Chapter 732 - 135: Three-Game Winning Streak! Unstoppable! Shocking Massacre! Overwhelming Victory! Top-Tier Defensive Midfielder and Winter Break Signings!

As for Arsenal... after this round of matches, the media’s assessment of the Gunners remained a mixed bag.

The positive takeaway was their ability to mount comebacks. The Daily Mail, for example, noted that Wenger’s team was gradually overcoming their historical struggle with playing from behind. This was evident in their progression from a narrow 4-5 loss to Manchester United, to a 5-4 victory over Blackburn, and now a 4-3 comeback win against Tottenham Hotspur in this round.

The Gunners’ defense was genuinely abysmal, yet their attacking firepower was undeniably potent! They played brilliantly at home but were utterly dreadful on the road! This created a team of two extremes.

Some media outlets saw the Gunners’ progress in adversity, noting the team’s growing cohesion and the gradual formation of a squad centered around Wang Shuo. However, others argued that Wenger’s defense was a complete disaster. Many even boldly predicted that if the Gunners didn’t urgently fix their backline, winning the title would be impossible.

"Wang Shuo will eventually hit a goal drought or experience a dip in form!" they warned.

Wenger himself was clearly aware of this. The day after the Tottenham match, the players dispersed to report to their respective national teams as the Premier League paused for a two-week international break.

Wang Shuo took advantage of these two weeks to busy himself with shooting commercials, attending promotional events, and the like. Upon returning to London, before he could even head back to the Colney Training Base, he received a call from Wenger asking him out.

The two met at an upscale café in Hampstead.

"From your perspective, what do you think is the difference between our team and Dortmund on a defensive level?" Wenger didn’t bother with pleasantries, getting straight to the point as soon as they met.

Wang Shuo was a bit surprised, but seeing that Wenger was genuinely asking, he thought hard for a moment. Opening up once he organized his thoughts, he said, "I think the differences are quite significant, mainly in terms of pressing and applying pressure high up the pitch.

"Defensively, Dortmund uses a 4-2-3-1 formation. Within their double pivot, one pushes up while the other drops deep. You’ll notice that Sven Bender rarely makes forward runs; if necessary, he’ll even drop back into the center-back position.

"You see, one major similarity we share with Dortmund is that our full-backs actively push up to attack, sometimes even aggressively.

"But when the full-backs push up, one of Dortmund’s defensive midfielders will definitely drop back. The center-backs then pull out to the flanks, maximizing their cover for the gaps left behind by the advancing full-backs."

Wenger understood what Wang Shuo meant. "We used to have players like that—Gilberto Silva, and... Alexandre Song from last season."

"Exactly, but not anymore," Wang Shuo said, looking at Wenger tentatively. He wanted to figure out what the manager was thinking before deciding whether to continue. This was just how he navigated his working relationship with his coach.

"Tell me about Song," Wenger said, nodding at Wang Shuo to gesture for him to speak freely.

Getting the hint, Wang Shuo immediately laid it bare. "Personally, I feel he is only one step away from becoming a top-tier defensive midfielder. He’s much better than Sven Bender."

Wenger’s eyes lit up. This was practically identical to his own assessment. What surprised him was how accurate the young Wang Shuo’s eye for talent was. Then again, it made sense on second thought. Who was Wang Shuo? At his level, how could he not recognize the varying skill levels of his teammates?

"As you can tell, in our tactical system, the midfield is absolutely crucial. The passing of the torch among midfielders is something I have always highly valued," Wenger said. "If Fabregas hadn’t stepped up, Vieira wouldn’t have left. Gilberto Silva only departed the team when Alexandre Song was more or less ready to take over.

"In between, I even wanted to develop Lass Diarra for a time, but that kid was an unruly troublemaker."

Wang Shuo was aware of what had happened during that period. That was why he always said Wenger had a fantastic eye for talent. However, developing a young player wasn’t just about potential and innate talent. This was precisely why many managers simply disliked nurturing young prospects.

"He became a regular starter in the summer of 2008," Wenger continued, letting out a soft sigh. "Starting in 2009, he improved year by year, spending two consecutive seasons as the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League. You’re right. I also think he’s just one step away from being a world-class defensive midfielder."

But he was still missing that one crucial step!

Wang Shuo heard the unspoken implication in Wenger’s words. This season, Alexandre Song had clearly derailed from his original trajectory. How to put it? He wanted more!

This all started with his contract renewal in 2009. As Amunia had mentioned to Wang Shuo before, Alexandre Song had over four hundred extended family members to support. These people were all idle and lazy; they didn’t go out to work and entirely relied on Alexandre Song to get by. Unable to harden his heart and sever familial ties like Adebayor did, Alexandre Song was left completely broke.

When he arrived at Arsenal in 2006, his salary was extremely low, making life a struggle. In November 2009, prioritizing stability, he renewed his contract with the club, unexpectedly signing a massive six-year deal that wouldn’t expire until 2015. Then came the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons, where Alexandre Song delivered two consecutive years of highlight-reel performances.

During this time, he was arguably the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League. Bar none. Even more remarkably, he was a dual threat; both his defensive metrics and passing stats were among the absolute elite.