69: Chapter 69 A Battle of Wits: You Scored Twice? I Came Back from Two-Two to Three! Gunners Become a Unit of Measurement?

"Mason with the winner! But Son... is that it?"

Ryan Mason received a brilliant pass from Erik Lamela in the 82nd minute and scored a golden goal, helping Tottenham secure a narrow 1-0 away win against Sunderland and staying hot on the heels of Leicester City in the standings.

However, the post-match discussion focused more on Son Heung-min, who was substituted in the 62nd minute after a performance that could only be described as "invisible."

With Yu Bai's "precedent of excellence"—coming off the bench to direct a stunning comeback—the patience of fans and the media seemed to have run out. Especially in the Chinese media sphere, the reaction was almost overwhelmingly mocking and comparative:

"30 million euros for this? My grandma would have more presence on the pitch than him!"

"Yu Bai as a substitute: Two assists and a goal to direct a comeback. Son Heung-min as a starter: Invisible for 62 minutes before being subbed off. The difference is clear!"

"Did Tottenham buy nothing? Return him! We want Little Yu!"

"Yu Bai > Son Heung-min? No, it's Yu Bai >>>>>>> Son Heung-min!"

Pressure surged like a tide toward the South Korean forward who had just arrived in the Premier League.

However, the slap in the face came quickly!

Midweek, the first round of the Europa League group stage.

Tottenham hosted the Azerbaijani team Qarabağ.

Son Heung-min started as the center-forward, replacing the rested Harry Kane.

This time, he seized the opportunity, helping the team win 3-1 with a perfect performance featuring a brace, declaring his value!

Speed, impact, tireless running, calm Shooting... He displayed the comprehensive qualities a modern forward should have.

This match became his "redemption match."

Public opinion flipped 180 degrees instantly!

"He's the real deal! Son is amazing!"

"Mauricio Pochettino is capable! A top manager! With this speed and Shooting ability, Son Heung-min is exactly what our Tottenham needs!"

"Is it that hard to admit Son Heung-min is strong? He is faster, more comprehensive, and has better immediate impact than Yu Bai!"

"Yu Bai is a talent, but Son Heung-min is a plug-and-play mature star! Who is more suitable for this current Tottenham? It's obvious!"

"Yu Bai? Let him play in European competition first!"

...

September 19, Bet365 Stadium.

League leaders Leicester City traveled to challenge the "City of Sky," Stoke City.

Yu Bai was still placed on the bench.

And fate seemed to have given the Blue Foxes the same script.

The start was a nightmare!

"Spanish Golden Boy" Bojan scored a blitz goal in the 13th minute!

Irish tough guy Jonathan Walters added another in the 20th minute!

Stoke City 2-0 Leicester City! And they kept the score until halftime.

In the locker room, Claudio Ranieri's face was darker than the bottom of a pot. He had no other choice, or rather, he already had the optimal solution in his mind.

As the second half began, the substitution board lit up:

Marc Albrighton off, Yu Bai on!

Gökhan Inler off, Kante on!

The exact same recipe, the exact same "nuclear" substitute!

At this moment, in Claudio Ranieri's mind, Yu Bai and Kante were already undisputed, starting-level cores capable of changing the game!

"The substitution effect was immediate!"

The first time Yu Bai received the ball on the left wing after coming on, he successfully broke into the penalty area!

Stoke City right-back Glen Johnson was blindly confident and rashly stuck his foot out to intercept!

Yu Bai poked the ball away half a step early, and Johnson's foot tripped Yu Bai's lower leg solidly!

"Penalty?!"

Everyone looked at the referee Andre Marriner.

This time, under the influence of the newly acquired hidden aura of [Superstar Treatment], Marriner saw it clearly, and without hesitation, his right hand firmly pointed to the penalty spot!

Penalty!

"It's given! Penalty!"

Superstar whistle? No, this was a clear and unambiguous foul!

Mahrez scored it! 2-1! Leicester City quickly pulled one back!

In the 69th minute, something even more explosive happened!

Yu Bai received the ball at the corner of the penalty area on the right, facing Glen Johnson one-on-one again.

Having learned his lesson, Johnson became "smart" this time, remembering the defensive philosophy of "the enemy doesn't move, I don't move," planting his feet firmly, blocking the inside line, and sealing Yu Bai's Shooting route.

Then, he saw Yu Bai, with almost no movement and no run-up, suddenly curl his right foot with the inside of his boot!

"He shot?!"

Banana Kick!

The ball carried intense spin, grazing Johnson's waist—that gap he thought was absolutely safe—and whistled past, flying straight into the absolute top right corner of the goal!

The ball speed wasn't explosive, but the angle was wickedly precise! Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland flew to make the save, but his fingertips didn't even touch the ball!

"Swish—!!!"

2-2! World-class goal! Yu Bai equalized!

"Gooooooal!!! Yu Bai! An unsolvable curling shot! An absolute world-class goal!"

"This technique! This confidence!"

"Powering a curl into the corner from a standing position! The goalkeeper is in despair!"

After scoring, Yu Bai sprinted passionately, leaving three deep skid marks on the turf of Bet365 Stadium! Then he stood up, faced the away stand, and performed a dominant celebration gesture of drawing a bow and arrow!

This was a response!

It was the most powerful counter-strike to those "Son Heung-min is more comprehensive" arguments after Son's brace midweek!

What can I, Yu Bai, not do?!

Dribbling? Passing? Shooting? Drawing a penalty?

Tell me, what else is there that "Son Heung-min can do, but I, Yu Bai, cannot"?!

"Drawing the bow to shoot the eagle! Young Master is so cool!"

"Little Yu: Heard someone say they are more comprehensive than me? (Sneers and draws the bow)"

"This curling shot, world-class aesthetic!"

83rd minute.

"Director Yu" was online on time, writing the ending!

Yu Bai received the ball in the center, faced two defenders, and used a series of dazzling La Croqueta moves and shoulder feints to beat both! Then he completed a wall pass with Mahrez, cutting into the right rib of the penalty area again!

At the moment he was about to be forced to the baseline, with the angle almost zero, Yu Bai gently flicked the ball upward with his right foot!

An inspired, feather-light "little chip" to the back post! The ball flew over the head of goalkeeper Butland, who had sealed the near post!

At the back post, Drinkwater arrived, and facing the wide-open goal, easily headed the ball into the net!

2-3! Winner! Leicester City came from two goals down to win three, staging another miracle comeback!

"Director! It's Director Yu again!"

"45 minutes, won a penalty + world-class goal + winning assist! 9 successful dribbles!"

"Who else?! Tell me, who else?!"

"Come from two down to win three! I've seen this episode before!"

"Drinkwater: The assist from Little Yu is delicious!"

"Director Yu: Basic operation, don't 6, everyone sit down."

In the end, Leicester City reversed Stoke City 3-2 away, continuing to sit firmly at the top of the Premier League table!

After the match, public opinion staged another stunning reversal:

"Son Heung-min is more comprehensive? Look at these 45 minutes from Yu Bai: won a penalty, world-class goal, winning assist, 9 dribbles! This is fucking Superman data!"

"Can Son Heung-min do this? Can Son Heung-min create three goals in 45 minutes in the Premier League to lead the team to a comeback?"

"Admit it, Yu Bai is the only genius in Asian football right now! None other!"

In Chinese football, Yu Bai is no longer a 'loaned' talent; he is a rising superstar whose light can no longer be hidden!

...

September 20, pressure returned to White Hart Lane.

Tottenham hosted Crystal Palace. Son Heung-min started again. The game was deadlocked until the 68th minute, when Son Heung-min received the ball outside the penalty arc, made a slight adjustment, and unleashed an earth-shattering world-class goal, hanging it straight into the corner!

1-0! Son Heung-min sealed the win with one strike, helping Tottenham take all three points and was named Man of the Match!

Another loud response!

Thus, Yu Bai and Son Heung-min, two Asian stars who had never directly faced each other on the pitch, had completed a remote battle:

Round 1: Son Heung-min invisible in the League and mocked → Yu Bai comes off the bench to direct a comeback and receives high praise.

Round 2: Son Heung-min scores a brace in the Europa League to save his reputation → Yu Bai directs a comeback from two goals down in the League, crushing him again.

Round 3: Son Heung-min scores a world-class goal in the League to win back the spotlight.

The two are like peerless masters on the ring, you throw a punch, I return a kick, fighting back and forth, wonderfully! On and off the pitch, in terms of public reputation, the two have completely "locked horns"!

And fate, seemingly feeling that this remote drama wasn't enough, arranged the final, face-to-face "showdown stage" for them—

September 24, League Cup third round, Tottenham hosted Arsenal.

September 26, Premier League 7th round, Leicester City hosted Arsenal.

Just three days apart, successively hosting the same opponent—the Gunners, Arsenal!

This is simply a god-given, most fair "control experiment"!

Same opponent, similar time, home games... their performances will become the most direct and cruel benchmark for all media, fans, and even professionals to judge "who is stronger," "who is more suitable for the Premier League," and "who is the current Asian number one"!

Social media hot comments:

"Holy crap! This schedule! Even screenwriters wouldn't dare write it like this!"

"Arsenal: ??? How did I become a unit of measurement?"