Chapter 827 - 148: Another Comeback! Wang Shuo Has an Epiphany! Last-Second Winner! Wang Shuo, You’re Too Fast! Arsenal’s Iron-Blooded Script!

Did they really have to fall behind just to start playing at their actual level? Funnily enough, the Gunners fans in the stands had already grown used to it. In their minds, falling behind simply meant Arsenal was gearing up for a comeback. So, they sat comfortably in the stands, ready to just sit back and enjoy the show.

However, today’s script wasn’t following the usual plot. Wang Shuo was sitting on the bench.

One of the two main culprits for the team falling behind, Gibbs, won a free kick on the left side just outside the penalty area in the 22nd minute. Off that set piece, Koscielny met the ball at the near post and headed it home.

1-1!

After that, the match descended into a stalemate. Arsenal firmly controlled the situation, dominating possession and dictating the tempo, but they just couldn’t find the back of the net. The most threatening attack of the first half occurred in the 41st minute when Arteta, newly returned from injury, delivered a cross from the right wing. Completely unmarked in the middle, Chamak somehow managed to send his shot wide.

After swapping sides for the second half, the Gunners continued to endlessly create chances. In the 67th minute, Rosicky found himself completely unmarked just seven meters from the goal. He went for a simple placement shot—a placement shot, mind you—and incredibly, he missed as well. It was simply unbelievable!

With the Gunners repeatedly squandering their opportunities, Wenger could finally sit still no longer. In the 70th minute, Hazard was brought on as a substitute. Just three minutes later, the young Belgium international found himself unmarked near the left corner of the six-yard box. He went for a placed shot toward the near post, but the ball struck the outside of the left upright and deflected out of bounds. Yet another golden opportunity missed!

Following this string of wasted chances, Wenger was forced to make his second substitution. In the 75th minute, Wang Shuo came on to replace Chamak.

Just as Wang Shuo was preparing to take the field, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew smiled, turned toward the away team’s bench, and called out two names. It was center-back James Perch and Midfielder Danny Guthrie. The former came on for left-back and former Inter Milan player Santon, while the latter replaced former Manchester United right-winger Obertan.

"We’ve had that bastard Wenger’s substitution patterns figured out for a long time. His in-game management is as terrible as ever—not a shred of originality," Alan Pardew said with a grin to his assistant manager, John Carver. "He really doesn’t have any better ideas. The moment things aren’t going his way, he brings on Wang Shuo. It’s the same old routine!"

John Carver nodded repeatedly in agreement.

For Newcastle, securing a draw on the road against Arsenal would already be a fantastic result. Despite currently sitting sixth in the Premier League, their position was far from secure. Furthermore, they still harbored hopes of making a push for the top four. Because of this, Alan Pardew wanted to secure a result.

If they were going to defeat Arsenal, they absolutely had to freeze out Wang Shuo. These two substitutions were the "gift" Alan Pardew had meticulously prepared specifically for him.

With Perch and Guthrie on the pitch, Newcastle shifted from their original 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3, utilizing a trio of defensive Midfielders. The center forward was Demba Ba from Hoffenheim, with Argentina international Gutierrez on the left and Ben Arfa on the right. Now, it was time to play defensive counter-attacking football!

However, the most crucial elements remained the defensive line and the Midfielders.

"This time, no matter what, we’re going to make Wang Shuo hit a brick wall. We won’t give him an inch to work with!" Alan Pardew declared through gritted teeth.

During their first encounter at St James’ Park Stadium, it was Wang Shuo’s goals that helped Arsenal defeat Newcastle 2-0. Alan Pardew still remembered it vividly!

Play resumed after the flurry of substitutions from both sides. With two fresh players and a shift in formation, Newcastle tightened their defensive grip considerably.

From the moment Wang Shuo stepped onto the pitch, he was subjected to stifling man-marking. No matter where he went, there was always someone shadowing him. The second he received the ball, a defender would immediately charge forward to press him tight. If they could win the ball, they would; if they couldn’t win it, they’d clear it; and if they couldn’t clear it, they’d foul.

In short: under no circumstances was Wang Shuo going to be allowed to drive forward with the ball! Most importantly, Newcastle’s defense was genuinely rock solid.

Alan Pardew was a quintessential native England manager with an unapologetically tough and gritty coaching style. As a result, the match was incredibly disjointed, with referee Howard Weber’s whistle blowing constantly.

Early on, the referee had been relatively lenient with his cards. But after the 80th minute, as Arsenal ramped up their offense and Newcastle’s stamina faded—leading to increasingly reckless challenges—Weber began to dish out cards frequently.

In the 83rd minute, Tiote picked up a yellow card for a foul on Wang Shuo. In the 86th minute, Gutierrez was booked for fouling Arteta while tracking back on defense. Then, in the 88th minute, Coloccini received another yellow card for bringing down Wang Shuo.

This string of consecutive fouls prompted Weber to add a full five minutes of stoppage time. Yet, the Gunners were still agonizingly incapable of breaching Newcastle’s goal. They barely even had any opportunities for Shooting.

This finally broke the patience of the fans who had previously remained calm. The Gunners faithful in the stands began to roar louder, urging the team to intensify their attack even further. A draw at home wasn’t entirely unacceptable, but what happened to the promised comeback?

Time slipped away, second by second. Entering stoppage time, the physical toll on both teams’ players was massive.

One minute... two minutes... three minutes...

The Gunners still hadn’t broken the deadlock. By the fourth minute of stoppage time, Howard Weber already had his Silver Whistle clamped in his mouth. He began checking his watch frequently, ready to blow the whistle and end the match at any moment.