Chapter 548: The Hotheaded Arsenal Star
"Why didn't he pass the ball?" Mourinho asked, relieved yet puzzled, turning to Faria.
"He probably wanted to break through and find a better opportunity," Faria guessed.
"That was already a great chance," Carrick disagreed. "Ashley Young is tenacious and won't give up easily. Sanchez trying to get past him before passing wasn't a wise choice."
The three exchanged glances, finding the situation strange. Mourinho had a hunch and kept an eye on Sanchez, curious if he'd continue trying to beat Ashley Young before passing.
At the 41st minute, following a missed shot by Ibrahimovic, Arsenal's attack resumed. Again, they focused on the right flank, and once more, Sanchez attempted to force his way past Ashley Young. The tussle ended with the ball deflecting off both players before rolling out for a goal kick.
Mourinho smiled, starting to understand the situation.
Faria also caught on. "Looks like we're dealing with a stubborn guy here," he whispered.
Mourinho and Faria deduced that Sanchez had a personal vendetta against Ashley Young. Such clashes aren't uncommon in football; opposing players can easily develop grudges during a match.
Clearly, Sanchez had failed in his initial attempts to bypass Young and was now determined to succeed, each failure fueling his resolve to try again.
Sanchez's persistence was akin to saying, "I can do this," repeatedly, no matter how many times he was thwarted.
Mourinho was familiar with Sanchez's style from their previous encounters in La Liga and the Premier League. Sanchez, with his robust physique and excellent dribbling skills, was similar to Chelsea's Hazard, excelling in solo runs and creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
However, Sanchez's stubborn, single-minded playing style, while reflecting his resilience, often led him to try the same approach repeatedly, ignoring other options. This tendency was both his strength and his weakness.
Arsenal's next attack again saw Sanchez confronting Young on the right. Young retreated strategically, blocking Sanchez's path, and with Rashford's help, successfully neutralized the threat. Sanchez, feeling outnumbered, grew even more frustrated.
Mourinho clapped, praising his team's defensive success.
"Why does Arsenal keep trying to break through United's left side?" Rio Ferdinand questioned.
"Wenger might think Young, as a makeshift left-back and older player, is a weak point," Lineker suggested. "But clearly, Young has surprised Arsenal."
Sanchez's solo efforts, while commendable, were demoralizing for Arsenal, especially when trailing.
As the board showed one minute of added time for the first half, United launched a counter-attack. Bruno carried the ball down the left, outmaneuvering Bellerin before delivering a perfect cross.
Ibrahimovic, having shed Koscielny's marking, deftly redirected the ball towards goal. Though Ospina managed a partial save, Monreal cleared it off the line, only for Mustafi to kick it away.
Rashford collected the clearance outside the box, attempting a shot but was fouled by Xhaka. The referee awarded United a free-kick but didn't card Xhaka, sparking Mourinho's frustration.
Bruno's free-kick was well-placed, forcing Ospina into a fine save, conceding a corner. Bruno took the corner, and Ibrahimovic rose above everyone to head the ball into the net.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!" The commentator's shout echoed as United doubled their lead just before halftime.
Ibrahimovic's celebration was ecstatic, contrasting sharply with Wenger's stoic reaction. The Swedish striker had a long-standing grudge against Wenger, dating back to a failed transfer during his youth.
The camera captured Wenger's grim expression as he walked towards the tunnel, clearly fuming.
Seconds after Arsenal resumed play, the referee blew for halftime. United led 2-0 with goals from Kane and Ibrahimovic, vindicating Mourinho's tactical changes.
Arsenal players, disheartened, left the field quickly. Seeing Wenger's early departure only darkened their mood further.
"One can imagine the storm awaiting Arsenal in the dressing room," Lineker noted.
Mourinho, meanwhile, was all smiles, high-fiving and hugging his players as they left the field.
"I think he's doing this on purpose," Henry commented. "Seeing this will infuriate Wenger."
"You did that deliberately, right?" Carrick asked quietly.
"Of course not," Mourinho feigned innocence, though his grin suggested otherwise.
Minutes later, back in the dressing room, Wenger's assistant conveyed Mourinho's cheerful display, prompting Wenger to slam his tactics board in anger.
Despite knowing he should stay calm, Wenger couldn't help but feel enraged. His frustration only grew as he processed the situation.
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