121. Againts Everton PT.2

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The room buzzed with quiet intensity as players finished taping their wrists, adjusting shin guards, and mentally preparing. Francesco took one last deep breath before standing up, rolling his shoulders back.

As the final words from Wenger settled in, the players stood up, their expressions locked in focus. The intensity in the locker room was palpable, an unspoken understanding passing between them. This was their stage, and now it was time to perform.

Francesco took one last glance at his jersey, adjusting it before stepping out of the locker room with the rest of the squad. The tunnel loomed ahead, a familiar yet electrifying space where the anticipation thickened.

As Arsenal lined up in the tunnel, the Everton players stood just a few feet away, their blue kits contrasting against the deep red of Arsenal's. Francesco's gaze swept across their lineup—Romelu Lukaku stood tall, stretching his legs, while Ross Barkley rolled his shoulders, speaking quietly to James McCarthy. Seamus Coleman and Luke Garbutt exchanged nods, knowing their defensive duties would be tested today.

Beside Francesco, Alexis Sánchez bounced lightly on his feet, his usual pre-game ritual. Olivier Giroud cracked his knuckles, while Santi Cazorla exchanged a few words with Laurent Koscielny. The tension was there, but so was the readiness.

The referee stood at the front, waiting for the signal from the match officials outside. When the nod came, he turned to both captains—Cazorla and Phil Jagielka—before gesturing for them to lead their teams out.

"Let's go," Cazorla said firmly.

And with that, Arsenal and Everton marched onto the pitch.

As they stepped onto the lush green grass, the Emirates erupted. The Arsenal fans roared, waving scarves, singing in unison. Francesco took it all in. The flashing lights from cameras, the chants echoing through the stadium—it was moments like this that made football more than just a game.

He glanced toward the stands, searching the familiar section where Leah had told him she'd be watching. Somewhere in the sea of red, she was there.

The players took their positions for the pre-match formalities. Captains Cazorla and Jagielka met in the center circle for the coin toss, with the referee flipping the coin high into the air. It landed heads, and Arsenal won the toss.

Cazorla pointed toward the North Bank. "We'll take the kickoff," he told the referee.

With that settled, the teams dispersed into their respective positions. Francesco jogged to the right wing, stretching his arms and rolling his neck, getting a feel for the space he'd be patrolling.

As the referee checked his watch and blew the whistle, the game began.

The opening exchanges were intense. Both Arsenal and Everton pressed hard, determined to gain an early advantage.

In the first few minutes, Arsenal controlled possession, passing the ball crisply around the midfield. Özil and Cazorla dictated the tempo, moving Everton's midfield side to side. Francesco made his first few touches, testing Coleman's reactions. He played a quick one-two with Bellerín down the right flank, pushing forward, but Everton's defensive line held firm.

Everton responded with their own attacking threat. Lukaku was a constant menace, using his strength to hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play. In the 10th minute, Barkley drove forward, skipping past Coquelin before threading a dangerous through ball toward Lukaku.

But Koscielny was there.

The French defender read the pass perfectly, stepping in and clearing the danger before Lukaku could get a shot away.

Wenger stood on the touchline, gesturing for his team to stay composed. Across from him, Roberto Martínez urged his players forward, sensing an opportunity.

As the clock ticked past the 15-minute mark, Arsenal started to increase the pressure. Sánchez cut inside from the left, testing Everton's defense with his dribbling. Francesco mirrored the movement on the right, darting past Baines and whipping in a cross that Giroud met with a powerful header—only for Tim Howard to produce a stunning save.

Everton countered almost immediately. A long ball over the top sent Aaron Lennon racing down the right wing. Gibbs chased him, but Lennon's pace was electric. He squared the ball into the box, where Lukaku was waiting.

Ospina reacted quickly.

The Arsenal goalkeeper dived low, smothering the ball just before Lukaku could make contact.

The crowd roared in approval. The match was wide open, both teams pushing for the first goal.

In the 22nd minute, Özil found space just outside the box. He spotted Francesco making a diagonal run toward the penalty area and threaded a perfect pass into his path.

Francesco took one touch, shifted the ball onto his right foot, and struck it cleanly.

The ball rocketed toward goal, but once again, Howard was there—diving to his left, pushing it away with his fingertips.

Francesco let out a small breath of frustration but quickly refocused. The first goal was coming. He could feel it.

Wenger clapped his hands from the sideline. "Keep moving! Keep pressing!"

On the other end, Martínez yelled instructions to his players. Both managers knew how crucial the first goal would be.

With 25 minutes played, the battle was fierce, and the next moment could change everything.

The game continued at a relentless pace, both teams refusing to back down. Everton defended deep, aware of Arsenal's ability to slice through high defensive lines. But Arsenal's persistence was beginning to show as they probed for an opening.

Then, in the 27th minute, their first golden opportunity arrived.

Sánchez received the ball on the left flank, dragging Seamus Coleman out of position with a quick burst of speed before sharply cutting inside. He feinted past James McCarthy and spotted Francesco making a darting run toward the edge of the box.

With a deft flick, Sánchez sent the ball into Francesco's path. Without hesitation, Francesco struck it first-time with his right foot, aiming for the bottom corner.

The Emirates held its breath.

But Tim Howard was in top form. The Everton keeper reacted instinctively, diving low to his right and parrying the shot away. The ball rebounded into the danger area, where Giroud was lurking. The French striker lunged forward, trying to poke it home, but Howard was up again, smothering the ball before any damage could be done.

A collective groan rippled through the stands. Francesco gritted his teeth in frustration, but there was no time to dwell.

31st minute—Another huge chance.

Özil picked up the ball near the halfway line, gliding forward with his signature elegance. He exchanged a slick one-two with Cazorla, slicing through Everton's midfield like a scalpel through fabric.

With a perfectly weighted through ball, Özil split the Everton defense. Giroud read it, timing his run expertly to avoid the offside trap. One touch, then another to set himself up, before hammering a low shot toward the near post.

Again, Howard stood firm.

The American goalkeeper threw himself across his goal line, getting a strong right hand on the ball, pushing it away for a corner.

Giroud let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. Özil raised a hand in encouragement, signaling for everyone to stay calm. The goal was coming—they just needed to keep pushing.

Arsenal weren't letting up.

36th minute—Third golden opportunity.

This time, it was a corner. Cazorla whipped in an inswinging delivery from the left, curling dangerously toward the six-yard box. Koscielny rose highest, outjumping Jagielka and meeting the ball with a powerful header.

The Emirates was ready to erupt.

But Howard, defying belief, pulled off yet another stunning save. He stretched out a strong left hand, pushing the ball onto the crossbar before it was cleared by John Stones.

The frustration was evident now. Wenger stood on the touchline, shaking his head in disbelief. Three massive chances, all denied by a goalkeeper putting in a world-class performance.

Yet, Arsenal refused to be discouraged. They regrouped, refocused, and continued searching for the breakthrough.

39th Minute – Arsenal Finally Break Through

Everton had been absorbing relentless pressure, but all it took was one moment of brilliance.

Santi Cazorla, ever the midfield maestro, received the ball in the center of the park. With a quick turn, he evaded Barkley's challenge and lifted his head. His eyes scanned the pitch, searching for the right pass.

Then he saw it—Özil drifting into space between Everton's midfield and defensive lines.

Cazorla threaded a perfect pass forward. Özil, with his unmatched awareness, controlled it effortlessly with his first touch, lifting his head just as he felt McCarthy closing in.

And then he saw it—Giroud making a run, peeling away from Jagielka and Stones.

Özil didn't hesitate. With the outside of his left foot, he sent a sublime lofted pass over the Everton backline.

Giroud was off.

The Frenchman sprinted onto the ball, perfectly timing his run to beat the offside trap. The Emirates collectively held its breath as he bore down on goal.

One-on-one with Howard.

Time seemed to slow as Giroud took a touch to set himself. Howard rushed out, making himself as big as possible.

But Giroud was calm. Composed.

With a cool strike, he slotted the ball past Howard, sending it rolling into the back of the net.

GOAL! 1-0 ARSENAL!

The Emirates exploded.

Giroud wheeled away in celebration, sliding on his knees near the corner flag as his teammates rushed to him. Özil arrived first, ruffling his hair, followed by Cazorla, who patted him on the back.

Francesco clenched his fist, roaring in approval as he jogged over to join the celebration. This was what they had worked for. The breakthrough had finally come.

In the dugout, Wenger allowed himself a small, satisfied nod. Across from him, Roberto Martínez looked frustrated, shaking his head. Everton had defended valiantly, and Howard had been a wall, but there was nothing he could do about that one.

As Arsenal players jogged back to their positions for the restart, the energy in the stadium had shifted. They had the lead. Now, they needed to build on it. Everton, however, were not about to go down without a fight.

The goal had come at a perfect time for Arsenal. But with just over five minutes remaining in the first half, there was no room for complacency. Everton were a resilient team, and despite being behind, they still had the firepower to hurt Arsenal. They were determined to find an equalizer before the break, throwing everything they had at the Gunners in the final stages of the half.

The moment the ball was placed at the center spot, Everton ramped up the pressure. They needed to act quickly, and they came out with renewed vigor, pushing forward at every opportunity. Romelu Lukaku, whose presence had been a constant threat all match, dropped deep to collect the ball and started to build play. His physicality and movement were enough to unsettle the Arsenal defense, and with Barkley and Lennon supporting him, they looked like a team capable of responding in kind.

In the 41st minute, Everton surged forward again. A quick ball from McCarthy sent Lukaku charging toward Koscielny, who was forced to step up and challenge the Belgian striker. Lukaku flicked it on to Barkley, who was waiting just outside the penalty area. Barkley took a touch and unleashed a fierce shot on goal, aiming for the top corner.

But David Ospina, calm under pressure, stretched across his goal and tipped the ball wide with a sensational save. The crowd collectively exhaled as the ball flew out for a corner. Everton weren't backing down.

The corner came in from Besic, curling in toward the near post. Koscielny, who had been dominant in the air all match, rose above Lukaku and flicked the ball clear. But it wasn't enough to clear the danger. Everton recycled possession quickly, with Coleman winning the ball on the right and passing it back to Baines. The fullback floated another ball into the box, this time aiming for Stones, who had joined the attack.

The defender connected with the ball, heading it toward goal. It was a powerful header, but Ospina was ready. He stayed steady, keeping his eyes on the ball, and once again, he dived to his right, parrying the header away with a strong hand. Arsenal's defense scrambled to clear it, and it fell to Barkley just outside the box. Barkley quickly controlled the ball and smashed it toward goal, but once again, Koscielny was in the way, blocking the shot with a crucial clearance.

The pressure from Everton was relentless, but Arsenal remained composed. Cazorla and Coquelin worked tirelessly in the midfield to break up any attacking moves, while Giroud and Francesco tracked back to help their teammates.

Then came a moment that would test Arsenal's resolve even further. In the 43rd minute, Everton's right-back Seamus Coleman advanced high up the pitch, his overlapping run catching Arsenal's defense off guard. He sent a low cross into the box, and it was perfect—right at the feet of Lukaku, who was unmarked in the six-yard box.

It was the type of chance that any striker would dream of, a clear-cut opportunity to level the score.

Lukaku, with all his power and strength, leaned in to strike the ball. But just as he was about to pull the trigger, Laurent Koscielny threw himself into the challenge, putting his body on the line. Lukaku's shot was blocked, and the ball bounced away to safety. It was another heroic defensive moment from Koscielny, who had been nothing short of exceptional in the first half.

Everton's frustration was growing. They had created several chances in a short space of time, but each one was either thwarted by Arsenal's defense or saved by Ospina. The Emirates crowd was alive with energy, their chants reverberating around the stadium as they urged their team to hold firm. But the tension was still there—this wasn't over yet.

The referee looked at his watch as the 45th minute came to a close. There would be four minutes added for stoppages, and Everton knew they had one final chance before the whistle blew. They threw everything forward, sending their defenders up for one last push.

It was now or never for them.

In the 46th minute, a long ball forward from McCarthy found Lukaku again. He flicked the ball on to Lennon, who was now in a race against Gibbs. Lennon's pace allowed him to pull ahead, and he drove the ball into the penalty area, looking for a teammate.

Koscielny and Paulista were both there, but the ball bounced around in the box like a pinball. Mirallas tried to get a touch on it to set up Lukaku, but Paulista got in the way, clearing the ball with a timely intervention. The Everton players screamed for a handball, but the referee waved play on, and the Arsenal fans cheered in relief.

Now, with the clock ticking down, Arsenal began to regain control of possession, looking to wind the clock down. Cazorla took the ball in the middle of the park and played a simple pass to Özil. With his cool head and vision, Özil turned away from pressure, slowing the game down as he waited for the right moment to release a pass.

Everton, realizing the danger, started to press again, but it was too late. The final moments of the first half were slipping away. Arsenal held their shape, denying Everton any further chances, as the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the half.

The players trudged off the field, but there was a collective sense of satisfaction among the Arsenal team. They had weathered the storm, holding onto their slender 1-0 lead going into the break. Everton, despite their best efforts, hadn't been able to find an equalizer, and as the teams retreated to their dressing rooms, Arsenal could feel the first-half battle was theirs to win.

The Emirates was alive with energy, but now, it was about maintaining their composure in the second half. If they could ride out this pressure and keep Everton at bay, they had a real chance to build on their lead and seal the victory. But Wenger knew that Everton would come out swinging after the break. The second half promised to be just as intense as the first.

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Name : Francesco Lee

Age : 16 (2014)

Birthplace : London, England

Football Club : Arsenal First Team

Championship History : None

Match Played: 16

Goal: 21

Assist: 11

MOTM: 7