Chapter 770: Last-Minute Equalizer! Sanction FIFA! Wang Shuo, What Do You Want? A Strong Backing to Remain Invincible!

Chapter 770: Chapter 140: Last-Minute Equalizer! Sanction FIFA! Wang Shuo, What Do You Want? A Strong Backing to Remain Invincible!

Moreover, the goalkeeper would undoubtedly focus heavily on the right side.

Aiming for the left would be insane. If he actually struck it there, Joe Hart wouldn’t even need to move; he could swat it away with a simple block. Therefore, the most probable trajectory was the right side.

Of course, it all depended on his on-the-spot judgment. Coincidentally, a small gap had been left in the defensive wall, giving Joe Hart a clear view of Wang Shuo’s positioning and movements.

Once everything was ready, referee Phil Dowd blew his whistle, and Wang Shuo began his run-up.

Behind the far-right end of the wall, two Manchester City players were rapidly tracking back, ready to sprint to the right side of the goal to clear any rebounds as a precaution. Meanwhile, Wang Shuo’s run-up trajectory and body language made it blindingly obvious that he intended to strike the ball with his left foot toward the right side of the net.

Reading this, Joe Hart took a massive lateral step to his right along the goal line to maximize his coverage for a dive to that side.

Wang Shuo had also been observing Joe Hart’s movements all along. Seeing the goalkeeper shift to the right, he rejoiced inwardly. As he planted his right foot firmly, supporting his leaning body, he pulled back his left leg to strike—then abruptly changed his technique at the very last fraction of a second. Instead of curling the ball into the top right corner, he drove it directly with his laces toward the top left corner.

Manchester City’s wall jumped in unison. The gap they had originally left for Joe Hart to observe the play widened. Now, this very trajectory became the perfect channel for Wang Shuo’s free-kick to blast into the top left corner.

The ball exploded off Wang Shuo’s foot, carving a parabolic arc straight into the top left corner. It practically grazed the intersection of the crossbar and the left post before plunging into the Manchester City net.

Joe Hart had been primed and ready, poised to launch himself to the right. To his utter shock, the ball went left. Before he could even muster a reaction, it was already in.

“GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

“A spectacular direct free-kick pierces through Manchester City’s goal at a crucial moment!

“What an unbelievable goal!

“A direct free-kick from Wang Shuo in the 93rd minute of stoppage time!

“Goalkeeper Joe Hart has been phenomenal throughout the entire match, but he misjudged this vital final save!

“The ball went straight into the top left dead angle!

“Let’s look at this goal again. Incredibly fast, and incredibly lethal!

“This is Wang Shuo’s direct free-kick!”

After scoring, Wang Shuo ecstatically sprinted off the pitch, making a mad dash toward the stands where the Arsenal fans were gathered to celebrate. The other Gunners chased after him, wrapping him in a massive group hug.

The scoreline on the scoreboard changed from 1-0 to 1-1. For an away game, it was a bit of a pity for Arsenal, but it was already considered a solid result.

In the end, thanks to Wang Shuo’s last-minute goal, Arsenal secured a thrilling 1-1 equalizer away against Manchester City.

Following the match, Wang Shuo once again received overwhelming praise. However, the Gunners’ left-wing defense continued to draw criticism; the conceded goal had originated from a Manchester City counterattack targeting that very side.

Throughout the game, both teams performed at an exceptionally high level. The shot count was 14 to 15, with Arsenal holding a slight edge. In terms of possession, the Gunners enjoyed a clear advantage with 57 percent against 43 percent. Yet, when it came to tackles, Manchester City contributed a staggering 33. This starkly highlighted the difference in the two teams’ playing styles.

Although Manchester City had more tackles, their success rate was only just over sixty percent. Arsenal, on the other hand, made 24 tackles with a success rate exceeding seventy percent. This, in turn, proved that the Gunners’ passing and moving coordination was growing increasingly cohesive.

Since Manchester City had lost 2-1 away to Chelsea in the previous round, the completion of sixteen rounds of matches saw Arsenal sitting at the top of the table with 43 points from 14 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Manchester City was in second place with 39 points from 12 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss.

Following their disastrous 6-1 away defeat to Manchester City in the ninth round, Manchester United had highly successfully steamrolled weaker opponents in their last seven matches, racking up an unbeaten run of six wins and one draw. Their sole draw was a 1-1 tie at home against Newcastle. As a result, Manchester United also stood at 12 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss, accumulating 39 points. However, due to goal difference, they had to settle for a position beneath Manchester City.

Currently sitting in fourth place was Tottenham Hotspur with 34 points, having already fallen behind the leading pack.

Just as Ferguson had stated, a four-point lead was by no means a safe cushion for the Gunners. The whole world knew that the first half of the season was always Arsenal’s forte. The real challenge awaited them in the second half.

“If Wenger’s team can maintain their current lead into March, then I will admit they are the top favorites for the title.”

As Christmas approached, the festive atmosphere across London grew increasingly vibrant. Upon returning to London from Manchester, Wang Shuo received a notice from the club. After playing Manchester City on December 18, they had an away match against Aston Villa on the 21st. After that, the busy Christmas schedule would begin.

Unlike in Germany, where they could enjoy a leisurely Christmas and usher in the winter break, there was no rest during Christmas in the United Kingdom. At noon on the day after Christmas, the Gunners were set to host Wolves.

They would play Wolves at home on the 26th, Queens Park Rangers at home on the 31st, and Fulham away on January 2, 2012. From the current outlook, the first two matches weren’t too concerning, as they were spaced out reasonably well. The true test would be the third match, which was scheduled far too close to the game against Queens Park Rangers.