The former Arsenal man and NO. 10 lunged, stretching for a deflection as his left leg tried clawing the ball away from Izan, but the new 10 pivoted — body low, eyes calm — and executed a Berbatov spin that left both the ball and Smith Rowe behind him.
But the touch had pushed the ball a little far, and Willian saw it.
He stepped up and closed the already small space between them, trying to snap it back — but Izan wasn't finished.
With his left, he flicked it across his body, changing quickly to the other foot where he met the ball again with a tiny touch that was just enough.
And then the roll followed.
The crowd felt it before they saw it — the weight shift, the sudden slowness as Izan rolled the ball gently through Willian's legs.
Nutmeg.
The groan and cheer were instant as the Brazilian realised what had happened.
"Goodness me!" the commentator blurted. "Izan — looking more Brazilian than the Brazilian there!"
