's like a tank with afterburners." Martin laughed. "I'm sure Milner would appreciate being called a tank, Alan." "Well, he is! He just keeps going, doesn't he? But the real question is Arsenal's midfield. Ljungberg is still sharp as a tack, but Pires...well, he's not getting any younger, is he? I mean, if Milner runs at him, there's a good chance Pires might just call it a day and walk off." "Or ask for a stretcher," Martin quipped, earning another chuckle from his co-commentator. While Alan and Martin bantered away in the booth, the camera cut to the touchline, where Arthur stood with his arms crossed, eyes locked onto the Arsenal players like he was figuring out how to disassemble them piece by piece. Wenger, on the other side, was adjusting his coat for the fifth time in three minutes, as if he were in the middle of a fashion shoot rather than a Premier League clash. "Well, Alan," Martin concluded, "it's all about exploiting weaknesses today. Arthur's got his side playing fast, direct football, and if Arsenal's full-backs get caught too far forward, it could be a field day for Leeds." "And if Henry finds space," Alan replied, "it could be a very long afternoon for Leeds." Down on the sidelines, Arthur saw Wenger's lineup settle into place and felt the tension in his shoulders finally release. No surprises. Wenger had gone with exactly what Arthur expected. It was like showing up to an exam and seeing all the questions you studied for. Arthur cracked a grin and yelled something at his assistant, who just nodded with a smirk. Wenger had walked right into it. Now it was time to see if Arthur's plan was as good on the pitch as it was on paper. After studying Arsenal's game footage like a student cramming for finals, Arthur had spotted two glaring issues in their setup—problems so obvious that he nearly questioned if Wenger was just handing out free passes. He felt like a detective who'd just uncovered the villain's entire plan before Act Two. If Leeds United could exploit these weaknesses, this match would be theirs for the taking. The first glaring flaw? Arsenal's full-backs, Ashley Cole and Emmanuel Eboué, had the offensive discipline of sugar-high toddlers at a playground. They loved bombing forward, charging up the wings as if defending was something that only happened to other people. Sure, it made Arsenal's attack more dangerous—overloading the flanks and stretching teams wide—but it also left enough space behind them to park not just one, but two team buses. In fact, the video showed that out of the nine goals Arsenal had conceded in their first 12 matches, four had come directly from counterattacks down the flanks. Arthur had practically paused the footage and slow-clapped. "Wenger," he muttered to himself with a grin, "you're basically leaving the back door open with a welcome sign." The second problem was Fabregas. Young, talented, and annoyingly good at threading passes, the Spaniard had already become the heartbeat of Arsenal's midfield. His ball distribution was as smooth as silk, and his vision rivaled the best in the league. But Arthur spotted something—the kid didn't like getting kicked. Not one bit. The rough-and-tumble nature of Premier League midfielders hacking at his ankles had clearly gotten to him. In the last few matches, Fabregas had started treating the ball like a hot potato, offloading it almost immediately as if it might explode. He was nervous, hesitant, and the moment an opponent got close, he either released the ball too early or pulled back altogether. "He's got the heart of a poet," Arthur smirked, "and the ankles of a porcelain doll." With this in mind, Arthur's choice for the defensive midfielder spot was a no-brainer: Javier Mascherano. The Argentine was practically engineered for this. He was like a pit bull with manners—ferocious in the tackle but rarely reckless enough to warrant cards. Arthur wanted Fabregas feeling Mascherano's breath on his neck every second, making his life miserable. "If he doesn't hear footsteps by halftime," Arthur joked to his assistant, "I'll buy Mascherano glasses." Of course, there was the small matter of Yaya Touré. The big man had actually approached Arthur earlier in the week with a heartfelt plea. "Boss," he'd said, voice full of conviction, "let me play against Arsenal. I want to face my brother." Arthur knew the sentimental value. The idea of two Touré brothers on opposite sides of the pitch was practically scripted for a football documentary. But Arthur wasn't having it. "Look, Yaya," he replied, leaning back in his chair, "I love a good family reunion as much as the next guy, but I'm not putting you out there just so you can have a kickabout with your brother. Save it for Christmas dinner." Touré had taken it well enough, but Arthur knew the real reason. The big man had already been suspended once this season for picking up too many yellow cards. Against someone as quick and shifty as Fabregas, there was a good chance he'd go in a bit too hard and end up carded—or worse, sent off. Arthur wasn't about to risk having to reshuffle his entire midfield because Touré decided to tackle like he was auditioning for WWE. So Mascherano got the nod. He was set to be Fabregas's shadow for the afternoon, while Arthur focused on exploiting those gaping holes Arsenal called flanks. The plan was simple: let their full-backs charge forward, then hit them where it hurts. And if Fabregas wanted to prance around in midfield, Mascherano would be right there to remind him that the Premier League wasn't for the faint of heart. Arthur stood by the touchline, arms crossed, eyes locked on Wenger's setup as the Arsenal players warmed up. "Alright, Wenger," he muttered to himself, "you've given me your best. Now it's time to show you mine." But what Arthur wanted, Wenger wanted too. As soon as the referee's whistle blew, Arsenal came out swinging with a tactical twist that felt like it had been plucked straight from Arthur's own playbook. Gone was their typical patient build-up; instead, they pressed like their lives depended on it. Henry and Van Persie were harassing Leeds' backline with the kind of energy that suggested someone had promised them a lifetime supply of champagne if they won the ball back. Even when Leeds tried to recycle possession and pass back to Schmeichel, Arsenal's forwards charged like they were late for a train. "Blimey, Arsenal are pressing like their mortgages depend on it!" Martin Tyler chuckled from the commentary booth. "Leeds can't catch a break, can they, Alan?" "Nope," Alan Smith replied. "Wenger's clearly trying to suffocate them early. Arthur's lads look like they're playing hot potato with the ball—no one wants to keep hold of it." On the sidelines, Arthur's frustration was almost cartoonish. He was yelling himself hoarse, waving his arms like he was trying to land a plane. "Play it long! Get it behind them! Stop messing about at the back!" he roared, voice cracking slightly as he gestured wildly. His assistant looked a little concerned, possibly because Arthur was one overzealous scream away from bursting a blood vessel. Wenger, meanwhile, stood across the technical area with his arms calmly crossed, looking like a smug professor whose student had just flunked the final exam. His tailored suit was as immaculate as ever, not a hair out of place, and he occasionally shot a glance over at Arthur's animated display with the kind of satisfaction you'd expect from a man who'd just found a forgotten tenner in his coat pocket. Before the match, Arthur had actually walked over to greet Wenger and Adebayor. The handshake had been polite, the hug even more so—European etiquette and all that. But behind that soft-spoken demeanor, Wenger had his own score to settle. Spending over 20 million euros to pry Adebayor away from Leeds wasn't just business—it was personal. Arthur had squeezed every last penny out of that deal, leaving Wenger's summer budget feeling lighter than a feather. Arsenal's manager had wanted to strengthen several positions that summer, but after Arthur's sharp negotiating, Wenger had to settle for what he had. As Wenger watched Arsenal pin Leeds back with relentless pressing, a faint smile crept onto his face. "Let's see how you handle a bit of pressure, Arthur," he thought. "Maybe you'll realize that the old foxes still know how to hunt." Arthur, however, wasn't about to roll over. He turned to his assistant with a smirk. "Wenger thinks he's got me backed into a corner. He doesn't realize...I love corners. It's where I do my best thinking." The assistant blinked. "That...doesn't actually make sense." Arthur waved him off. "Doesn't have to. Just get the boys to exploit the space behind their full-backs. If they want to press high, we'll go direct. Long ball over the top. Let's see how much they like sprinting backwards." Back on the pitch, Leeds' players began to adjust, slowly shifting their approach as Arthur bellowed instructions from the sidelines. Wenger, arms still crossed, raised an eyebrow. "Now the real game begins," Wenger muttered, cracking his knuckles like he was about to break into a street fight. Suddenly, the roar of the Arsenal fans erupted from the stands, snapping Wenger out of his thoughts. He squinted toward the pitch, and his eyes went wide. Van Persie was already dancing his way into Leeds United's penalty area like he'd just been invited to a private party and everyone else forgot to show up. It had all started with a promising counterattack for Leeds. Mascherano, who had been snapping at Fabregas' heels all game like a particularly grumpy terrier, finally wrestled the ball away from him with a crunching tackle. Arthur had leapt up from the bench, practically punching the air. "Now! Go, go, go!" he hollered, voice cracking with enthusiasm. Mascherano, composed as ever, quickly looked up and zipped a pass towards Modric, who was standing in space just a few yards away. It was all set up perfectly...until it wasn't. Out of nowhere, Van Persie slid in like he was auditioning for a superhero movie, legs stretched, timing perfect. He intercepted the pass cleanly, and before Mascherano even had time to protest, the Dutchman was off, sprinting down the field with purpose. Arthur's jaw practically hit the floor. "What the—? Where did he even come from?!" Arthur shouted, slapping his assistant on the shoulder. His assistant shrugged helplessly, as if Van Persie had just materialized from thin air. The next sequence was something straight out of a footballing masterclass. Van Persie played a crisp one-two with Henry, who flicked the ball back with the sort of casual elegance that suggested he had no intention of breaking a sweat today. Kompany rushed forward, eyes fixed on Van Persie like a hawk targeting its prey, but the young Dutchman skipped past him with a deft touch that sent Kompany sliding out of position. Chiellini, meanwhile, was busy babysitting Henry, who looked about as concerned as someone waiting for a bus. "Stick with him, Giorgio!" Arthur screamed, waving his hands frantically. But Chiellini knew the stakes—if he even blinked in Henry's direction, the Frenchman would be off like a bullet, and the ball would be in the back of the net before anyone knew what happened. Van Persie saw his moment. Schmeichel, deciding he'd had enough of this nonsense, charged off his line like a man on a mission. It was bold. It was brave. It was...completely ineffective. With all the composure of a seasoned striker, Van Persie barely glanced up before executing a delicate lob. The ball arched gracefully over Schmeichel, who was now sprawled out on the turf like he'd just slipped on a banana peel. Time seemed to slow as the ball floated through the air, dipped beautifully, and nestled itself comfortably in the bottom left corner of the net. "0-1! Van Persie! Arsenal take the lead at Elland Road!" Martin Tyler shouted in disbelief from the commentary booth. "And what a finish that was! Cool as you like, a little chip over Schmeichel. He never saw it coming!" Alan Smith chimed in, chuckling. "I think Schmeichel saw it, Martin. He just couldn't do a thing about it." On the sidelines, Wenger—usually the embodiment of stoic restraint—suddenly leapt from his seat like he'd just won the lottery. His arms shot up in pure elation, and he grinned from ear to ear as Van Persie sprinted towards him. The young striker crashed into Wenger's open arms, the two hugging tightly like long-lost relatives at an airport reunion. For a moment, Wenger actually looked...happy. Genuinely, contagiously happy. He patted Van Persie on the back, grinning with a twinkle in his eye. If you'd told him he was actually twenty years younger at that moment, he probably would've believed you. After a brief celebration, Wenger composed himself, gave Van Persie a final pat on the shoulders, and settled back into his seat with all the nonchalance of a man who hadn't just celebrated like a kid on Christmas. But even as he sat, Wenger's eyes flickered across the pitch and landed squarely on the Leeds United bench, where Arthur stood, arms crossed, expression...completely neutral. No shouting. No flailing arms. Not even a clenched jaw. Arthur looked like he'd just seen a stray cat wander by—not a goal conceded at home. Wenger's brow furrowed as he leaned forward slightly. The calmness radiating from Arthur was unnerving. It was the kind of stillness that made you second-guess everything. What is he planning? Wenger wondered, scratching his chin thoughtfully. He'd seen managers react with fury, with despair, even with resignation...but not like this. The celebration was over, but Wenger's mind was already spinning. Arthur wasn't panicking—and that alone made Wenger more nervous than any touchline rant ever could.