74: Chapter 74 Head-on Collision! An Eye for an Eye! The Dramatic First 25 Minutes! Yu Bai Rewrites the Script?

Two minutes later.

Yu Bai faced Nacho Monreal on the left wing again, but this time, he was the one defending.

This time, he was determined to "test" whether the [Superstar Treatment] he had just acquired was actually effective, and also to see just how "loose" the referee's standards were.

Nacho Monreal pushed the ball forward, preparing to make a run.

Yu Bai seized the moment. Just as the opponent was completely unprepared and had already released the ball, Yu Bai didn't brake. He slammed his shoulder hard into Nacho Monreal's ribs! At the same time, there was a subtle, hidden trip with his feet.

"Bang!"

Nacho Monreal flew sideways like a ragdoll hit by a truck, tumbling awkwardly twice on the turf, clutching his ribs, and curling up in pain.

No explanation was needed.

Everyone understood.

This was Yu Bai's blatant, undisguised retaliation! Tit for tat!

"Tweet—!"

Referee Craig Pawson's whistle blew this time.

He ran over to check the situation.

Nacho Monreal was rolling on the ground, his expression exaggeratedly painful, trying to pressure the referee.

Arsenal players also crowded around, protesting to the referee, signaling that it was a malicious foul and deserved a card.

Craig Pawson frowned, listened to the linesman's opinion, and then... he simply gave Yu Bai a verbal warning, signaling him to watch his actions, and then motioned for the game to continue.

A yellow card? None.

This ruling acted as a clear signal, transmitted to everyone on the pitch, especially the players of both teams:

The whistle today was very loose.

The physical contact threshold was high.

Some minor fouls and retaliatory actions might be "tolerated" by the referee.

After simple treatment by the team doctor, Nacho Monreal stood up, limping, and was able to continue the match.

He returned to the pitch, glaring viciously at Yu Bai, his eyes looking like they were breathing fire.

Yu Bai, on the other hand, gave him a smile that seemed incredibly irritating to Nacho Monreal—innocent, harmless, and even carrying a hint of a teenager's shyness. He responded in clear English, enunciating every word:

"Listen, old man."

"Don't mess with me."

"I should be... more..."

Yu Bai paused, his smile vanished, and his eyes suddenly became cold and hard.

"...much harder than you imagine."

He used the word "hard." Whether it was fitting or not, he didn't know, but the meaning was conveyed very clearly—if you dare to play dirty, I dare to play even harder. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Looking at Yu Bai's cold eyes, Nacho Monreal felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

He suddenly remembered that the kid in front of him was Chinese. He hadn't known many Chinese players he'd faced, but he had a deep impression of the Chinese national team captain named Zheng Zhi—in a warm-up match before the 2006 World Cup, it was that "tough guy" who tackled French striker Cissé, breaking his leg and ruining his World Cup.

These Chinese players... their skills might vary, but that inner ruthlessness and the tough spirit of "if you dare to play dirty, I dare to end you" were common traits. Playing dirty or underhanded with them might not result in an advantage; instead, it could backfire.

Nacho Monreal's eyes flickered, his arrogance receding slightly, but his hatred deepened.

...

In the 13th minute.

The moment to break the deadlock arrived!

Arsenal's penetration combination in the middle was keenly spotted by Leicester City captain Wes Morgan, who poked the ball away first!

Danny Drinkwater controlled the second ball, glanced at the front court, and delivered a precise long pass, finding Riyad Mahrez sprinting up the right flank!

The Algerian controlled the ball, cut inside, and after drawing the defense, calmly passed the ball across to the open space on the left!

There, Yu Bai had already arrived!

He steadied the ball with his chest, and now only Nacho Monreal stood before him!

1v1, a revenge duel!

Facing the ready Nacho Monreal, Yu Bai quickly performed a Step-over fake with his right foot. Immediately after, the moment Nacho Monreal adjusted his center of gravity, he pushed the ball hard toward the goal line with the outside of his left foot!

Simple, brutal!

"He's past him!"

Yu Bai instantly flashed out half a body's worth of space for a cross!

Nacho Monreal chased desperately. The moment Yu Bai cocked his left foot, appearing to cross, he had no choice but to throw himself into a sliding tackle to block the Passing lane with his body!

However, this was another feint! Yu Bai's raised left foot didn't strike the ball but gently stepped on it, stopping it!

Like a torpedo, Nacho Monreal slid hopelessly past Yu Bai, sliding directly out of bounds!

"Beautiful fake!"

"He's past him! Chance!"

Having beaten Nacho Monreal, Yu Bai dribbled into the left side of the penalty area!

Arsenal center-back Per Mertesacker had already come over to cover, sealing off the near-post Shooting route.

Yu Bai didn't play selfishly. He lifted his head to observe in the tiny space and caught a glimpse of a blue shadow sprinting from the center!

A cut-back pass!

Using the instep of his left foot, Yu Bai delivered a ground pass with perfect power, speed, and trajectory! The ball slipped past Per Mertesacker's extended foot and rolled toward the center of the penalty area!

Jamie Vardy arrived! He didn't even need to adjust; facing the incoming ball, he struck it cleanly!

"Bang!"

"Swish—!!!"

1:0! Leicester City leads at home! Jamie Vardy!

"Gooooooal!!! Vardy! Yu Bai's exquisite breakthrough and assist!"

"King Power Stadium is boiling! Yu Bai directed the goal!"

"A perfect embodiment of individual ability!"

After scoring, Vardy didn't celebrate immediately but rushed excitedly toward Yu Bai, who had provided the assist. While running, he pointed forcefully at Yu Bai, clearly declaring to the whole stadium and the cameras: He is the biggest contributor to this goal!

The two hugged tightly! Surrounding teammates also swarmed in to celebrate!

[Beautiful! Revenge successful! Passing you is like walking down the street in the morning!]

[This fake, Nacho Monreal was completely fooled!]

[Vardy: This delivery was so comfortable!]

On the sidelines, Wenger helplessly spread his hands and shook his head.

On this play, Nacho Monreal had done his best, sliding to block and throwing his whole body out, but Yu Bai's rhythm change and fakes were too realistic. If you defend against a real pass, he uses a fake to pass you; if you defend against a breakthrough, he might actually pass.

This is the value of a top-tier game-changer; when one-on-one, you are always on the passive side.

Nacho Monreal climbed up from the goal line, looking at the celebrating blue figures, his face full of frustration.

He felt like he had been played with; that total suppression of rhythm left him unable to use his strength.

...

However, after taking the lead, Leicester City suddenly seemed unable to play football.

Perhaps it was a relaxed mentality, or perhaps Arsenal had strengthened their pressing after being provoked.

The Gunners quickly turned the tide, launching crazy High Pressing and suppression in the midfield and front court.

For most of the time, the ball rolled in Leicester City's half. The Blue Foxes were gasping for air, forced to run desperately to defend.

In the 18th minute, Arsenal's offensive paid off.

Santi Cazorla delivered a surgical through ball in midfield, penetrating Leicester City's entire defensive line!

Theo Walcott succeeded in beating the offside trap, forming a one-on-one!

He dribbled into the penalty area, facing the rushing Kasper Schmeichel, and calmly pushed the ball into the far corner!

1:1! Arsenal quickly leveled the score!

In the 25th minute, the blow followed.

Alexis Sánchez took the ball on the left wing. Facing Ritchie De Laet's defense, the Chilean relied entirely on personal ability, using a series of dazzling changes of direction and terrifying explosive power to "eat" Ritchie De Laet alive, curling a beautiful arc with his right foot that hung directly into the top far corner!

Kasper Schmeichel dived to save, his fingertips barely touching the ball, but he couldn't stop it from entering the net!

1:2! Arsenal turned the score around!

In just seven minutes, Leicester City fell from heaven to hell! King Power Stadium was deathly silent.

Yu Bai stood near the midfield, hands on his hips, his chest heaving, his face full of frustration and helplessness.

For the past dozen minutes, he could barely see the ball. He was either tracking back to defend or on his way to help defend, completely submerged by Arsenal's offensive wave.

An individual breakthrough created a goal, but when the team was suppressed as a whole, his role was infinitely reduced.

He looked at the backs of the celebrating Arsenal players, looked at the somewhat dazed eyes of his teammates, and a thought popped into his mind:

Is this the foundation of a giant club?

Is this the adjustment ability and overall suppression power of a top Premier League team?

Is individual brilliance so insignificant in front of a mature system?

He subconsciously looked to the sidelines, toward head coach Claudio Ranieri, his eyes filled with a hint of undetectable panic and a plea—Boss, what should we do? How can we turn the situation around?

However, this time, Claudio Ranieri did not look at him.

The Italian veteran manager was standing with his back to the pitch, excitedly talking to the assistant coach, seemingly also anxious about the team's sudden collapse.

Their eyes did not meet.

Team captain Wes Morgan was just loudly reminding his teammates to "focus" and "hold on," but there didn't seem to be any specific solution.

The panic in Yu Bai's heart lasted only for a very short time.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the depression and powerlessness in his chest, his eyes becoming firm again, even flashing with a hint of determination.

Relying on others?

Waiting for the coach to adjust?

No.

He looked at Arsenal's goal and then at the familiar turf under his feet.

Since the team is suppressed as a whole and the Passing lanes are locked...

Then I will use my most proficient way, in the way they least expect and least want to see, to break this deadlock!

As for whether the coach and teammates will have objections?

Yu Bai pursed his lips.

Let time and the result speak for me!

He slowly straightened up, his gaze like a torch, and threw himself back into the game.

A bold, even somewhat risky idea quietly took shape in his heart.

...

The balance of the game seemed to have tilted toward the Gunners.

But a certain 17-year-old boy clearly did not intend to admit defeat just like that.

He was prepared to forcibly rewrite the script in his own way.