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Chapter 98: Manchester United vs Arsenal 2
🕑 Added 2025-07-19 15:45:59 +0000 UTCThe intense pace of the match was already draining the players’ energy.
Even though it was still the first half, several were visibly gasping for breath — a clear sign of just how relentless the tempo had been.
At that moment, Manchester United suddenly played a piercing through ball.
It came from Rooney, who capitalised on a misplaced touch by Arteta to steal possession.
Without hesitation, Rooney sent a defence-splitting pass straight into Arsenal’s exposed back line.
Arsenal had been pressing high, and their defenders were caught too far up the pitch.
Rooney’s pass sliced through their shape, and Van Persie was already sprinting in pursuit, with Gibbs chasing hard behind him.
Gibbs ran at full tilt, but Van Persie got there first, stretching to reach the ball and driving forward.
“Van Persie! This is a big chance!”
Sky Sports’ Martin Taylor nearly leapt from his seat, voice rising with the moment.
United fans roared in expectation as Van Persie pushed towards the goal, Gibbs still clinging on doggedly.
Both players began to slow under the strain of their duel, with Gibbs trying desperately to put him off.
And then, Martin Taylor spotted something out of the corner of his eye.
A figure, lean and determined, was tearing back from midfield like a man possessed.
“Kai! Look at this recovery!” called Alan Smith.
Van Persie, still wrestling with Gibbs, tried a sudden stop-and-go, leaving Gibbs sliding past him helplessly.
He readied himself to knock the ball forward — but in the very next instant, another figure streaked in front of him.
One powerful challenge later, the ball was hoofed safely out over the byline, and Van Persie went sprawling.
He turned angrily to see the number 4 on the back of the retreating figure.
“Him again!”
Van Persie fumed.
Kai jogged to a stop, glancing back to ensure the ball was out of play before exhaling and looking up towards the goal.
Szczesny was already giving him a thumbs-up from the six-yard box.
The Arsenal keeper had been ready to rush out — but seeing Kai’s sprint, he held his position, trusting his teammate to recover in time.
“It’s always him!”
“Why does he keep ruining our attacks?!”
Frustrated United fans groaned and clutched their heads.
Meanwhile, in one corner of Old Trafford, the away section of Arsenal fans erupted in loud, appreciative applause.
And back in London, at the Oak Bar, Billy and the lads shot to their feet, beer glasses sloshing.
“That’s it! Brilliant work!” shouted Billy, pumping his fist.
“He got back just in time!”
“Scared the life out of me, that did!”
“He’s not faster, mate — everyone else is just knackered. Look at ’em!”
On the touchline, the two managers’ reactions couldn’t have been more different.
Ferguson’s face darkened as he muttered, “Bloody hell.”
Wenger, on the other hand, broke into a broad smile and clapped. “Magnifique!”
Then, almost simultaneously, both men sprinting with nitro in their shoes, barking at the fourth official.
“That’s a foul!” Ferguson roared.
“Fair challenge!” Wenger countered.
The referee ultimately judged it a fair collision and awarded United a corner.
On the pitch, Kai was still shouting instructions:
“Get back! Everyone back! Run! They’re just as tired as we are — this is about who’s got more left in the tank!”
His teammates dropped back into position.
United’s corner swung in, bodies clashed in the box, and Koscielny rose highest to head clear, finding Arteta on the edge.
Arteta took one touch and turned, driving forward.
Behind him, Kai’s voice rang out again:
“Go! Run! Now!”
Cazorla, Podolski, Suarez, Walcott — all turned and burst forward.
The United defenders, caught off guard, scrambled to recover.
“Get back! Everyone back!” one of them shouted, but Arsenal’s counter was already in full flow.
Arteta advanced and slipped the ball to Kai in midfield.
Kai barely held it, immediately releasing Walcott down the right flank to exploit his speed.
The forwards poured into the box.
Walcott whipped in a low cross, slightly behind Kai’s run.
Kai stretched his leg to hook the ball, but left it at the last second.
It threw the retreating Red Devils defenders off.
That faint dummy was all Podolski needed, arriving late and smashing a low, outside-foot volley between Ferdinand’s legs and into the net.
“Koscielny clears his lines, Arteta picks it up — here comes Arsenal!”
Martin Taylor’s voice was rising now on Sky Sports.
“Six of them charging forward — look at this!”
“It’s Kai — quick touch — finds Walcott — crossed in — missed Kai… but here’s Podolski!!”
Alan Smith jumped in, his voice breaking into a grin.
“Oh, what a finish! Goooooooooaaaal! Podolski! Brilliant! The German makes it two for the Gunners!”
Martin Taylor added with excitement: “Oh my word, Arsenal have turned it around at Old Trafford! They’ve taken the lead!”
“They might just have knocked United off their perch here!”
In the away section, Arsenal fans went berserk, scarves waving and voices echoing through the Theatre of Dreams.
And hundreds of miles away in the Oak Bar, the entire room was a scene of chaos — fans leaping, spilling pints, roaring their lungs out.
Nobody cared about the drinks soaking the floor.
They had done it.
They’d taken the lead at Old Trafford.
The air reeked of beer, sweat, and euphoria as the chants rose higher:
“Come on, you Gunners!”
“Come on, you Gunners!”
“Come on, you Gunners!”
On the pitch, Podolski wheeled away in celebration arms raised to the sky.
Arsenal had gone mad.
Walcott and Kai tackled Podolski to the ground in celebration.
Soon, Suarez and the others piled on around them.
“Verdammte Hölle! I thought you were going to touch it!”
“Next time, give us a signal. Had me fooled there!”
“How could you think that?” Kai replied, grinning through his heavy breaths.
“Doesn’t matter now — goal’s a goal! Lucas!”
Podolski, beaming, waved his arms toward the away fans, soaking in the moment. They’d taken the lead at Old Trafford.
On the sidelines, Wenger sprang up as the ball hit the net, pumping both fists in delight, his feet bouncing in place with boyish glee.
Pat rushed over and wrapped his arms around him, the two of them laughing as they celebrated.
Ferguson, meanwhile, looked ashen, his jaw tight as he chewed his gum furiously, eyes locked on Wenger’s jubilation. It looked as though the famous hairdryer was warming up already.
Back on the pitch, the Arsenal players finally untangled themselves and jogged back toward their half. But nobody dared relax yet. They all knew Manchester United’s counterpunch was no joke.
And sure enough, United came roaring back after the restart, throwing bodies forward in a frenzy of aggression. Every attack carried that trademark United urgency, desperate to level the score.
Kai pushed himself to the limit, running, closing down, intercepting passes. His calves were trembling now, and pain was creeping up his thighs — signs his muscles were hitting their breaking point.
But he didn’t stop.
He couldn’t.
On the broadcast, Martin Taylor’s voice rang with admiration: “Look at Kai — he just keeps running into the danger zone. He’s everywhere tonight!”
Alan Smith chimed in: “Incredible work rate. You can see he’s exhausted, but he’s still throwing himself at everything. That’s some serious grit from the youngster.”
Taylor nodded: “And he’s kept it up all game.”
Smith added more solemnly: “Wenger may want to think about resting him soon, though. He’s only 19 — his body’s not fully developed yet. Playing every minute like this could leave its mark.”
Martin agreed quietly: “True. But right now Arsenal just can’t do without his defensive presence.”
On the field, Kai kept pushing through the burning pain, covering ground, barking orders. But the United attacks kept coming.
In the 44th minute, Van Persie drew the defenders toward him before slipping a diagonal ball to Rooney outside the box.
Rooney didn’t hesitate — he hit it first-time, smashing a powerful drive that ripped past Szczesny and into the Arsenal net.
The home crowd exploded as the ball bulged the net, and United equalised just before the break. A stunning strike — and the scoreline stood at 2–2 going into halftime.
Arsenal had more battles ahead of them.
