112. Againts Crystal Palace PT.2

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As Francesco adjusted his position on the right, he took a deep breath. This was going to be a tough game, but he thrived in matches like these. High stakes, high energy—exactly the kind of challenge he loved.

The intensity of the game didn't let up as the clock ticked past the ten-minute mark. Both teams were battling fiercely, each looking for a breakthrough. Arsenal's quick passing and movement were starting to cause problems for Palace's defense, and in the 11th minute, the Gunners found their golden opportunity.

It started with Özil picking up the ball near the halfway line, his head on a swivel as he assessed his options. Francesco, stationed on the right wing, made a quick inside run, drawing Palace's left-back with him. This movement opened up space for Calum Chambers to overlap, and Özil, always aware of his teammates' positioning, slid a perfectly timed ball into the British's path.

Chambers didn't hesitate. He drove forward, cutting inside before threading a low pass into the box toward Santi Cazorla. The diminutive playmaker had drifted into a pocket of space just inside the penalty area, his quick feet ready to create an opening.

But before he could take a shot, Palace's center-back Damien Delaney lunged in recklessly. His outstretched leg clipped Cazorla's ankle, sending the Spaniard tumbling to the ground.

A collective gasp echoed around Selhurst Park, followed immediately by a deafening mix of cheers and protests. Arsenal's players instantly turned to the referee, arms raised in appeal. Delaney, meanwhile, looked frustrated with himself, knowing he had mistimed his challenge.

The referee wasted no time. His whistle shrieked through the cold air as he pointed to the spot.

Penalty for Arsenal.

The home crowd erupted in fury, jeering and whistling, trying to put pressure on the official. Palace's players surrounded him, arguing their case, but the decision was made. Delaney shook his head in frustration, hands on his hips, knowing his mistake had put his team in a difficult position.

As the dust settled, there was only one man who was going to take the penalty—Santi Cazorla. He had won it, and Arsenal's designated penalty taker rarely missed from twelve yards.

The diminutive Spaniard picked up the ball, placing it carefully on the penalty spot. As he stepped back, Speroni stood tall on the goal line, already trying to play mind games. The Palace goalkeeper waved his arms, pointing to his left, then his right, shifting his weight to make himself look as imposing as possible. He muttered something under his breath, perhaps trying to unsettle Cazorla.

But Cazorla was unfazed.

He took a deep breath, his expression calm, his mind focused. The referee blew his whistle.

Cazorla stepped up and, with his usual composure, struck the ball low and hard to the right.

Speroni guessed correctly, diving in the right direction, but the shot was too precise, too well-placed. The ball nestled into the bottom corner of the net.

Goal!

1-0 to Arsenal.

The away end exploded in celebration. Cazorla wheeled away, arms outstretched, a wide grin on his face as his teammates rushed to congratulate him. Francesco joined the huddle, patting Cazorla on the back, while Giroud gave the Spaniard an appreciative nod.

The Crystal Palace players looked frustrated, knowing they had conceded an early goal despite their strong start. Delaney, in particular, looked disappointed, shaking his head as he walked back toward the halfway line.

From the touchline, Arsène Wenger clapped his hands, urging his team to stay focused. They had taken the lead, but the match was far from over.

Palace, spurred on by their passionate supporters, responded immediately. The moment Arsenal kicked off again, they pressed aggressively, looking to regain control. The midfield battle intensified, with Coquelin and Cazorla having to work tirelessly to keep possession under pressure.

Francesco, playing on the right, found himself constantly involved in both attack and defense. Whenever Arsenal had the ball, he stretched the play, staying wide to receive passes from Özil or Chambers. When Palace attacked, he tracked back diligently, helping Chambers deal with the threat posed by Bolasie and Gayle.

The next fifteen minutes were a test of Arsenal's composure. Palace pushed forward, looking for an equalizer. In the 18th minute, a dangerous cross from Gayle nearly found the head of Fraizer Campbell, but Mertesacker was there to make a crucial clearance. Just a few minutes later, a long-range effort from Jason Puncheon forced Ospina into a diving save.

Arsenal, however, remained dangerous on the counter. Özil, as always, was the orchestrator, pulling the strings in midfield with his pinpoint passing. In the 25th minute, he picked out Francesco with a beautiful cross-field ball.

Francesco controlled it expertly, his first touch taking him past the defender. He drove into the box, his eyes scanning for an option. He spotted Alexis making a run at the back post and curled in a cross toward the Chilean.

Alexis rose above his marker and powered a header toward goal—only for Speroni to pull off another stunning save, tipping the ball over the bar.

Arsenal were getting closer to a second goal, but Palace refused to back down. The game remained finely poised, the intensity never dropping.

As the match approached the 30-minute mark, Wenger stood on the sidelines, analyzing every detail. He knew Arsenal needed to remain patient. They had the lead, but Palace were still dangerous.

The game continued at a relentless pace, with Crystal Palace refusing to let Arsenal settle despite trailing 1-0. The Eagles were playing with intensity, closing down space and launching quick counterattacks whenever they had the opportunity. Their best chance came in the 33rd minute when Jason Puncheon found space just outside the box and let fly with a venomous strike. Ospina reacted quickly, diving to his left and palming the ball away to safety.

Arsenal responded in kind, looking to control the tempo and exploit Palace's high defensive line. Özil, operating in his usual free role, was dictating play with his vision and movement, constantly pulling defenders out of position. Francesco, stationed on the right flank, remained a constant outlet, using his speed and dribbling to stretch Palace's backline.

Then, in the 37th minute, Arsenal found their breakthrough once again.

Francesco picked up the ball near the halfway line after Coquelin won possession in midfield. He glanced up, scanning his options. Palace's defenders were focused on cutting off passing lanes in the center, but that left space on the opposite flank. He spotted Alexis Sánchez making a run on the left, with Joel Ward struggling to keep up.

Without hesitation, Francesco whipped in a deep, curling cross that sailed over the Palace defense. The ball hung in the air for a moment before dipping perfectly into the path of Sánchez, who had managed to shake off Ward at the last second.

Sánchez, never one to waste an opportunity, adjusted his body and rose to meet the ball, powering a header toward goal. Speroni dived, stretching his arms desperately, but the Chilean's effort was too well-placed. The ball nestled into the bottom corner.

2-0 to Arsenal.

The away section erupted in celebration as Sánchez pumped his fist in the air, his trademark grin spread across his face. Francesco sprinted toward him, joining in the celebration as their teammates swarmed around. It was a perfectly executed goal, showcasing both Francesco's vision and Sánchez's clinical finishing.

Palace's frustration was evident. Their players exchanged looks, knowing they had an even bigger mountain to climb now. But despite the scoreline, they refused to give up. As play resumed, they pushed forward again, looking for a way back into the match.

Wilfried Zaha attempted to spark something for Palace in the 41st minute, sending a dangerous through ball toward Gayle, but Koscielny was alert, stepping in to intercept. Arsenal, sensing an opportunity to hit Palace on the break, quickly transitioned into attack. Cazorla sent a searching ball forward to Giroud, who held up play before laying it off to Özil.

Özil, with his impeccable touch, weaved past a challenge and looked for an opening. Arsenal weren't rushing—they were in complete control now, dictating the pace of the game.

As the match approached the 45th minute, the fourth official raised his board, signaling two minutes of additional time.

Palace, desperate for a goal before the break, threw men forward. This, however, left them vulnerable at the back.

And Arsenal took full advantage.

In the 45+1st minute, Arsenal struck again.

Palace had committed too many players forward, leaving acres of space in their defensive third. Coquelin capitalized on a loose pass, intercepting the ball and immediately releasing Özil. The German maestro surged forward, gliding past a tired-looking Ledley before spotting Giroud making a run into the box.

Özil, with his signature elegance, played a perfectly weighted pass between two defenders, threading the ball into Giroud's path. The French striker didn't need a second invitation—he took one touch to set himself and then rifled a low shot past Speroni.

3-0 to Arsenal.

The away fans were in dreamland. Giroud ran toward the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration as his teammates rushed to join him. Özil, ever the humble playmaker, simply raised his hands in acknowledgment, knowing he had just delivered yet another moment of brilliance.

For Crystal Palace, it was a crushing blow right before halftime. Their players trudged back to the center circle, hands on their hips, looking dejected. Speroni picked up the ball and booted it in frustration, knowing there was little he could have done to stop Giroud's finish.

Moments later, the referee blew the whistle for halftime.

Arsenal walked off the pitch with their heads held high. It had been a near-perfect first half—clinical in attack, solid in defense, and dominant in midfield. Arsène Wenger looked pleased on the touchline, offering a few words to his coaching staff before heading down the tunnel.

In contrast, Alan Pardew, the Palace manager, had a look of frustration and concern. His team had started well, but Arsenal's quality had ultimately overwhelmed them.

As Francesco walked off the pitch alongside Özil and Sánchez, he took a deep breath. It had been a fantastic first half, but he knew the job wasn't done yet. Palace would come out fighting in the second half, and Arsenal needed to be ready to maintain their dominance.

The sound of the referee's whistle was a welcome relief for both teams as the first half drew to a close. Arsenal's players, heads held high, walked toward the tunnel, their footsteps echoing through the corridors of Selhurst Park. They had dominated the opening 45 minutes, their attacking play fluid and clinical, but Francesco knew the game was far from over. He cast a glance at his teammates as they made their way to the locker room. They were buoyant, but their expressions were focused. The job wasn't done yet.

Francesco, Özil, and Sánchez walked side by side, their minds already turning to the second half. The Gunners knew Palace would come out fighting, especially with the scoreline sitting at 3-0. Their manager, Arsène Wenger, would surely have some key words to say in the locker room to keep them grounded and maintain their momentum.

Inside the Arsenal locker room, the players gathered around, each one taking their seat in anticipation of Wenger's instructions. The atmosphere was calm yet charged with energy. Wenger stood at the front, his arms crossed, watching his players intently. There was a quiet confidence about him—he knew how well his team had played, but he also knew the danger of underestimating their opponents.

"Well done, lads," Wenger began, his voice calm yet firm. "That was a good first half, but the job is not done. We've played well, we've been clinical, but now we need to stay disciplined and finish this off. Palace will come out with everything they've got. We've seen it before—teams can change in the second half, and we need to be ready for it."

He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.

"Don't let complacency creep in. Keep doing what we've been doing—move the ball quickly, control possession, and when the chances come, take them. But also, we need to keep a solid shape. If we're not careful, Palace will find an opening, and we can't afford that."

Francesco nodded along, his focus unwavering. He had been involved in some great attacking play in the first half, but he knew his work wasn't over. He had to stay sharp, both in attack and defense. Wenger's words echoed in his mind—control the game, keep possession, and don't give Palace a sniff of a comeback.

Santi Cazorla, sitting next to him, offered a quick word of encouragement. "We've got this," Cazorla said with a grin, his Spanish accent as warm as ever. Francesco couldn't help but smile back. Cazorla was always calm under pressure, and his confidence was contagious. It was a good reminder that Arsenal had the quality to see the game through, no matter what Palace threw at them.

Wenger continued, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure and managing the tempo of the game. "We have the advantage, but it's crucial that we don't take unnecessary risks. Keep the ball, frustrate them. If they push forward, we'll find the spaces. But we need to be smart."

Özil, who had been quietly absorbing Wenger's instructions, spoke up. "We'll keep the ball, keep the pressure on. We won't let them breathe," he said, his voice steady and composed. His presence in the midfield had been sublime in the first half, and Wenger knew he could rely on Özil to dictate play in the second half as well.

The manager gave a final nod of approval before he turned to leave the room, offering a few more words. "Now go out there, finish strong, and show them why we're Arsenal."

As the players prepared to head back out onto the pitch, Francesco exchanged a quick glance with Özil. There was no time for complacency; they were 3-0 up, but Palace had shown in the past that they could be dangerous. They needed to stay focused.

Meanwhile, in the Crystal Palace locker room, the mood was considerably more tense. Alan Pardew stood at the front, his face a mixture of frustration and determination. His players sat slumped in their seats, many of them staring at the floor, their heads heavy with the weight of a disastrous first half. The manager knew he had a tough job on his hands. His team had conceded three goals, and the confidence they had shown early on had quickly evaporated. But Pardew was no stranger to adversity. He had to rally his players, give them the belief they needed to get back into the game.

Pardew paced back and forth, his voice rising to address the team. "Alright, listen up! I know that was tough, but the game isn't over. You've got 45 minutes to turn this around. We've been here before. We've come back from worse."

The players exchanged uneasy glances, but Pardew pressed on, his tone firm and encouraging. "We know what we need to do. We have to press them higher up the pitch, put pressure on their defense, and we can't let Özil and Cazorla dictate the game. We need to close them down quicker, make them uncomfortable. And when we get the ball, we need to be more direct. No more messing around in the midfield. Get the ball to Zaha and Gayle as quickly as possible. They've got the pace to trouble their defense."

He paused for a moment, letting his words settle in. "This is our home, and we're not going down without a fight. Get your heads up, play with heart, and let's get back into this."

Pardew's speech had an effect. The players began to sit up straighter, some of them nodding in agreement. They had a lot of ground to cover, but they knew they couldn't afford to give up. Zaha, in particular, looked fired up. He had been one of Palace's brightest players in the first half, and if anyone could spark a comeback, it was him.

Pardew gave a final rallying cry. "Let's go out there and show Arsenal they made a mistake by taking us lightly. We've still got 45 minutes. Let's make it count."

With that, the Palace players began to rise from their seats, their spirits lifted by their manager's words. They had a mountain to climb, but they weren't going to give up without a fight.

As the players from both teams made their way back onto the pitch, the atmosphere had changed. Arsenal's players were calm, their minds focused on finishing the job. Palace, on the other hand, were determined to turn things around. The second half was about to begin, and both teams knew that the next 45 minutes could be the difference between triumph and disappointment.

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Name : Francesco Lee

Age : 16 (2014)

Birthplace : London, England

Football Club : Arsenal First Team

Championship History : None

Match Played: 13

Goal: 19

Assist: 9

MOTM: 5