Forced to lower his stance, he had to plead for the return of several veteran players.
Even so, the stubborn Villas-Boas refused to yield an inch tactically.
Tonight, Chelsea lined up in the 4-3-3 formation they had used most often this season.
Although Villas-Boas was a disciple of Mourinho, he differed from the "Special One," who favored deep defending and counterattacks.
Villas-Boas' tactical philosophy was built around a high defensive line.
In the eyes of this young, aggressive coach, high pressing would become the mainstream style in the top five leagues in the future.
"This match is just as important for Arsenal!"
"They're currently tied with Inter Milan on 17 straight wins, sharing the longest winning streak in Europe's top five leagues! If they win tonight, Arsenal will make history of their own and extend the record even further!"
Stamford Bridge was packed with forty thousand fans.
Every eye was fixed on the number 10 shirt of each side—
Kai, Lampard!
The clash between the two core playmakers was destined to be the focal point of the night.
BEEP!
The clock ticked past 8:00...
With the referee's whistle, the 18th round of the 2011–12 Premier League kicked off!
Chelsea had first possession.
Drogba tapped off, Mata played the ball back.
It quickly found Lampard's feet.
Chelsea players began to spread out and run.
In tonight's 4-3-3, Drogba led the line.
Torres sat on the bench.
Unlike under Ancelotti, who preferred the two-striker 4-4-2,
Villas-Boas emphasized relentless running.
Through high pressing and wide play, he sought to strengthen both attack and defense.
From the opening moments,
the battle for possession was fierce!
Defensively, Arsenal were already accustomed to intense zonal pressing.
They didn't compress their shape as tightly as Dortmund did when pressing.
Instead, they kept their normal positions in the formation,
restricting Chelsea's passing lanes with fewer players committed to the challenge.
With the roar of Stamford Bridge in the background,
possession changed hands repeatedly in midfield!
Without Essien, Chelsea's midfield depth had declined this season.
Kai, with Arteta and Rosický,
pressed aggressively in tight areas.
Mikel's back-pass was poked away by Arteta's toe.
Ivanović surged forward down the flank,
swinging his leg hard to clear the ball toward the wing.
Kai, leaning against Lampard, rushed toward the loose ball!
A wave of gasps swept through the stadium.
Kai suddenly cut the ball back,
twisting his body away from the Chelsea man beside him—
Another Cruyff turn!
Lampard and Mikel, both having shifted their weight, were left completely wrong-footed!
In the away section, Arsenal fans erupted in unrestrained cheers!
From the touchline, Villas-Boas shouted furiously at his players.
Kai knocked the ball diagonally forward.
Arsenal's entire formation surged upfield in an instant!
Chelsea supporters looked on in shock.
Whether it was zonal pressing in defense,
or lightning counters after winning the ball back,
this Arsenal side executed with frightening precision and intensity!
Kai carried the ball over the halfway line
and unleashed a powerful low pass!
The ball skimmed across the turf in an arc,
landing behind Chelsea's right flank.
Ivanović, who had just pushed up to press, was too slow to recover.
The wide area he was meant to guard was now wide open!
Walcott burst forward at top speed!
Kai moved to link up beside him.
The two exchanged an overlapping run.
The ball was slipped back into Kai's path.
Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge were already rising from their seats.
This Arsenal counterattack was moving far faster than they had imagined!
Panic flickered in the eyes of every Blue in the stands.
On the wing,
Kai, amid a wave of startled cries,
swung his left foot to deliver a slightly curling cross!
Into the center of the box—
Van Persie suddenly darted forward!
But the ball floated right over his head.
Chelsea fans' hearts skipped a beat.
Kai's real target for that cross…
was actually the far post!
At the far post, deep inside Chelsea's box,
Gervinho came charging in!
Meeting Kai's perfectly timed cross,
he tapped the ball with the inside of his foot,
slotting it right under Čech's arm and into the net!
GOALLLL!!
It's in!
Stamford Bridge instantly erupted into a chaotic uproar!
In the away stands, Arsenal fans went wild with cheers!
It was a goal—
and the match wasn't even ten minutes in!
After scoring, Gervinho leapt onto Kai in excitement!
All the Arsenal players piled together in celebration.
On the touchline, Boas froze.
Then he erupted into a hysterical roar at his players:
"How many times have I said it—high pressing! High!
Don't give them the space to shoot or counterattack!"
"High press! Are you all deaf?"
The media at the sidelines were stunned.
Drogba raised an arm toward the bench in frustration,
then, without another word, walked away with a face like thunder.
"Boas favors a high defensive line,
but that doesn't fit Chelsea's old tactics or the veterans' fitness."
"When Mourinho was here, Chelsea dominated the Premier League
with deep defending and counterattacks!"
"This clash in tactical philosophy
is one of the reasons for the rift between Boas and his players this season."
On the pitch!
Conceding a goal so early—
and facing Boas's furious screaming—
In the middle of the Chelsea box,
Terry suddenly tore the captain's armband off his arm
and flung it to the ground amid gasps from the crowd!
Lampard stood with his hands on his hips,
taking deep breaths.
Chelsea fans and reporters were stunned.
Just moments ago, they had hoped that
the return of veterans like Lampard
might spark a revival for the Blues.
But in reality—
with Kai leading Arsenal in a lightning-fast counterattack
that shredded the defense and scored right from the start—
Chelsea, in their own fortress at Stamford Bridge,
were completely rattled within minutes of kickoff!
~~----------------------
Patreon Advance Chapters:
[email protected] / Dreamer20