Chapter 86: I'll Take the Heat! Wenger, Have You No Shame?
"Relax, relax—everything's under control."
Inside the manager's office, Yang Cheng was patiently trying to calm down Adam Crozier.
The downside of the training ground being so close to the administrative offices was that the suit-and-tie staff had a habit of popping in uninvited.
If they knew nothing about football—like Xia Qing—it wasn't so bad. She stayed out of the way and trusted Yang Cheng unconditionally.
But someone like Adam Crozier, who knew just enough to be dangerous, would often jump to conclusions.
And that, frankly, was a problem common to every club.
"Don't panic. Just look at this report first."
Before Crozier could say a word, Yang Cheng handed him a dossier compiled by the Data Analysis Unit.
He was well aware of the team's current issues.
In fact, he had access to a wealth of internal data that the media and fans had never seen.
Since the second half of last season, under the leadership of Gianni Vio, the analytics department had combined with Sadd Forsyth and Oliver Bartlett's physical performance team to conduct deeper analyses of players' match and training performances.
To outsiders, the situation seemed odd.
19 goals scored, second-most in the league—what's there to complain about?
But that's the trap of data—it doesn't lie, but it can certainly mislead.
Take this: those 19 goals came from nine different players.
Bayswater's top scorer? Franck Ribéry, with five goals—outstanding for a winger not known for scoring.
And the center-forward, Rickie Lambert?
He'd scored four goals, which sounded decent—until you looked closer.
Only one goal (against Charlton) was an opener.
The rest were all "icing on the cake"—two in the blowout against Sunderland, one against Bolton as the third goal.
Even the goal against Charlton was practically spoon-fed by Ribéry.
Before that? He missed plenty of chances.
Of course, Lambert was never known as a clinical striker.
But what the data showed was worrying.
When facing weaker teams, Lambert looked solid.
But against top-half opponents, his impact dropped drastically.
In other words, he was a flat-track bully.
And that pointed to a problem of individual quality.
The Premier League is ruthlessly competitive. Managers adapt quickly.
It was no surprise then that, after a narrow win over Newcastle, a loss to Aston Villa, and a stoppage-time winner against Fulham—the media began to raise questions.
Yang Cheng already knew all this.
Crozier was surprised, especially when he saw the timestamp on the report.
"You knew this a month ago?"
"What do you think?" Yang Cheng smiled.
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I'm not planning to sign anyone."
If he brought in a proper striker, Bayswater's attack would go to another level.
But the right fit just wasn't available.
European football was in the middle of a tactical shift.
Strikers who fit Yang Cheng's system and were ready to deliver immediately were extremely rare—and extremely expensive.
Take Dimitar Berbatov from Leverkusen—€15 million minimum just to start negotiations.
And would Berbatov even want to come to Bayswater?
Go down the list—
Diego Milito from Genoa, Kanouté from Spurs—millions and still uncertain whether they'd adapt.
Bayswater had too many other expenses.
Yang Cheng simply couldn't justify blowing the budget.
Even second-tier options weren't cheap—and they'd still need to be developed.
So why not just focus on developing Edin Džeko?
Yang Cheng had already seen progress since the Bosnian's arrival.
He'd anticipated this problem long before the season started.
And it was still within his margin of control.
Beyond financial constraints, Yang Cheng also had to consider dressing room balance.
The squad had 23 players, many of them young.
Competing on three fronts—Premier League, League Cup, UEFA Cup—meant everyone would get game time.
Even 16-year-olds like Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott were seeing minutes.
Managing a team was a complicated, systemic project.
In football, they say "changing the coach is like changing the sword."
Why?
Because people are the most important variable on the pitch.
As Marcello Lippi once said:
"Attitude is everything."
A head coach has to handle both tactics and mentality.
One without the other won't work.
Yang Cheng checked the time. The person he'd been waiting for should be just outside.
He raised his voice:
"Bottom line: I believe in our players."
Crozier sighed.
"So we're not signing anyone during the winter window? What about the attack in the second half of the season?"
If they wanted to make a move in January, planning had to start now.
Any later, and they'd get fleeced.
"What's there to be afraid of? Our current squad is good enough. I believe in Džeko."
"Džeko?" Crozier groaned. "He hasn't even scored in the league yet."
"But he's done well in the cup matches—and he's improving."
"Are you sure?"
"I trust him completely!"
Well, that was the end of that.
Crozier had no choice but to back off.
He got up and headed for the door.
But when he opened it—he jumped.
Džeko was standing right there.
Both men were startled.
Crozier, ever sharp, quickly realized—
With that emotional look on Džeko's face…
And how loud Yang Cheng had been talking…
He turned around and saw Yang Cheng standing there calmly, like nothing had happened.
Set up!
Damn it. The kid boss had played him.
Crozier had been in the game for decades.
He'd survived the FA and Royal Mail, navigated power plays, fought political battles.
You think he couldn't see through this little trick?
But the thing was… for young players like Džeko, this worked.
This was exactly what they responded to.
And now, Crozier looked like the bad guy.
If Džeko ever became a star and wrote a memoir, fans would roast Crozier alive.
"Edin, when did you get here? Come in—I've got something to discuss with you."
Hearing Yang Cheng say that with such wide-eyed innocence, Crozier just sighed.
This one's on me.
But…
Is he really only 25?
Why is it so hard to believe?
…
Yang Cheng wasn't worried about Crozier overthinking it.
It was just a small thing—nothing serious.
He hadn't even planned it.
He didn't know Crozier would show up.
Calling Džeko over had been a coincidence.
Yang just improvised.
But however long Džeko had been standing there, he had clearly heard everything he needed to hear.
And once they were behind closed doors, the Bosnian was fired up.
"Don't worry, boss—I won't let you down!"
Yang Cheng smiled, satisfied.
He gave Džeko another round of encouragement before sending him on his way.
Transformation never happens overnight.
But Yang Cheng believed that by the end of the season, Džeko's game would improve dramatically.
And just like that—he'd saved the club a few million pounds.
This was a poor man's club. Every penny had to be counted.
As for the family business back home? That belonged to his "cheap old man."
Yang Cheng had no interest in going back to inherit anything.
He wanted to build Bayswater Chinese FC with his own hands and take on the giants of Europe, face to face!
…
November 3, evening – Loftus Road Stadium
UEFA Cup Group Stage, Round 2: Bayswater Chinese FC vs Dnipro (Home)
In the Premier League, Bayswater had faced growing doubts about their offensive output.
Dnipro, arriving from Ukraine, lined up in an ultra-defensive 5-5-0.
Yes, that's right—not a single striker.
They parked the bus from the start.
Faced with such negativity, Bayswater had no choice but to slowly chip away at the wall.
Finally, in the 36th minute, Ribéry used his individual brilliance to cut inside from the left and deliver a sharp diagonal pass to the right side of the box.
Aaron Lennon burst in, dribbled along the byline, and cut the ball back.
Ribéry, making a late run into the box, slotted it home.
1–0!
In the second half, just five minutes in, Lennon won a foul on the right wing with a quick one-two with Chimbonda.
As Dnipro braced for a cross, Bayswater took the free kick quickly, finding Modrić near the top-right arc of the box.
The Croatian sent a sharp through ball into the chaos.
Džeko emerged, settled the ball near the right of the box, and buried it.
2–0!
Six minutes later, Ribéry burned down the left flank and whipped in a low cross to the near post.
Džeko struck again, this time with his left foot.
3–0! A brace!
Yang Cheng was beaming on the sideline.
Young players—they thrive on confidence boosts.
But there was no denying Džeko's progress.
It was a good sign for the club.
…Even if it meant Adam Crozier had to eat his words.
Up in the main stand, Bayswater's new commercial director Omar Berrada noticed how quiet the CEO looked.
The team was winning 3–0. Everything was under control.
So why did Crozier look so... sour?
He'd been thrilled when Ribéry scored just a moment ago. What changed?
…
Bayswater held on to win 3–0.
In the other match, Hamburg beat Grasshoppers 2–1 at home.
AZ Alkmaar had a bye.
With that, Bayswater stood atop the group—2 wins in 2 games.
AZ and Hamburg both had one win.
Grasshoppers, two losses.
The group was unfolding as expected.
Barring a surprise, Bayswater, Hamburg, and AZ would advance.
…
After the UEFA Cup, it was time for Premier League Matchday 12, away to Portsmouth.
Pompey's manager was Alain Perrin, a French coach who would later take charge of a famously "magical" team.
He lined up in a defensive 5-4-1, locking things down completely.
It worked—for 45 minutes.
But just 3 minutes into the second half, Inler won the ball high and slipped it into the right side of the box.
Chimbonda, arriving from deep, lashed it home.
Second straight game he's scored in.
In the 79th minute, Chimbonda sprinted 80 meters down the right flank, received a through ball from Ashley Young, and whipped in a low cross.
Lambert shook off his marker and slid it home.
2–0!
That was Lambert's fifth league goal of the season.
And with Chelsea losing 0–1 away to Manchester United that weekend, Bayswater closed the gap.
Chelsea: 28 points
Bayswater: 27 points
Just one point behind.
The media across the UK and Europe erupted.
No one expected a newly promoted side to perform this well.
There was now real talk about Bayswater reclaiming top spot.
Chimbonda, with a goal and an assist in back-to-back matches, also drew attention.
Sky Sports noted:
"Chimbonda is one of the most underrated players in Europe."
"Yang Cheng's tactics have completely unleashed the potential of the French right-back."
While the media buzzed about Bayswater's rise, rational voices remained.
After 12 rounds, the Premier League paused again.
In two weeks' time, Bayswater would face the real test.
From Matchday 13 to 17, they would face a brutal run.
Five opponents:
ArsenalTottenhamLiverpoolChelseaCharlton
In between those five league games, there were two UEFA Cup matches—against AZ Alkmaar and Hamburg.
And in the League Cup?
They'd drawn Newcastle at home.
A packed schedule. Top-tier opposition.
"This run of fixtures will reveal just how deep Bayswater's dark horse magic really goes."
…
As national teams prepared for the upcoming World Cup with tactical rehearsals and tune-up games, Yang Cheng was working just as hard in London.
The media weren't wrong.
This upcoming stretch was the ultimate test.
Especially between November 19 (Matchday 13) and December 10 (Matchday 16).
In just 22 days, Bayswater would play 7 matches.
Worse? Every single opponent was dangerous.
Home vs ArsenalHome vs TottenhamAway to LiverpoolAway to ChelseaUEFA Cup: Away to AZ Alkmaar, Home to HamburgLeague Cup: Home vs Newcastle
If they beat Newcastle in the cup, they'd be in the quarterfinals—and their schedule leading up to Christmas would be terrifying.
And after that?
Even more madness during the holiday season.
Yang Cheng had managed clubs for decades (in his previous life)—he knew exactly how grueling these stretches could be.
One slip-up, and everything could unravel.
And with such density, injuries were almost inevitable.
As head coach, he had to control every detail—especially player psychology.
Back-to-back matches took a heavy mental toll.
Thankfully, none of the internationals came back injured.
That was mainly because most weren't starters for their national teams.
Take Chimbonda, for example.
Brilliant in the Premier League, but in the French squad, he was still stuck behind Bayern Munich's Willy Sagnol.
Aaron Lennon? Even further from the national XI—David Beckham was still ahead of him.
Yang Cheng sent scouts and analysts everywhere—tracking his own players and upcoming opponents.
He needed every piece of intel for the battles ahead.
First up: how to handle Arsenal at home?
Don't let their 7th-place standing fool you.
Their away form was horrific—2 draws, 4 losses in 6 matches.
No away wins.
But who would dare underestimate Arsenal?
Thierry Henry was on fire.
The captain was in a contract year—whether staying or leaving, he had every reason to shine.
So, first and foremost—how do you shut down Henry?
That's a problem every team in Europe had to face.
Yang Cheng was racking his brain.
Until—on Singles' Day (November 11)—a day for the lonely, he received a surprisingly good piece of news.
"Clichy's injured?"
Yang Cheng couldn't believe what he was hearing from Brian Kidd.
"You sure it's reliable?"
Brian chuckled.
"The news came straight from White Hart Lane. I didn't believe it at first either—double-checked it with someone at the stadium. It's legit."
Gaël Clichy had been playing for the France U21 team in a UEFA U21 Euro qualifier…
Against England U21.
At Tottenham's White Hart Lane.
On Singles' Day.
"How bad is it?"
"Metatarsal fracture."
"He'll need surgery, then."
"Exactly. Arsenal's already arranging it—he's going under the knife tomorrow. They say it'll be at least three months."
Yang Cheng knew he shouldn't be happy about an injury.
But… he couldn't hide the surge of joy.
Metatarsal fractures were common in the Premier League.
Beckham, Gary Neville, Danny Murphy, Rooney, Gerrard—they'd all suffered it.
And those were just the big names.
Plenty of lesser-known players had fallen victim to it, too.
Many were even calling it the "Premier League disease."
Why? Two main reasons:
Insane fixture congestion.
Top teams often played in four competitions, and once they hit the brutal holiday schedule, injuries exploded.High-intensity, fast-paced, physical football.
Combine both—and the metatarsals take the brunt of it.
The latest victim had been Ashley Cole, Arsenal's starting left-back.
He fractured his foot in October while on England duty—out for five months.
Now, Clichy was joining him.
Yang Cheng suppressed his glee and immediately pulled out the tactics board, laying out Arsenal's usual starting lineup.
For years, Wenger had relied on a 4-4-2 with two strikers.
These days, it was Henry and van Persie up top.
Pires and Ljungberg on the wings.
Gilberto Silva and Fabregas in the middle.
Campbell and Kolo Touré the main center-back pairing.
But the left-back slot? That was the real question now.
"Lauren or Cygan have both played there before," Brian said.
Yang Cheng studied the board, frowning.
He tried to put himself in Wenger's shoes—what would he do?
"Lauren's okay with his left, but he's a natural right-footer. Cygan's a left-footed center-back."
Brian nodded.
For full-backs, strong foot matters a lot.
"If Wenger plays Lauren on the left, who takes the right?"
"Eboué doesn't have his trust yet," Brian said.
"Then he'll have to break up his center-backs and move Kolo Touré wide."
"Meaning Cygan or Senderos would have to step in centrally."
Yang Cheng held up three fingers.
"That's three defensive changes in one go. And Lauren on the left—can he really handle Aaron Lennon?"
"So, you think it's going to be Cygan?"
"If he goes with Cygan, he keeps the rest of the back line intact. But Cygan's got a problem…"
"Slow." Brian finished the thought.
"Exactly!" Yang Cheng clapped his hands.
"With threats like Henry, Pires, Ljungberg, and Fabregas—we won't be able to sit back. So instead of waiting to be punched, let's hit them first!"
"If Wenger plays Cygan, he'll be bracing for Lennon's pace. That's perfect."
"We'll let Lennon drag him wide—and then have Chimbonda overload and tear him apart!"
Just like that, the tactical picture became clear.
Could they actually beat Arsenal?
That was hard to say.
This Arsenal team was Champions League finalist material.
Many believed Wenger's men should have won the title that season.
Even at home, nothing was guaranteed.
…
"You guys done talking?"
Xia Qing, who had been quietly sitting nearby, finally spoke up.
Only then did Yang Cheng realize she was still there.
He quickly apologized.
"Sorry, Qing-jie. Didn't mean to keep you waiting. Let's go eat—my treat."
After all, it was Singles' Day.
No match. Many players were away.
Yang Cheng was alone—perfect excuse to invite Xia Qing to dinner.
Except…
They'd barely left when Brian Kidd called.
Yang Cheng turned right back around, rushing into the office.
"Brian, you coming?" Yang Cheng casually offered.
Brian was about to say yes—until he saw Xia Qing glance over.
He swallowed the words.
He wasn't that clueless.
"Nah, I'll head home."
He had a wife. This was Singles' Day, after all.
Besides, the way Yang Cheng had rushed back…
No wonder he was still single.
Watching the two walk away together, Brian nodded approvingly.
She waited over an hour without complaint. If it were my wife, she'd have raised hell.
And she's gorgeous too…
These two? They're perfect.
…
November 19, noon – Loftus Road
Premier League Matchday 13: Bayswater Chinese FC vs Arsenal (Home)
Another sold-out crowd.
Yang Cheng's starting XI surprised many.
GK: Neuer
Defense: Baines, José Fonte, Škrtel, Chimbonda
Midfield: Andreasen (DM), Inler and Lassana Diarra
Attack: Ashley Young, Džeko, Aaron Lennon
Ribéry, Modrić, and Yaya Touré were all on the bench.
Partly due to fatigue from international duty, partly to rest them for the UEFA Cup.
Even shorthanded, Bayswater went on the offensive from the start.
In just over two minutes, Ashley Young fired a threatening long shot from the left edge of the box.
The home side kept pressing.
And Wenger, as predicted, played Cygan at left-back.
So Bayswater hit that flank hard.
But in the 11th minute, Arsenal struck first.
Campbell intercepted, and Arsenal launched a counter.
Van Persie picked up the ball on the left channel, dribbled past Škrtel, and cut inside.
Henry pulled defenders away, and van Persie rifled a shot from distance.
Neuer had it tracked—until it deflected off José Fonte in the box.
The slight change in trajectory left the German keeper helpless.
0–1!
That was van Persie's sixth goal in five matches.
Even after conceding, both teams kept fighting hard for possession.
In the 14th minute, Arsenal attacked down the left.
Henry passed, Ljungberg broke through on the right and crossed.
Van Persie nearly scored again from close range, but Neuer made a flying save to keep it out.
Just four minutes later, Bayswater countered and won a free kick on the left.
Baines whipped it in.
Škrtel flicked it on.
Inler, sneaking in behind Kolo Touré, powered a header toward goal—
Arsenal players protested, claiming Inler used his hands to push Kolo Touré while jumping, but the referee signaled the goal would stand.
1–1!
The two sides continued to go back and forth, trading attacks.
Bayswater Chinese FC maintained a compact formation, trying to limit Henry's space on the ball.
But in the 21st minute, Henry broke through anyway.
Receiving a pass from Pires, he slid in from the right side of the penalty spot and fired—once again finding the back of the net.
2–1!
José Fonte stood there helpless.
He'd done everything he could—you simply couldn't stop Henry.
In the 28th minute, Bayswater built from the back. Škrtel played the ball forward to Lassana Diarra.
The Frenchman pushed into the final third and laid it off to Chimbonda, who made an aggressive overlapping run into the right channel.
Yang Cheng had instructed Lennon to stay wide, going up and down the flank, while Chimbonda attacked more through the inside lane.
Chimbonda controlled the ball, slipped past Gilberto Silva, then pulled Cygan out of position before slotting a through ball into the right side of the box.
Aaron Lennon sprinted past Cygan and reached the ball first, dribbling into the box before Campbell could close him down.
Lennon cut the ball across goal—
Džeko was shielded by Kolo Touré and couldn't reach it.
But at the far post, Ashley Young came flying in, finishing calmly.
2–2!
Bayswater were energized by the equalizer.
In the 36th minute, Ashley Young won a free kick near the Arsenal penalty area, but it didn't lead to a goal.
Instead, in the 41st minute, Arsenal earned a free kick on the left side of the box—about 25 meters out—after Diarra fouled Pires.
Henry stepped up and delivered a laser of a free kick—straight into the top corner.
3–2!
Just before halftime, Bayswater earned another free kick.
Under the direction of Gianni Vio, they adjusted the set-piece plan.
Leighton Baines curled in a pinpoint delivery. In the chaos, Fonte, Škrtel, Džeko, and Andreasen ran decoy routes to distract Arsenal's defense.
None of them made contact.
Instead, at the back post, Chimbonda rose above everyone and smashed in a header from close range.
3–3!
The French fullback looked like he'd lost his mind in celebration—his third goal in three straight matches!
Loftus Road erupted into a thunderous roar.
Six goals in one half—absolute madness!
…
"Henry is just too good…"
At halftime, after sending his players back into the dressing room, Yang Cheng glanced over at Wenger and couldn't help but sigh.
Wenger looked even more frustrated than Yang Cheng.
Arsenal's league position wasn't great, and before kickoff, Wenger had been determined to take three points from this rising West London team.
Even more than the result, Arsenal were beginning to feel the threat from Bayswater Chinese FC.
When Arsenal were planning their new stadium, everything had seemed under control.
Wenger had even promised the bank he'd stay at the club for five more years and keep the team in the top four.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal—those were the expected "Big Four."
But now, Bayswater had crashed the party.
And they were based in North Hyde Park, not far from Arsenal's home.
Bayswater's rise posed a bigger threat to Chelsea, yes—but Arsenal had plenty to worry about too.
David Dein had even commissioned an independent analysis:
If Bayswater's stadium were built—offering the same high-end hospitality—who would buy Arsenal's 200 VIP suites?
That was tens of millions of pounds in annual revenue.
This wasn't just a rival—this was an existential threat.
Of course, those worries were for the future.
Bayswater's stadium was still incomplete. Its planned capacity was only 10,000—and there weren't even VIP boxes yet.
From Arsenal's point of view, that prime land was being wasted.
"Wenger looks more miserable than you," Brian Kidd chuckled.
A 3–3 draw at halftime?
Yang Cheng and Kidd could live with that.
He hadn't even used Ribéry, Modrić, or Yaya Touré yet.
Did people really think Yang Cheng kept his best weapons on the bench for nothing?
Both teams had just returned from international duty.
But Arsenal's internationals were mostly starters and had taken more of a toll.
Yang Cheng's first-half strategy had been simple: drain Arsenal's energy.
The second half would be Bayswater's time to strike.
"Henry really is a monster. I had Chimbonda and Škrtel double-teaming him, and he still scored."
Yang Cheng was full of admiration.
"We limited his touches, and then boom—a direct free kick. The guy's got a whole arsenal of weapons."
Brian Kidd nodded.
Right now, Henry was the most dangerous striker in the Premier League—and maybe all of Europe.
But Kidd had to admit, Yang Cheng's tactical plan impressed him.
Henry moved everywhere. He could shoot, dribble, pass, hold up play—a complete forward.
But nobody is perfect.
Franz Beckenbauer once said: "A player's greatest strength is often also his greatest weakness."
The same applies to tactics and players.
Henry's biggest strength was his speed and strength.
But that also caused his flaw.
At 1.88 meters, his center of gravity was high.
His speed and movement were deadly, especially when he drifted wide, received the ball, and accelerated past defenders.
Visually spectacular. Tactically devastating.
Henry's first touch was sharp, and with his pace, he could glide past almost anyone.
But to beat defenders, he had to rely on change of direction and feints at full speed.
And that's where his height betrayed him.
At 1.88, his balance during those movements was naturally less stable.
The follow-up touches and control would sometimes break down.
People often wondered—why had Henry flopped at Juventus?
The answer was right there.
In Serie A, where defenses are tighter, his strengths were minimized and his flaws magnified.
But in the Premier League, with more space and faster tempo, Henry thrived.
The same logic applied in reverse.
Premier League managers weren't stupid.
They knew Henry's strengths and weaknesses.
Wes Brown from Manchester United had shut him down multiple times.
But knowing is one thing. Stopping him is another.
Today, Yang Cheng had deployed Chimbonda to mark Henry, with Škrtel providing cover.
Chimbonda had the pace and strength—but wasn't a great 1v1 defender.
Škrtel was a monster in duels but slow on the turn.
Even both of them together couldn't stop Henry from scoring.
And the second goal? A free kick.
That's Henry for you.
To Yang Cheng, among all strikers of Henry's era, the only one more unstoppable was a healthy Ronaldo at Barcelona.
He had all of Henry's strengths—without the weaknesses.
And in the Premier League?
Cristiano Ronaldo, in his final two years at Manchester United, was even better than Henry.
As for Henry's stint at Barça?
Let's not talk about that.
French strikers like Henry are most comfortable in a two-forward setup.
But in Barça's 4-3-3, whether he was deployed as a left winger or center-forward, Henry always looked awkward.
"We'll keep pressing him in the second half. I don't believe he'll keep getting away with it!"
Yang Cheng was fired up.
The arrow had already been notched—there was no turning back now.
…
Second half, teams switched sides.
Bayswater Chinese FC doubled down on containing Henry and van Persie, especially Henry.
Chimbonda, when not pushing forward, glued himself to Henry.
The French striker looked visibly uncomfortable.
In the first half, Henry had already realized just how tricky his new national team teammate could be—
Chimbonda wasn't the best defender, but he was fast, strong in duels, and absolutely relentless.
That was understandable.
If someone could shut down Thierry Henry, they'd make a name for themselves across Europe. Who wouldn't give it everything?
The second half was more of the same—a slugfest.
Arsenal had more possession and more chances, but few were dangerous.
And Henry? His stamina was visibly dropping.
In the 52nd minute, he broke free from Chimbonda on the left and got a shot off—
Škrtel blocked it brilliantly.
Not long after, Henry had another look—still no joy.
With Henry less threatening, Arsenal's attack lost bite.
Then came Yang Cheng's long-prepared substitution in the 65th minute.
A double switch—Ribéry and Modrić replaced Lennon and Lassana Diarra.
For the record, Lassana Diarra was, at this point, the top ball-winner in the Premier League, and by a wide margin.
After the change, Bayswater launched their first warning shot—
Inler cracked a long-range shot from the right channel.
And with that, the home side's counterattack was on.
Arsenal began to look rattled.
Especially when Ribéry, now on the right flank, targeted Cygan relentlessly.
Starting from the 66th minute, Bayswater kept attacking down the right, hammering Arsenal's weakest spot.
Arsène Wenger had no choice but to respond.
Just six minutes later, he had his players warming up.
In the 75th minute, he subbed on Flamini for Pires, and Bergkamp for van Persie.
Flamini was mostly a defensive reinforcement—but more than that, a body to shield Cygan.
The French midfielder could fill in at left-back when needed.
With the double change, Arsenal just barely managed to settle down.
But Yang Cheng immediately played his third card—
Walcott replaced Ashley Young.
Ribéry switched back to the left.
In the 80th minute, Walcott, freshly on the pitch, tried to blaze past Flamini on the right wing—
Fouled.
Yellow card for Flamini—he'd only just come on.
Bayswater took the free kick quickly, playing it to Džeko at the top of the box.
The Bosnian striker controlled the ball with his back to goal, spun past Campbell, and broke into the penalty area.
Goalkeeper Lehmann came charging out.
Džeko hesitated for a split second—his shot was saved.
Still, that turn and burst left everyone on the sideline impressed—even Wenger, who shouted frantically at Campbell.
Yang Cheng had seen enough.
Campbell was old—and it was starting to show.
He signaled his team to focus their attack on the veteran center-back.
And just a minute later, Džeko dropped into the right channel, turned past Campbell again, and crossed low into the box.
Ribéry burst in from the left, only to be grabbed and pulled by Lauren—he even tore Ribéry's shirt.
But Ribéry, focused on scoring, didn't go down.
And the referee let it go.
As the final minutes ticked away, Arsenal's defense was collapsing.
Left: Cygan couldn't stop WalcottRight: Lauren couldn't handle RibéryCenter: Campbell was getting destroyed by Džeko
Arsenal were forced to drop back and play deep—visibly struggling.
Wenger stood on the touchline, worried and helpless.
Luckily, the score was still 3–3.
In the 86th minute, Wenger made his third and final substitution—
Senderos replaced Ljungberg.
Wenger had given up!
He was ready to park the bus and hold on to the draw at all costs, even at the expense of his dignity.
After that change, Arsenal bunkered down in a 5-3-2 formation with three defensive midfielders.
Bayswater kept attacking, full of energy.
But credit where it's due—Arsenal's deep block wasn't easy to break.
Finally, the referee blew the whistle.
3–3!
A hard-fought draw.
As soon as the whistle sounded, Yang Cheng, his coaching staff, and the entire crowd rose to their feet—applauding the players.
"Bayswater Chinese FC were outstanding today."
"The first half was slightly in Arsenal's favor, but they held their own."
"In the second half, especially the final 30 minutes, they dominated."
"Arsenal were battered and on the ropes."
"Bayswater absolutely deserve the applause!"
…
"Where'd you find that Bosnian striker?"
After the match, Yang Cheng, as host, went to greet Wenger.
Neither mentioned the game directly—both sticking to professional courtesy.
Wenger was clearly frustrated.
He'd come here looking for three points—and nearly lost.
But Džeko had made a deep impression.
In the final minutes, Campbell couldn't contain him at all.
You didn't need a full scouting report—just watch a match, and you'd know the kid had talent.
"Professor, that's confidential," Yang Cheng said with a grin.
"I can't just hand over secrets like that, can I?"
He was thrilled—Wenger had taken notice of Džeko.
That alone was a compliment.
Back when Yang Cheng had applied for special talent exemption to register Džeko, people across England had laughed at him.
After this match?
Let's see who's still laughing.
"Still lacks physicality. If only—"
"Professor, trust me, we know," Yang Cheng cut him off.
God knows what Wenger would try to leverage this "kindness" for in the future.
Wenger was miffed.
This kid really didn't let anything slide.
Not even the tiniest edge.
No respect for his elders.
"At the very least, I'm older than you. I've coached longer."
"But professor," Yang Cheng said, softening his tone,
"I do need to warn you."
"Go on." Wenger was in no mood for pleasantries.
"We're getting more confident each game. And we've realized… maybe the Premier League's Big Four aren't as untouchable as we thought."
Wenger's eyes twitched.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
The Big Four aren't strong?
Who was he talking about?
Come to think of it—Yang Cheng had already faced three of them:
Beat Chelsea on opening dayDrew Manchester United awayNow drew Arsenal at home
That record didn't lie.
"So professor, you guys better keep working hard. Because if—just if—we make it into the top four, and you…"
Yang Cheng didn't finish the sentence.
He just started laughing.
The infamous Fourth-Place Kings?
You really think you're safe with me around?
"Bullshit!" Wenger snapped.
"Season's not even halfway done. Don't get ahead of yourself."
Yang Cheng actually agreed with that.
So he nodded seriously, looked Wenger straight in the eye, and said:
"We'll see."
And with that, he turned and walked off—calm, confident, and full of fire.
Leaving Wenger behind, staring at his young rival's retreating back—utterly speechless.
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