Football Dynasty

Since arriving in England, Wenger had faced isolation and criticism from both the media and his peers. Many perceived his elegance as a form of eccentricity, making him stand out even among Premier League managers. Outsiders interpreted his uniqueness as a declaration of individuality, which naturally attracted scrutiny and disdain.

At Maine Road Stadium, Wenger met O'Neill before the two shook hands.

"Life in London is harder than I imagined," Wenger sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice.

O'Neill smiled and replied, "Yeah, there are many enemies for a head coach here, and the media and public are a big part of that."

Wenger furrowed his brow. "Why does it seem like everyone is against me? It's quite strange."

"It is what it is. In this environment, there are deep-rooted forces that want outsiders to conform to their traditions. If you don't play along, you become the target."

Wenger could only nod. "I heard Mr. Richard isn't here this time? Is he still in America for business?"

Richard, as the youngest billionaire, was definitely a target for the media, so his business trips to America were no longer a secret.

"Yes, he's currently on a work trip to America," O'Neill confirmed.

Wenger nodded before he and O'Neill patted each other on the arm, then returned to their respective coaching areas.

In the Sky Sports commentary commentary room.

"Tonight, the Gunners are visiting Maine Road Stadium to take on league leaders Manchester City. If we could turn back time, I doubt anyone would believe the current Arsenal could climb from fifth place to second in less than two months. Martin, Arsenal might even challenge for the Premier League title—provided they maintain their consistency."

"Arsenal's league position hasn't changed much compared to last year. The difference is that this season, Wenger has given more opportunities to young players in cup matches, while keeping a stable starting lineup for the league. On top of that, the arrival of their new signings has significantly boosted their attacking efficiency. Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars, in particular, have been irreplaceable."

"True, Andy. Also, have you noticed that many teams this season have changed their style of play? While they still rely on counterattacking, they've moved away from the traditional English long balls in favor of European-style ground passing. Manchester City, for example, have been outstanding this season. Martin O'Neill's side employs a defensive counterattacking style but prefers to keep the ball on the ground and attack down the wings. Middlesbrough are also undergoing changes; they've brought in several technically gifted players, but Robson's attempts to revamp the team seem to be hitting obstacles and they now find themselves fighting to avoid relegation."

While the two commentators continued their discussion, the players took to the field. In the stands, many fans showed their love for Arsenal's attacking trident — Overmars, Bergkamp, and Anelka.

But not all the banners were cheerful. Some supporters held up signs expressing anger toward Paul Merson following the news that he would be moving to Middlesbrough this winter. One read: "Leave Arsenal, you're not worthy of the shirt."

They felt he had betrayed Arsenal—a club that had nurtured his career, raising his profile from an unknown player to a household name. Fans can be quick to show selfish emotions — it's part of human nature.

On the sidelines.

"Are you ready?" O'Neill asked, placing his hand on Pires' shoulder.

Pires had spent most of the first half of the season at City sitting on the bench. He couldn't displace Okocha, who had become the team's main attacking threat on the right flank.

On the pitch, Zidane and Makélélé greeted Vieira, the three sharing a moment of nostalgia about their time together before moving to England.

All three Frenchmen had originally been on Richard's transfer shortlist for the season, but unexpectedly, Vieira slipped through his grasp. At first, Richard thought Vieira rejected City because of the fierce competition in City's midfield, or perhaps due to other personal reasons.

"I am delighted to be joining Arsenal at the same time as Mr. Wenger becomes their coach. Being able to speak French to him will make life a lot easier for me," Vieira had said.

Vieira's refusal to join City — and to reunite with Zidane and Makélélé — puzzled the media, who speculated about a possible rift between him and his former teammates. It wasn't until Vieira's first media interview that the truth emerged.

With manager Bruce Rioch dismissed before the season began, it was suggested that Arsenal had been influenced by external forces. Vieira later revealed that he signed for Arsenal because his compatriot Arsène Wenger was going to be the club's next manager.

Manchester City lined up with goalkeeper Buffon; a backline of Zanetti, Thuram, Cannavaro, and Capdevilla; three midfielders — Makélélé, Pirlo, and Zidane — and an attacking trio of Ronaldo, Trezeguet, and Pires.

On Arsenal's side, even under Wenger, their basic formation had remained largely unchanged from the past two years. The lineup featured goalkeeper Seaman; five defenders — Dixon, Bould, Adams, Keown, and Winterburn; three midfielders — Parlour, Petit, and Overmars; and two forwards — Anelka and Bergkamp.

PHWEEE!

As soon as the match began, Arsenal retreated in full, compressing their lines into their own half while maintaining a clear structure.

Parlour and Petit shielded the central area, while the five defenders formed a tightly knit backline. Anelka and Bergkamp positioned themselves one behind the other, with Bergkamp operating more like a secondary striker, crucial for both organizing the attack and providing a scoring threat.

Due to Arsenal's deep defensive stance, their numerical superiority in midfield and defense made it difficult for Pirlo to find space to advance. Instead, he stationed himself in midfield, coolly orchestrating play like a commander. In this setup, Pirlo wasn't the most eye-catching player — he rarely assisted or scored directly. Rather, he was the one making subtle yet decisive switches, moving City's attacks toward the opponent's most vulnerable defensive areas.

Without dwelling on the ball, Pirlo exchanged a quick one-two with Makélélé to create space. Receiving the return pass on the right side of midfield, he suddenly sent a precise, grounded through ball diagonally to the left flank.

The pass sliced through a narrow lane, reaching Capdevila, who immediately surged forward with pace. At the same time, Larsson drifted toward the flank, drawing Dixon's attention, while Zidane pushed up in support. Capdevila slipped the ball to Zizou, who, with a deft touch, threaded it between Arsenal's fullback and center-back.

At just the right moment, Larsson made a diagonal run into the box. Bould rushed in to defend, but Larsson controlled the ball with one touch before flicking it toward the top-right corner of Arsenal's goal.

Seaman, back on the pitch after his injury, launched himself dramatically and managed to push the ball over the bar with one hand.

"What a world-class save! Larsson's shot was spectacular, and Seaman's save was brilliant!"

A collective gasp swept through the stands, quickly followed by a wave of applause.

O'Neill stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, appreciating Pirlo's influence on the attack. His distribution had sparked the move, exploiting Arsenal's defensive weakness. His lateral switches forced Arsenal's formation to shift significantly, creating gaps. Other midfielders might have been able to complete such passes, but spotting the weakness on the left while positioned on the right — and executing it with precision — was a rarer skill.

Rather than sending the ball directly into the danger zone, Pirlo opted for a tactical approach from the corner. He played it short to Zanetti, who had slipped into the right flank.

After controlling the ball, the Argentine delivered a curling cross to the far post. The sudden change of tempo disrupted Arsenal's defensive shape.

The delivery was threatening — the ball arced perfectly toward the far post. Arsenal's defenders, who had pushed forward when the corner was first taken, were caught backtracking, reacting a second too late.

Arriving unmarked at the far post, Capdevila powered a header toward goal. Just as he began to celebrate, the linesman's flag shot up for offside.

Capdevila shook his head and jogged back toward his half.

There was no doubt it was offside, but the call wasn't against Capdevila — it was Trezeguet, who had failed to track Arsenal's defensive line and moved too early when Zanetti played the ball. Capdevila had timed his late run perfectly, but in those days, the offside interpretation still penalized such situations.

O'Neill didn't complain; it was the rule everyone knew, and there was no suggestion of unfair treatment — that was indisputable.

Arsenal shifted seamlessly from defense to attack, moving the ball out from the back with fluid precision, their players' runs weaving across the pitch like a graceful dance of butterflies.

Parlour fed the ball to the advancing Petit, who quickly released it to Overmars bursting down the wing. Capdevila had already tracked back, while Bergkamp drifted into the pocket between Makélélé and the defensive line, with Anelka tightly marked by Cannavaro.

"Here!"

The elusive Bergkamp slipped past Makélélé, but the Frenchman refused to give up, chasing hard from behind. As Bergkamp carried the ball forward, even Zidane was drawn back to help defend on the flank. Just as Makélélé and Zidane were about to close him down, Bergkamp, instead of trying to outrun them, threaded a sharp pass into the center.

It found Anelka — immediately swarmed by Cannavaro and Thuram. Realizing he was losing the two-on-one tussle, Anelka instinctively used his body to barge between them, knocking both defenders off balance as the ball ricocheted free.

"Referee!" Cannavaro shouted, appealing for a foul.

The collision was heavy, but neither side appeared to gain a clear advantage, making it unlikely for the referee to brandish a card. However, the problem was that Anelka had fallen inside City's penalty box, which meant...

Just as the official raised his whistle to his lips…

Suddenly, the floodlights at Maine Road went out.

…!!!