"Hello, everyone, and welcome to the twentieth round of the 2010-2011 Premier League season. This match is between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic."
"I'm your old friend james, and sitting beside me is larry."
"Hello, everyone, I'm Larry."
"Let's first take a look at the starting lineups for both teams."
"First, the home team, Wigan Athletic. Wigan Athletic is using a 4-4-2 formation for this match."
"Goalkeeper: Ali Al-Habsi."
"Defenders: Alcaraz, Steve Gohouri, Stam, Gary Caldwell."
"Midfielders: Cleverley, Diame, Watson, Thomas."
"Forwards: N'Zogbia, Rodallega."
"The away team, Arsenal, is using a 4-3-3 formation."
"Goalkeeper: Szczęsny."
"Defenders: Sagna, Varane, Koscielny, Eboue."
"Midfielders: Blaise Matuidi, Diaby, Rosicky."
"Forwards: Hazard, Chamakh, Arshavin."
"We can see that since Arsenal just played a League match against Chelsea the day before yesterday, half of the starting lineup for this match are substitute players."
"Players like Fly, Nasri, Wilshere, and Clichy, who are usually regular starters, are all on the bench."
"Van Persie and Cesc Fàbregas didn't even make the 18-man squad for this match, which is really risky."
"It seems Arsène Wenger thinks this match against Wigan Athletic is a sure win."
As a Liverpool fan, james felt a pang of sadness seeing Arsenal dare to use their players like this in the League, especially when he thought about his own team, the Red Army Liverpool, who had just escaped the relegation zone.
Looking at other teams and then at Liverpool, james couldn't even be bothered to complain.
He even had a thought that Arsenal would mess up this match as punishment for underestimating their opponent.
But just as james had this thought, his eyes casually swept over to Fly, who was sitting on the bench laughing with Wilshere, and the idea immediately vanished from his mind.
What a joke?
Arsène Wenger had put Fly in the squad.
With such a great god sitting there, even if something unexpected happened to Arsenal's starting lineup, there would be someone to step in and save the day.
Thinking of this, james sighed helplessly: "Ah, I really envy teams with superstars..."
After the match started, whether or not god heard james's thoughts, the home team Wigan Athletic immediately got off to a perfect start.
In the 3rd minute of the match, a through ball passed into the Arsenal penalty area by N'Zogbia was accidentally handled by Varane, and the Main Referee immediately awarded Wigan Athletic a penalty.
Even though Varane repeatedly argued that his arm had not extended the defensive area, the Main Referee simply wouldn't listen and even gave Varane a verbal warning.
Fly, who was watching all of this from the sidelines, thought to himself: 'The doggone Football Association is at it again...'
Looking at Arsène Wenger, who was shaking his head and smiling wryly in the technical area, Fly guessed that the old man probably realized this as well.
Arsenal's lead in points was simply too large now, and the Football Association would definitely try to suppress them in every possible way.
Matches like this, where Arsenal didn't field their full starting lineup due to the dense schedule, were the best time for them to operate.
Because without their full starting lineup, the gap in hard strength between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic was definitely narrowed.
In other words, the probability of Wigan Athletic getting points against Arsenal increased.
At this time, as long as the referee also stepped in to help, they might be able to steal the three points that Arsenal were determined to get.
It has to be said that the Football Association was also racking their brains to prevent Arsenal from completely killing the suspense of this season's Premier League.
Wigan Athletic's first penalty taker, Watson, took the football, stood firm, and faced the ready Szczęsny. The moment the referee blew the whistle, he immediately took a big stride forward and unleashed a powerful shot, the football flying straight into the top right corner.
A world-class penalty, something any goalkeeper would be powerless against...
Wigan Athletic took a 1-0 lead over Arsenal with Watson's penalty at the start.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"
"Number 8, Watson!!!"
"I didn't expect the goal to come so early in this match, and the key is that the scoring team is Wigan Athletic, not Arsenal, which many people didn't expect before the match."
"Wigan Athletic, who has been in the lower half of the table this season, facing the undefeated king of the League this season, Arsenal, almost everyone except Wigan Athletic fans and Arsenal's haters didn't think this would be a one-sided match."
"But who would have thought that Wigan Athletic would score at the start? This is really too unexpected."
"But this is also good, the outcome of this match seems to have suspense, and it won't be easy for Arsenal to get all three points."
Seeing his team concede a goal right at the start, Arsène Wenger shook his head helplessly.
Was it that difficult for him to let the starters rest?
Couldn't the other players step up?
When it rains, it pours. Arsenal's luck in this match was destined to be bad from the very beginning...
In the 27th minute of the match.
Diaby was fouled from behind by Wigan Athletic midfielder Cleverley during a tackle, and he immediately fell to the ground, unable to get up.
"Oh my god! Cleverley has brought down Diaby, it looks like the situation is not good, Diaby hasn't gotten up for a while, the Main Referee is coming over to ask..."
"Oh, god, the medical team is on the field, Diaby is being carried off on a stretcher, this is really unfortunate news."
"You know, after being out for a month with an injury, Diaby was fouled again just after returning to the pitch, this is really too unlucky."
"Look at Arsène on the sidelines, the Frenchman is roaring furiously at the Fourth Official, he seems quite angry."
"But this is also understandable, after all, Arsenal's squad depth is indeed relatively weak, and they cannot withstand frequent and long-term injuries to players."
After putting pressure on the referee, Arsène Wenger was forced to bring on Wilshere early.
Fly, who was watching the match from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel speechless at this scene.
It has to be said, isn't this Diaby a bit too fragile?
He just recovered from an injury, and now he's out again?
However, thinking of Diaby's ridiculously extreme injury history in his previous life, Fly could only complain helplessly.
If you were to choose the most fragile player in football, it would undoubtedly be this guy Diaby.
This guy was too exaggerated.
No player from a strong team has ever been as fragile as him.
Whether it was Vermaelen during his time at Barcelona or Hazard during his time at Real Madrid, compared to Diaby, they were iron men.
Perhaps god really wanted to stop Arsenal.
In the 35th minute of the match.
Wigan Athletic defender Alcaraz crossed from a corner kick, and forward N'Zogbia headed the ball into the net in the crowd, giving Wigan Athletic a 2-0 lead over Arsenal.
"Oh my god, N'Zogbia, another goal!!!"
"My god, the match has only been going on for 35 minutes, and Wigan Athletic is already leading Arsenal 2-0 at home, who would have thought of this before the match?"
Martin Tyler was truly stunned by the way this match was unfolding...
Andy Gray, who was next to him, shook his head and pointed out Arsenal's biggest current problem:
"It's the same old story, although Arsenal's record is very good now, their problems have always been very obvious, their weak bench makes them unable to withstand any injury setbacks."
"Although some people may not be happy to hear this, I still think that the severe cold wave that swept across the United Kingdom this time helped Arsenal, as Arsenal players were able to take this opportunity to rest well."
"If there hadn't been any unexpected events this year, and the Christmas schedule had proceeded as usual, I estimate that there would have been many more names on Arsenal's injury list by now."
Seeing his team already trailing 0-2 before the end of the first half, Arsène Wenger's face was very grim.
He never expected that Arsenal, using a half-starter, half-substitute lineup against an unremarkable Premier League team in the lower half of the table, would be beaten into this state.
Arsène Wenger couldn't accept it!
If Arsenal's substitutes were of this level, how could Arsenal compete on multiple fronts in the second half of the season?
Thinking of this, Arsène Wenger couldn't help but rub his temples.
He was having a headache now and needed to take a moment.
Fortunately, at a crucial moment, Arsenal players seemed to hear Arsène Wenger's thoughts and quickly proved themselves.
In the 39th minute of the match.
Chamakh completed a steal in the Wigan Athletic half, and Arsenal's immediate counterattack came swiftly.
Facing the defense of the Wigan Athletic defenders, Chamakh passed the ball to Arshavin on the right side of the penalty area.
After receiving the ball, the Tsar first made a fake shot, and then immediately a cut inside. With the Wigan Athletic defender following closely, Arshavin seized the opportunity and curled a shot, the football drawing a beautiful arc in the air and dropping directly into the top left corner of the goal.
Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Al-Habsi could only sigh in admiration at this beautiful cut-in shot.
With the Tsar's goal, Arsenal pulled one back, making it 1-2.
"GOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"
"Number 23, Arshavin!!!"
"Just as Arsenal was in trouble, at the crucial moment, the Russian stepped up. With a sharp long-range shot, he pierced the goal guarded by the Omani."
"Arsenal pulls one back, 1-2, and the suspense of the match is back. Arsenal doesn't want to give up this match so easily."
Finally, with a shot from outside the penalty area by Chamakh being blocked by a defender, Wigan Athletic led Arsenal 2-1 at halftime.
In the dressing room at halftime, Arsène Wenger reminded the players not to rush, to gradually gain control of the match's rhythm, and then slowly look for opportunities to equalize and eventually take the lead.
When facing the somewhat guilty Varane, the old man gave him affirmation:
"Rafael, well done, it was just an unintentional handball, it's no big deal, your other defensive work was very good!"
"Any world-class defender will make mistakes, it's normal, don't take it to heart."
Varane nodded upon hearing this and said seriously: "I understand, Boss, I'll be careful."
The 15-minute halftime break passed in a flash, and the Arsenal and Wigan Athletic players returned to the pitch.
After the second half began, Arsène Wenger's original plan immediately became unfeasible.
In the 51st minute of the match.
Wigan Athletic forward Rodallega sent a cross from the byline, and the low and fast football zipped to the front of the goal in an instant.
To prevent N'Zogbia from getting to the ball behind him, Koscielny stuck out his thigh and unfortunately ended up knocking the football into his own goal.
Wigan Athletic took a two-goal lead over Arsenal again, making it 3-1, thanks to Koscielny's own goal.
Arsenal's situation in this match instantly became precarious...