113. Againts Crystal Palace PT.3

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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.

As the players emerged from the tunnel, the atmosphere inside Selhurst Park had shifted. The home fans, despite their team trailing 3-0, were doing their best to rally behind Crystal Palace, hoping for a miraculous second-half comeback. The Arsenal players, meanwhile, were calm and composed, knowing they had done the hard work in the first half but also aware that the job wasn't finished yet.

Francesco took his position on the right flank, stretching his legs as he prepared for the intense 45 minutes ahead. He exchanged a glance with Özil, who gave him a small nod of reassurance. They both knew Palace would come out fighting, and sure enough, as soon as the referee blew the whistle to restart the match, the home side threw everything forward.

Palace wasted no time imposing themselves, pressing high up the pitch with an aggressive intensity that forced Arsenal onto the back foot. Wilfried Zaha was particularly lively on the left, using his speed and trickery to try and break through Calum Chambers. On the right, Jason Puncheon was combining well with Joel Ward, attempting to overload Nacho Monreal and whip in dangerous crosses into the box.

Within minutes, Palace had their first real chance of the second half. In the 48th minute, a misplaced pass from Coquelin in midfield was intercepted by Joe Ledley, who quickly fed the ball to Gayle. The striker took a touch before unleashing a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but Ospina reacted swiftly, diving low to his right and parrying the ball away. The rebound fell to Puncheon, who attempted a first-time shot, but Koscielny threw his body in the way, blocking the effort.

The home crowd roared in approval, sensing that Palace were not going to go down without a fight.

Arsène Wenger, standing on the touchline, could see that his team was being forced into a defensive stance. He stepped forward, gesturing for his players to stay compact and patient. "Keep your shape! Stay disciplined!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the noise of the stadium. Arsenal had a comfortable lead, and there was no need to panic.

For the next 15 minutes, Arsenal found themselves absorbing wave after wave of Palace attacks. The Gunners were struggling to get out of their own half, with Palace committing numbers forward and looking for any weakness in the Arsenal defense. Every time Arsenal tried to play out from the back, Palace pressed aggressively, forcing hurried clearances.

In the 53rd minute, Zaha nearly found the breakthrough. Receiving a clever pass from Puncheon, he weaved past Chambers and drilled a low cross into the six-yard box. Gayle, lurking near the near post, tried to flick it toward goal, but Ospina reacted with lightning reflexes, diving to smother the ball before it could creep in.

Arsenal were on the ropes, but their defenders—Koscielny, Mertesacker, Bellerín, and Monreal—stood firm. Coquelin, despite his earlier mistake, worked tirelessly to shield the backline, making crucial tackles and interceptions.

Meanwhile, Francesco, Özil, and Alexis Sánchez had been forced to track back more than usual, helping their teammates contain the relentless Palace pressure. Francesco found himself battling against Joel Ward on multiple occasions, using his pace to disrupt Palace's rhythm whenever they tried to build attacks down the right.

Wenger continued barking orders from the sideline. "Stay calm! Let them come at us! Be ready for the counter!" His instructions were clear—Arsenal needed to soak up the pressure and wait for the right moment to strike back.

And that moment came in the 60th minute.

After another Palace attack broke down, Coquelin managed to win a crucial interception just outside the Arsenal penalty area. Without hesitation, he played the ball to Cazorla, who immediately looked up and spotted Giroud making a run near the halfway line. Arsenal had a chance to break.

Cazorla sent a perfectly weighted pass forward, and Giroud did well to hold up play as Francesco and Sánchez sprinted ahead in support. Palace, having committed too many men forward, were now vulnerable. Giroud, under pressure from Scott Dann, flicked the ball out wide to Francesco, who burst down the right flank with incredible speed.

Francesco surged forward, cutting inside past Ledley before spotting Sánchez making a run into the box. With a quick shift of his body, he curled in a beautiful cross toward the far post. Sánchez, always one step ahead, positioned himself perfectly and rose to meet the ball with a powerful header.

For a split second, time seemed to slow down.

Speroni, the Palace goalkeeper, stretched desperately, but the ball sailed past him and crashed into the back of the net.

4-0 to Arsenal.

The away section exploded with joy as Sánchez sprinted toward the corner flag, arms outstretched in celebration. Francesco, grinning, ran to join him, high-fiving Özil along the way. It was a classic Arsenal counterattack—precise, ruthless, and utterly demoralizing for Palace.

As Arsenal celebrated, Palace's players looked deflated. Alan Pardew, on the touchline, could hardly hide his frustration. His side had thrown everything at Arsenal for the past 15 minutes, only to be caught out in devastating fashion.

"Come on! Keep pushing!" Pardew urged, clapping his hands and trying to keep his players motivated. But it was clear that the fourth goal had knocked the wind out of their sails.

Palace tried to respond, but Arsenal had regained control of the game. With a comfortable lead, they no longer needed to take unnecessary risks. They slowed the tempo, keeping possession and frustrating their opponents. Özil, in particular, was masterful in dictating the pace, exchanging quick passes with Cazorla and Giroud to keep the ball moving.

In the 70th minute, Wenger made his first substitution, bringing on Tomas Rosicky for Coquelin to add fresh legs in midfield. A few minutes later, he introduced Theo Walcott for Giroud, shifting Francesco into a more central attacking role while Walcott took over on the right wing.

Despite their best efforts, Palace struggled to create anything meaningful. In the 78th minute, they had one final chance when Zaha managed to wriggle past Chambers and fire a shot toward goal, but Ospina was once again up to the task, pushing the ball away to safety.

Theo Walcott had only been on the pitch for a short time, but he was already making his presence felt. His pace and direct running were causing problems for a tired Palace defense, and in the 81st minute, he saw an opportunity.

Receiving the ball on the right wing, Walcott wasted no time. He turned sharply, leaving Pape Souaré wrong-footed before bursting forward with blistering speed. The Palace left-back tried to recover, but Walcott was too quick, driving into the penalty area with determination.

Francesco, who had shifted into a more central attacking role after Giroud was subbed off, saw Walcott's run and knew exactly what was coming. As Walcott reached the edge of the box, he looked up and spotted Francesco making a well-timed run between Damien Delaney and Scott Dann.

With a perfectly weighted pass, Walcott slid the ball into Francesco's path.

Francesco controlled the ball with his first touch, his movement quick and precise as he evaded Delaney's desperate lunge. Dann, seeing the danger, stepped in to close him down, but Francesco reacted just in time, shifting the ball to his left to create space.

Then, he saw it—Julian Speroni rushing off his line, trying to close down the angle before he could get a clean shot off. Francesco had mere seconds to decide. He knew if he hesitated, Delaney or Dann would get a foot in. Shooting low was too risky with Speroni charging forward.

And so, with perfect technique and instinct, Francesco executed a delicate chip shot.

The ball lifted off his foot with precision, rising just enough to evade Speroni's outstretched arms. The Argentine goalkeeper leaped, but the ball sailed gracefully over him, spinning gently in the air before dropping down toward the net.

For a moment, time seemed to slow as everyone watched.

Then—the ball nestled into the back of the net.

A ripple of stunned silence swept through Selhurst Park before it was immediately replaced by a chorus of boos from the home fans. Frustration poured from the stands as Crystal Palace supporters voiced their disappointment. Their team had fought hard in the second half, but Arsenal's clinical finishing had crushed any hopes of a comeback.

In contrast, the small section of Arsenal fans in the away end erupted in wild celebration. They were outnumbered, but their voices carried through the stadium as they cheered louder than ever, bouncing and chanting as their team extended the lead to 5-0.

On the pitch, Francesco grinned as he turned toward his teammates, arms wide in celebration. Walcott reached him first, patting him on the back with a laugh.

"What a finish, mate!" Walcott exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief.

Özil and Sánchez were next, congratulating him with handshakes and pats on the back. Even Koscielny, who had stayed back to defend, jogged up to offer his praise.

Francesco felt a sense of satisfaction, not just because he had scored, but because he had done it with a moment of pure technical brilliance. Chipping the keeper wasn't an easy skill to execute under pressure, but he had pulled it off to perfection.

On the sidelines, Arsène Wenger smiled approvingly, offering a small clap before turning back to his coaching staff. His team had exceeded expectations today, not just in the scoreline, but in their discipline and execution.

Alan Pardew, on the other hand, looked furious. He knew his team had played well in the second half, but they had been punished for every mistake. He turned to his bench, frustration evident in his gestures as he barked orders to his assistant coaches.

Palace kicked off again, but their spirit had been broken. The energy they had displayed at the start of the second half was gone. Their passes were slower, their movement less aggressive. It was clear that they just wanted the game to end.

Arsenal, sensing this, maintained control, passing the ball around with confidence and not giving Palace a chance to regain momentum. Özil continued to dictate play, finding pockets of space and orchestrating the tempo like a maestro. Cazorla, alongside him, kept things ticking with short, sharp passes, ensuring that Arsenal remained dominant in possession.

Wenger made his final change in the 85th minute, bringing on Mikel Arteta for Cazorla. The substitution was a tactical one—Arteta's calm presence would help Arsenal see out the game without any unnecessary risks.

As the clock ticked toward the 90th minute, Palace tried to push forward one last time. In the 88th minute, they won a corner after a deflected shot from Zaha. Puncheon swung in the cross, but Per Mertesacker rose highest, clearing the danger with authority. The ball fell to Francesco, who instinctively launched a counterattack, sprinting down the right before playing a clever pass to Walcott.

Walcott had space to run into and was one-on-one with Dann, but rather than taking a risk, he smartly held onto possession and passed back to Özil, who slowed the game down once more. Arsenal didn't need another goal—they just needed to see out the final minutes professionally.

The fourth official held up the board—three minutes of added time.

The Arsenal fans sang loudly, their voices carrying through the stadium as they celebrated what was now an inevitable victory. "We've got Francesco, we've got Francesco!" they chanted, acknowledging the young star's incredible performance.

As the final moments of the match played out, Arsenal maintained their composure, passing the ball around with ease and ensuring that Crystal Palace had little opportunity to mount any meaningful attacks. The away fans were still singing, celebrating what had been a dominant performance from their team.

But even in the closing minutes, Palace weren't ready to end the game without one last attempt to salvage some pride.

In the 86th minute, Alan Pardew made his final substitution, bringing on Glenn Murray for Fraizer Campbell. The experienced striker immediately positioned himself in the center of the attack, hoping to make an impact in the limited time remaining. The home crowd, despite their frustration, welcomed the change with a subdued round of applause. They knew that the game was already lost, but perhaps a consolation goal could at least ease some of the embarrassment.

Arsenal, however, remained disciplined. Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky tightened their grip in midfield, ensuring that Palace couldn't find any easy routes forward. Özil and Walcott continued to press high, forcing Palace's defenders into rushed passes. The minutes ticked by, and it seemed like Arsenal would see out the game with a clean sheet.

Then, in the final seconds of stoppage time, Palace found their moment.

Wilfried Zaha, who had been their brightest spark throughout the second half, received the ball on the left flank. He was still full of energy despite the exhausting game, and with a quick turn, he darted past Bellerín, leaving the young Spaniard a step behind. Zaha drove toward the byline, glancing up to spot Murray making a run into the box.

With a swift motion, Zaha whipped in a dangerous cross.

Murray, sensing his opportunity, positioned himself between Koscielny and Mertesacker. As the ball came in, he adjusted his body and met it with a clean, first-time volley. The connection was perfect—the ball rifled toward the goal, giving David Ospina little time to react.

The Arsenal goalkeeper dived, stretching his arms out desperately, but it was too late. The ball flew past him and into the net.

Selhurst Park erupted—not with wild celebration, but with a mixture of relief and irony. The home fans, who had been booing moments earlier, now cheered sarcastically. Some clapped, others simply sighed, knowing that this goal meant little in the grand scheme of things.

1-5.

Murray jogged back toward the center circle, expression neutral, not celebrating too much given the situation. His teammates offered him half-hearted pats on the back. It wasn't enough to change the outcome of the game, but at the very least, Palace wouldn't end the match without a goal to their name.

For Arsenal, it was frustrating to concede so late, especially after such a commanding performance. Ospina shook his head, disappointed at losing the clean sheet in the final moments. Koscielny clapped his hands together, trying to keep the team focused for the last few seconds.

From the touchline, Arsène Wenger simply nodded, showing little reaction. He had wanted his team to see out the game without conceding, but he knew it didn't take away from their dominant performance.

The referee barely waited after the restart. Moments after Arsenal kicked off again, he blew the final whistle.

Full-time: Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal.

The away section erupted once more, their chants filling the stadium as Arsenal's players exchanged handshakes and high-fives. Francesco, standing near the center circle, exhaled deeply before stretching his arms. It had been a tough game physically, but he had delivered a performance to be proud of—one goal, one assist, and an all-around display of quality and determination.

Theo Walcott jogged over, offering a playful shove. "Not bad, superstar," he grinned. "You keep scoring like that, and we'll all be fighting to get on the end of your passes."

Francesco laughed, shaking his head. "You did all the hard work for that one," he replied. "I just finished it."

Nearby, Alexis Sánchez patted Francesco on the back. "Good game," he said simply, flashing a rare but genuine smile.

As they walked toward the away end to applaud the traveling Arsenal supporters, Özil leaned over. "Enjoying the Premier League yet?" he asked with a smirk.

Francesco chuckled. "Loving every second of it."

As the team waved to the fans, who responded with chants of their names, Francesco felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This was just another step in his journey, but it was a statement—a reminder that he belonged at this level.

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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: 20

Assist: 10

MOTM: 5