Chapter 222: Into the Final! Wenger Has Changed! Tonight, I Believe You Can Create a Miracle!
Wenger had always believed that being a head coach was like being a solitary, isolated boxer.
Before every match, a manager would isolate himself, making important decisions all on his own.
Every coach hopes to come up with the best plan for each game.
Many people believe that players put in a tremendous amount of effort and preparation for matches. But they often, either intentionally or unintentionally, overlook the effort and preparation of the head coach.
At the very least, players have teammates beside them on the pitch.
But a coach stands alone.
There have been a few cases in European football where two managers co-coached a team, but those ventures always ended in failure.
Or to put it more precisely, they were never particularly successful.
Wenger began his coaching career at a very young age.
The Alsatian transitioned from player to coach at the age of 33.
In 1984, Aldo Platini—father of then-future UEFA president Michel Platini—was director of football at Nancy. He invited Wenger to take over the team, officially starting Wenger's solo managerial journey.
More than twenty years had passed, and Wenger was still full of love and passion for the job.
At one point, he even thought he might never grow tired of it.
But recently, he had begun to waver.
After leaving Totteridge, Wenger wandered around aimlessly.
He stopped by his usual barbershop for a haircut, then browsed his favorite record store—but didn't find anything he liked.
Eventually, he arrived at Cocorico, his favorite Italian restaurant.
He had dinner there, then ordered a coffee and sat for a long while.
The reason he liked the place was simple—it always played his favorite jazz music.
In the past, sitting here for a bit would always help him relax.
But not today. No matter how long he sat, he still felt anxious, restless, and tangled up inside.
So, he ordered another coffee.
An espresso.
Just as the server brought over the steaming cup, a familiar figure sat down across from him.
"I knew you'd be here, Arsène."
Arsenal Vice Chairman David Dein looked visibly relieved as he sat down, grinning as he scanned Wenger.
It was as if he were checking Wenger for any signs of emotional distress.
Wenger wasn't surprised to see David Dein.
They both lived in Totteridge and had been close friends for many years.
"Is something wrong with the team?" Wenger frowned.
David Dein chuckled. "Relax, my friend. Everything's fine. Nothing's wrong."
After a pause, Dein looked at Wenger with genuine concern. "But I've heard you haven't been doing well lately."
"No, I'm fine," Wenger replied instinctively.
"Everyone's sensed it, Arsène. And we're all concerned about you."
Wenger hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Thanks, but I really am fine."
"Annie told me you've been having trouble sleeping."
David Dein stared straight at Wenger as he said that.
He was referring to Annie Brosthaus, Wenger's wife. They had gotten married last year, after a tabloid scandal involving Wenger and a waitress at this very Italian restaurant had made headlines worldwide.
Wenger and Annie had been in a relationship for years and had a daughter together.
"I know you, Arsène. You're not the kind of man who loses his temper for no reason. But the way you treated Annie just now—that wasn't you," Dein said firmly.
Wenger looked like he wanted to explain but hesitated before finally saying, "You know Annie has always had issues with my work. It's hard for me to find time to be with her and our daughter."
"I'm always working, flying all over the world for matches. Even when I'm home, my mind is still on football, on training. She's never liked that."
"We had a bit of an argument earlier, but…"
Wenger trailed off when he saw the doubtful look in Dein's eyes.
He wasn't someone who liked to make excuses for himself.
Players often said that after a painful defeat, Wenger would lock himself away for two or three days until he came up with an explanation he could live with—only then would he reemerge.
"I just want to get away from this damn, stressful, energy-draining job of being a manager!"
Wenger finally clenched his teeth and let out what he truly felt.
David Dein understood. This was what Wenger had been bottling up inside.
He was under enormous pressure.
Or rather, he had always been under enormous pressure.
Many had questioned David Dein's decision back then to hire a relatively unknown French manager from Japan to coach Arsenal.
To many, it seemed absurd.
Fans and media had turned it into some mysterious, conspiratorial thing.
But the truth was far more mundane.
Why had Dein chosen Wenger?
Because they had been friends for many years.
Dein already knew exactly how good Wenger was.
Other people simply didn't.
They had first met back in 1988, when Wenger was coaching Monaco.
A mutual friend had invited them both to a social gathering. They played a word game together, and Wenger's wit and humor left a deep impression on Dein.
That meeting sparked a friendship that only grew stronger with time.
Rather than ask why Arsenal had taken a gamble on an obscure French coach working in Japan, one might better ask—what made Wenger, then a relatively unknown figure, dare to take on the challenge of coaching a not-so-powerful Arsenal team in the Premier League?
It was a gamble for Wenger too.
He was, after all, Arsenal's first-ever foreign head coach.
And Arsenal weren't the only club interested in him at the time.
The reason Wenger chose Arsenal was the same reason Dein chose Wenger.
Mutual trust.
When Wenger first took over, Arsenal weren't the Premier League powerhouse they are today.
They couldn't even compare to traditional giants like Manchester United or Liverpool.
In fact, they were arguably weaker than clubs like Leeds United and Newcastle.
Wenger took the reins, launched sweeping reforms, and led the team to a Premier League and FA Cup double in his very first full season.
Do you know what kind of feat that is?
Even Ferguson, Mourinho, and Benítez never pulled that off.
Mourinho also won a double—but it was the League Cup and not the prestigious FA Cup.
Wenger's Arsenal went on to reach their peak, engaging in epic battles with Manchester United.
His elegant, attacking style won over countless fans.
The honeymoon phase reached its peak in the 2003–04 season with the Invincibles title.
But everything changed when the club started building their new stadium.
Why did Ashley Cole leave Arsenal for Chelsea?
That infamous transfer, reviled by many fans, ultimately left the player and coach to bear the blame.
But what David Dein remembered was Wenger, furious after the transfer, shouting at him.
"That'll be the biggest regret of my entire coaching career! All because of a measly £5,000!"
"I've had enough!"
But it wasn't something Dein had the power to control.
That decision had been made by Hill-Wood and the rest of the old guard.
Many times, what fans and the media see and hear is only the tip of the iceberg—what the club deliberately chooses to reveal.
Over the past few years, Wenger had not only been tasked with securing a top-four finish each season and ensuring Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, but he also had to deal with relentless criticism. The pressure he carried was unimaginable.
Now, things had finally turned around.
With Russian billionaire Usmanov taking control of Arsenal, Wenger finally had the freedom to operate without restraint.
But just as he was ready to make the most of it, he found himself up against a new and daunting rival—Yang Cheng and his Bayswater Chinese Club.
Both were London clubs. Both played elegant, passing-oriented football.
But Yang Cheng's team was proving even more successful than Wenger's.
This brought enormous pressure on Wenger.
Even more than Mourinho's Chelsea once had.
At least back then, Wenger had the excuse that Arsenal didn't have the financial means to make big signings.
But now?
So far this season, Arsenal had faced Bayswater Chinese Club multiple times—and lost every single match.
So, even before the Champions League semi-finals began, many had already written off Wenger and his Arsenal side.
It filled him with rage.
But he could do nothing about it.
Right now, his heart was filled with conflict, unease, and anxiety.
David Dein had known Wenger since 1988, when they hit it off immediately. It was now 2011—23 years had passed.
Dein prided himself on knowing Wenger well.
And he also understood football deeply.
What Wenger was experiencing now was something every coach, every player—every person—would go through at some point.
The moment when belief begins to waver, even collapse.
Dein had been in football for decades. He'd seen many coaches blaze onto the scene with dazzling brilliance and immense talent.
Some flamed out quickly, some lasted a few years, but none—none—had done what Ferguson had.
To repeatedly break down the old version of himself and reconstruct a new one.
That takes more than just courage, resolve, and drive—it takes wisdom.
Take Benítez, for example.
Why did his final two years at Liverpool go so poorly?
Because his beliefs began to falter.
He found that the coaching framework and tactical systems that had brought him success early in his career were no longer effective.
In such times, the first instinct is always self-reflection.
What went wrong? Which player underperformed?
That's exactly why Benítez clashed so severely with Xabi Alonso.
Wasn't Mourinho the same?
Yang Cheng and Guardiola might be brilliant now, but give it a few more years—they too will hit that wall.
When their tactical systems, philosophies, and methods all stop working.
That's when the real test of a coach begins.
Whoever can adapt and endure will emerge transformed.
Isn't that what Ferguson did?
The old monster was now pressuring Manchester United's board and the Glazers to invest more, claiming he would build a new, stronger, younger Manchester United.
He was once again attempting to reinvent himself.
But Wenger was not Ferguson.
Or rather, Wenger had never possessed Ferguson's immense psychological fortitude.
Wenger was more like a witty, elegant French philosopher.
And people like that were especially prone to internal conflict and self-doubt.
"Arsène, I still remember something you told me a long time ago—about how to develop a player."
Dein had been silent for a long while before speaking again.
Wenger looked surprised, unsure what his old friend was getting at.
"You said that when a young player first joins the first team, the biggest challenge is finding his place—his role within the squad."
"But that process is full of uncertainties. Even the coach doesn't know for sure—sometimes not even the player himself. It's hard to control."
Wenger remained silent.
Because it was true.
Take Jack Wilshere, for example.
Some said he was best as a deep-lying playmaker. Yet for England, he had performed well as a number 10.
He could even play on the wing.
So what was his best position?
No one really knew.
It was like crossing a river by feeling the stones—step by step.
"There are also seasoned professionals," Dein continued, "who, in the latter stages of their careers, face the challenge of transformation. But they too don't know which direction to take, or how to get there."
He smiled at Wenger. "And you said that as a coach, you must treat players in difficult times with compassion—give them more trust and support, even when they underperform."
"And that the best help you can give them is to push them harder in training, let them try new positions, new roles—help them find their new path."
Suddenly, Wenger understood what Dein was getting at. His eyes lit up.
"Arsène, I don't know what you're thinking or what you plan to do next. But I'll repeat what I said back in 1996."
"As long as I'm on Arsenal's board, as long as I still have a voice, your position will never be in question!"
As Dein said those words, Wenger felt a surge of unshakable trust and support.
He was used to being the one offering this kind of faith to his players.
But now, David Dein was giving it to him.
And it felt… wonderful.
His heart surged with emotion, hard to calm, and he looked at Dein with genuine gratitude.
"David, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Which is more important—titles or belief?"
Dein was caught off guard.
Clearly, he hadn't expected Wenger to be wrestling with this dilemma.
But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
Of course Wenger would be the kind of person to get trapped in such a question.
Dein suddenly burst out laughing.
Wenger was bewildered.
What's so funny about that?
"Sorry, Arsène. You just sound like a kid stuck in a logic puzzle."
Wenger still didn't get it.
"This isn't an exam, and it's not a job interview. Why do we have to choose just one or the other?"
"Why can't we have both?"
Wenger was stunned.
"You saw how Ferguson eliminated Manchester City, didn't you?"
Without waiting for Wenger to reply, Dein answered himself. "Defense and counterattack!"
"Right?"
Wenger nodded.
That's exactly how it happened.
"And when he won the Champions League—wasn't it also through defense and counterattack?"
Another nod from Wenger.
"But think about it—do Ferguson's Manchester United teams strike you as defensive? Aside from a few specific matches, were they conservative?"
Of course not.
Ferguson's United were famous for aggressive, attacking football.
But it was still with counterattacking football that he won Europe's biggest prize.
"I know, Arsène. Over the years, things like ticket sales, your own footballing ideals—they've all pushed you to protect and reinforce your beliefs."
"But think of your players. They've fought alongside you all season. Think of the hundreds of thousands—millions—even tens of millions of fans who've followed you all these years."
"What you need now isn't to agonize over belief or silverware."
"Abandoning your beliefs doesn't guarantee titles. And winning a title—no matter how it's done—doesn't mean you've betrayed your beliefs. Are the two even truly in conflict?"
"What you really need to do now is help your players find the best tactical approach to beat the opponent!"
"As for victory or defeat—let the pitch decide!"
"No one will deny your worth because of a single loss, and if they do, then the problem was never you!"
Wenger's eyes, once clouded with doubt, suddenly became sharp and clear.
…
April 26, evening – Emirates Stadium, London.
Champions League Semi-Final First Leg: Arsenal vs. Bayswater Chinese Club.
Pre-match. In the dressing room.
Every Arsenal player—even those not in the matchday squad—had gathered.
The selected players stood around Wenger, while the others, including staff, filled the rest of the room, surrounding them like an inner wall.
After ten days of intense preparation, Wenger had already drilled his tactics into the players. There was nothing more he needed to teach.
Now, all that was left… was motivation.
But Wenger's opening line left the players completely confused.
"Have you ever heard of the G-14 group?"
Everyone nodded.
In European football, who hadn't?
"Then you must know, the G-14 actually had 18 clubs in it, right?"
Again, everyone nodded, though still unsure where he was going with this.
"I know the history better than anyone. The group was originally formed by 14 clubs, all of which had won the European Cup or Champions League. Every one of them was a domestic giant, representing the most powerful forces in European football at the time."
"Even UEFA was cautious when dealing with them."
The players listened in silence.
Wenger had always been methodical. Everyone at Arsenal trusted him deeply.
"In 2002, four more clubs were added to the G-14: Bayer Leverkusen from Germany, Valencia from Spain, Lyon from France… and us, Arsenal, from the Premier League."
Wenger's tone was calm, deliberate.
"This decision caused huge controversy, not just in Europe, but around the world."
"The G-14 was supposed to be for clubs that had won the Champions League. Now they were expanding. Sure, Leverkusen had reached a final and were Germany's nearly-men. Valencia had reached back-to-back finals."
"But Arsenal? On what grounds?"
When Wenger posed that question, his tone sharpened. The effect was immediate.
Everyone in the room could feel it.
Because they represented Arsenal.
Those doubts weren't just about the club—they were about them.
"Back then, people said, 'This English club's best result is being runners-up in the UEFA Cup. They've only ever made it to the Round of 16 in the Champions League. What right do they have to stand shoulder to shoulder with Europe's elite?'"
"This wasn't just a few people asking. The doubt was overwhelming."
Wenger paused, letting that resentment settle in the players' hearts.
"I hated that bias. But I couldn't refute it. Our results were poor. We hadn't won the Champions League. We hadn't even reached a final."
"So the players and I steeled ourselves. In the 03/04 season, we went unbeaten and won the Premier League. We were determined to prove that Arsenal deserved to be taken seriously."
"To make sure that every fan who supported us could proudly stand tall and shout…"
"We are Arsenal—and we deserve to stand with any footballing giant in the world!"
"We are not inferior to anyone!"
The players were fired up now—clenching fists, cheering, even breaking into spontaneous applause for their coach.
"In 2006, we reached the Champions League final. We went to Paris full of confidence."
"Everyone knew that squad had many French players, many with Ligue 1 roots. We were ready to take down Barcelona at Stade de France and bring home our first Champions League title!"
"But…"
Wenger's voice thundered with all the emotion he could muster.
"We lost! We lost to a Barça with Ronaldinho and Messi. We lost to Deco, Iniesta, and Xavi!"
"There were no excuses. They were simply better."
He raised his right hand and spread his fingers.
"Five years."
"Gentlemen, it's been five years since that night in France."
"People often ask me: which team was stronger—the Invincibles of 03/04 or the 2006 side that reached the final?"
Wenger shook his head forcefully.
"Today, here and now, I'll tell you—the answer is neither!"
All eyes widened. Everyone in the room stared at Wenger with burning intensity.
"You, standing here in front of me—you are the strongest Arsenal I've ever had!"
"Maybe you're still young. Maybe you don't have as many titles. Maybe your unbeaten streaks don't match the past—but you are the Arsenal I've poured my heart and soul into building, piece by piece!"
Wenger's passion surged. He spread his arms wide.
"I've coached for over thirty years. My entire life has been football. And deep down, I've always had a dream."
"Arsenal was founded in 1886. We have a history of over a hundred years. We have fans across London, England, Europe—even the entire world. And they all share the same dream."
"You, my players—your predecessors—Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira, Pires, Ljungberg, Campbell, Gilberto Silva… they all shared the same dream!"
The players were roaring by now.
"That dream… is the Champions League title!"
When Wenger said it, nearly everyone's eyes turned red, their heads nodding fiercely.
"We are one step away from the final. One opponent stands in our way."
"They are strong—maybe even unbeatable."
"This season, we've faced them several times and lost every time. Sometimes badly."
"But tonight, my players, I believe—you can create a miracle!"
"And I believe you can achieve what all the Arsenal players of the past longed for, but never reached!"
"Fight for yourselves. Fight for the Arsenal fans. Fight for the Champions League!"
…
From the moment Portuguese referee Pedro Proença blew the opening whistle, Yang Cheng could feel something different about Arsenal tonight.
In the past, the Gunners had always played smooth, elegant football—beautiful, but soft.
In the Premier League, they were often treated as pushovers.
But tonight… they looked like the team from the 03/04 season, every player giving it everything.
Wenger's tactics were also a departure from his norm.
Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Lloris
Defense: Clichy, Chygrynskiy, Koscielny, Sagna
Midfield: Muntari, Toulalan, Alexandre Song as the defensive trio, with Fàbregas in front
Attack: Arshavin and Van Persie
On paper, it was a defensive setup focused on counterattacks.
The lineup surprised Yang Cheng—and everyone else.
And in execution, Arsenal didn't sit deep with a rigid defense, but they were indeed cautious.
And very aggressive.
This was nothing like the elegant, composed passing-and-movement style they were known for.
Wenger's teams had always had one clear weakness—slow transitions from attack to defense. It was an old problem.
Wenger demanded his players constantly maintain spacing. While that looked fine on the pitch, in reality, it required an enormous amount of running and energy, which was also why his teams often ran into fitness issues in the latter half of the season and struggled with defensive transitions.
But tonight, Wenger had completely patched that hole.
He left the attacking responsibilities to Fàbregas, Arshavin, and Van Persie. Once possession was lost, Muntari and Alex Song pressed immediately, while Toulalan dropped quickly to shield the defense.
As it turned out, Wenger had always known how to fix his Achilles' heel—it was just a matter of tactical choices.
With a well-drilled defensive strategy and a squad willing to put their bodies on the line, Arsenal successfully repelled wave after wave of attacks from Bayswater Chinese Club.
The key was, this wasn't Mourinho's kind of "dirty" defensive football. Arsenal did commit a lot of fouls, but they weren't reckless or malicious, and their discipline in terms of bookings was excellent.
The midfield trio—Muntari, Toulalan, and Song—were all defensively solid and incredibly hard-working, which caused major headaches for Bayswater Chinese Club's usually fluid attacking setup.
By halftime, it was still 0–0.
Bayswater had dominated possession and tempo but just couldn't break through Arsenal's wall.
In the second half, the pattern remained largely the same.
In the past, Wenger's teams would collapse later in games due to a lack of squad depth.
But now, he had one of the strongest squads in the Premier League—second only to Manchester City—and his rotation was well-managed.
Most importantly, Wenger had intentionally rested players for this match, sacrificing Premier League Matchday 34 in the process.
In Matchday 33, Arsenal had drawn 1–1 at home with Liverpool, while Yang Cheng's side crushed Bolton 5–0 in the FA Cup semifinal.
Midweek, Bayswater beat Sunderland 2–0 in a makeup game.
Then, over the weekend, Yang Cheng's side lost 0–1 away to Liverpool, and Arsenal fell 1–2 at Bolton.
Both teams had clearly conserved energy.
Now, both sides were in top form, with plenty of stamina.
And Arsenal? They were playing like men possessed—matching Bayswater Chinese Club blow for blow.
Yang Cheng made substitutions, continued to encourage his players.
He knew he and his coaching staff had miscalculated.
No one had expected Wenger to go with a defensive counter-attacking setup.
It just wasn't like him at all.
And even more shocking—Wenger's defensive system was working, and the players were fighting like their lives depended on it.
Then, in the 86th minute, with both sides exhausted, Arsenal intercepted in their own half.
Substitute Yoann Gourcuff received a pass and, with a Marseille turn, spun past a pressing Modrić before lofting a perfect ball into the left side of the penalty area.
Van Persie, tightly marked by Pepe, still managed to break free and meet the descending ball with a stunning left-footed volley, smashing it into the near side of the goal.
Courtois was a fraction late to react, and the ball zipped past his waist and into the net.
1–0!
The entire Emirates Stadium exploded.
Van Persie sprinted away in ecstasy, celebrating his crucial goal.
The entire Arsenal bench cleared out, chasing after him.
The crowd was roaring. Everyone was chanting Van Persie's name.
It was a golden goal—one of immense value.
"Arsenal's performance tonight was unfamiliar… but also deeply moving."
"Every player gave everything."
"They may not be as strong as Bayswater Chinese Club on paper…"
"But tonight, they fought and earned their goal!"
"And Van Persie's incredible volley at a crucial moment gave Arsenal the first-leg advantage."
"For the Gunners, that could be a massive, massive turning point!"
"Especially with the second leg to be played at Wembley."
…
In the end, thanks to Van Persie's goal, Arsenal claimed a 1–0 home victory over Bayswater Chinese Club.
Yang Cheng's team played very well—dominating possession and rhythm, registering 23 shots—but failed to find the net.
Arsenal had only 7 shots, 2 on target, but made one count.
Yang Cheng had never imagined he would one day be on the receiving end of a classic Van Persie volley.
But more surprising than that was Wenger's transformation.
And not just to Yang Cheng—media and fans across the UK and the world were stunned.
No one expected Wenger to deploy such conservative tactics.
Sky Sports immediately commented after the match: "Wenger secured a 1-goal first-leg advantage with solid defending."
The broadcaster, a Champions League rights holder, stated that while Bayswater Chinese Club had been clearly superior in overall play, "Yang Cheng has every reason to feel hard done by—his team performed better."
The Times echoed the sentiment: "It was the conservative side that won!"
They too were shocked by Wenger's tactical shift.
"When the whole world expected a classic attacking duel, Wenger chose to abandon his principles and used a cautious counter-attacking setup to blunt Bayswater Chinese Club at the Emirates."
Even the usually Arsenal-friendly The Independent wrote, "Wenger chose between victory and football—and he chose victory."
"This was an Arsenal performance that was very un-Wenger."
Still, The Independent acknowledged that no matter what the media or fans said, no matter how much criticism or sarcasm was thrown around, the fact remained—Arsenal had secured a crucial victory.
And that first-leg lead would give them an edge heading into the second leg at Wembley.
The following day, at Old Trafford, Manchester United lost 0–2 at home to Barcelona.
Ferguson's team didn't sit back—they tried to fight fire with fire. But Guardiola's side scored twice and left with a 2–0 win.
That result meant Barça had one foot firmly in the final.
But interestingly, the media were actually more complimentary of Ferguson's United.
At the very least, the Red Devils had shown no fear. They had charged at Barça with bravery.
Meanwhile, Wenger's Arsenal came under even more scrutiny and criticism.
…
Having suffered defeat at the Emirates, Yang Cheng now truly felt the pressure.
Especially given Wenger's transformation.
Back in the Premier League, Matchday 35 was up next.
With the second leg of the Champions League semifinal coming in just three days, Yang Cheng once again fielded a rotated and reserve-heavy lineup.
And within just 7 minutes, they conceded at home.
Wolves striker Steven Fletcher broke the deadlock.
In the 27th minute, Walcott equalized for Bayswater.
The match ended in a 1–1 home draw.
Chelsea beat Tottenham 2–1 at home.
Liverpool defeated Newcastle 3–0 at Anfield.
Manchester City edged West Ham 2–1.
Arsenal, meanwhile, beat Manchester United 1–0 at home.
Wenger's side had rotated as well, but stuck with their counter-attacking setup—and it worked again.
Ferguson suffered back-to-back defeats.
After 35 rounds, Bayswater Chinese Club sat atop the Premier League with 28 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses—amassing 88 points.
Manchester City followed with 80 points in second place.
Arsenal and Liverpool were level on 77 points, ranked third and fourth respectively.
Manchester United had 66 points, and Chelsea trailed close behind with 65—placing fifth and sixth.
With only three matches remaining, Bayswater Chinese Club, despite a recent string of dropped points, still held an 8-point lead. A single draw in the next match would secure them the title early.
As for the top-four race—it was essentially over.
After United lost 0–1 to Arsenal at the Emirates, Ferguson's team was effectively ruled out of contention.
Wenger had once again employed a defensive counter-attacking setup—clearly not because he feared United, but because it was a safer, more confident approach.
Everyone knew that for United to challenge for a top-four finish, they needed to beat Arsenal.
Wenger used that desperation to his advantage and outmaneuvered Ferguson.
In back-to-back matches, Arsenal had used this counter-attacking system. It wasn't ugly, but it certainly wasn't the Arsenal of old.
Wenger had no issue with the shift.
"Sometimes, we have to make compromises between style and victory."
But he maintained that Arsenal's core identity wouldn't change.
"We're still one of the most entertaining teams in Europe to watch!"
…
May 3rd – Wembley Stadium, London.
Champions League Semi-Final, Second Leg: Bayswater Chinese Club vs. Arsenal.
Neither Yang Cheng nor Wenger made changes to their starting lineups. Both had rotated during the weekend league fixtures to rest their main players.
Right from kickoff, Bayswater Chinese Club went on the offensive, crafting several dangerous chances to test Lloris.
But the French keeper was composed and steady, giving no openings.
Wenger once again deployed his triple-defensive-midfield setup, with Arshavin, Van Persie, and Fàbregas leading the attack.
Having learned from the first leg, Yang Cheng urged his players to stay patient, dominate possession and tempo, and use passing to stretch and break down Arsenal's shape.
Bayswater opened with high-intensity attacking play and created plenty of pressure.
When it became clear that they still couldn't penetrate Arsenal's defense, Yang Cheng adjusted the tactics on the fly.
Wenger's strategy relied on his midfield four—Fàbregas and the three defensive midfielders—shutting down the heart of Bayswater's play.
They suffocated Modrić and Toni Kroos, refusing to give them time or space to dictate the game.
Yang Cheng even pushed Marcelo and Piszczek further forward, turning them into auxiliary playmakers on the flanks.
From the 32nd minute to halftime, Bayswater pinned Arsenal deep in their own half, unleashing wave after wave of attacks. But the Gunners held firm, absorbing the pressure and keeping their goal intact.
The most dangerous moment came when Gareth Bale nearly scored, but Laurent Koscielny slid in to clear the ball off the line at the last second.
The French defender slammed into the post in the process, splitting his forehead open and having to be carried off for treatment.
That moment showed Yang Cheng just how determined Arsenal were tonight.
The first half ended 0–0.
In the second half, Bayswater launched another onslaught.
After ten relentless minutes without breaking through, Yang Cheng made a change—Eden Hazard replaced Matić to boost the attack.
But Arsenal continued to hold their ground, shutting down all potential openings.
In the 75th minute, Yang Cheng brought on Giroud to partner Lewandowski in a twin-striker formation.
Arsenal, by then, were fully bunkered down. Even Van Persie and substitute Benzema—who came on for Arshavin—were tracking back deep.
By the 85th minute, even Courtois had advanced as far as the halfway line to support play.
Both sides were now throwing absolutely everything into the fight.
In the dying minutes, players from both teams started cramping up, forcing the game to stop multiple times.
But in the end, Arsenal's sheer willpower and defensive resilience carried them through.
0–0.
Bayswater Chinese Club, despite dominating, could not find a way through.
On aggregate, 0–1—Bayswater Chinese Club were eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals once again.
On the sidelines, as the final whistle blew, Yang Cheng could only shake his head with a sigh.
"We gave it everything," said assistant coach Brian Kidd, gently patting Yang Cheng on the shoulder.
Yang Cheng had sacrificed league matches to give his team the best shot at taking down Arsenal.
But these Gunners… they were insane tonight.
"At this point, I'm seriously wondering if they're on something," Yang Cheng muttered in disbelief.
Was this really the same Arsenal that had long been criticized for being too soft?
It was absurd.
"Wenger was never a saint. Back in the day, his Arsenal was the dirtiest team in the Premier League—no question. They also had one of the best defenses," Brian Kidd chuckled bitterly.
"For him, going back to a more conservative style… it's just business as usual."
Yang Cheng knew that, but he still struggled to believe it.
"He's been preaching beautiful football for years. Did a horse kick his head? Or is someone pressuring him to do this?"
"Must be the Arsenal board," Brian Kidd guessed.
But unless Wenger said it himself, no one could really know.
Yang Cheng let out another long sigh.
He'd been dreaming of a quadruple.
But now… he'd have to settle for a treble.
Wenger had snatched one of his trophies right out from under him.
And of all things—it was the Champions League!
Out of courtesy, Yang Cheng still walked over to shake Wenger's hand, but inside, he was fuming.
"I'm telling you, Arsène… if you let Barça walk out of here with the Champions League, don't ever show your face to me again!" he growled.
Wenger just laughed.
Winning felt incredible.
Why hadn't he embraced this feeling sooner?
"Don't worry, Yang Cheng. Barça's a lot easier to deal with than you guys."
Wenger looked especially confident.
But for some reason, Yang Cheng couldn't shake a strange feeling.
This old man… had gone rogue.
He was becoming more and more like Ferguson.
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