Chapter 131: King of London! A Long-Distance Sprint! Yang Cheng: I Want to Buy Arsenal!
"David, we need a reasonable explanation."
At the Emirates Stadium, in the meeting room of Arsenal's headquarters, several members of the board—who were also core shareholders—sat together.
This was an emergency board meeting.
The initiator was Chairman Peter Hill-Wood.
A man who had been at the helm of Arsenal since 1962.
The topic of this special board meeting involved a major figure in European football who had served as vice-chairman of the club since 1983.
David Dein, who had also been Arsenal's public face in the Premier League and European football over the past years.
This time, the board members were all in attendance.
Several major shareholders, including Danny Fiszman, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, and a representative from the Carr family, were all present.
Clearly, everyone was shocked by David Dein's move.
"Usmanov offered £75 million to buy the shares I held," David Dein said frankly.
He had never intended to keep this matter a secret.
Because he felt that the issue had to be laid bare for Arsenal to find a way out.
This board meeting was fully within his expectations.
£75 million?!
Everyone present went from disbelief to astonishment.
That meant Usmanov valued Arsenal at £500 million.
They were all businesspeople, and immediately began calculating in their heads how many shares they owned, and at that valuation, how much their shares would be worth.
Was it worth it?
For reference, from 2003 to 2005, the Glazer family spent £790 million to acquire Manchester United.
Peter Hill-Wood was already in his seventies, and none of his children were interested in running a football club.
But he and his family were die-hard Arsenal supporters.
That was why he had always refused to sell Arsenal, turning down both the American Kroenke and the Russian Usmanov.
But he never expected that his trusted lieutenant of many years would secretly "betray" him.
"You broke our agreement, David. You didn't inform me beforehand," Hill-Wood said angrily.
"I'm sorry, Peter, but I believe it's a fair price, and Usmanov's terms were quite good."
As for the specifics, David Dein naturally wasn't going to disclose them.
Usmanov had promised that if he acquired Arsenal, David Dein would remain at the helm of the Gunners.
That way, his son Darren Dein and agent Anderson's agency business could continue.
But Kroenke had refused to give such a promise.
And in the Premier League, this wasn't exactly a secret.
Ferguson's son was also an agent, and his brother was Manchester United's chief scout.
As long as it benefited the club, what harm was there in letting insiders do business with it?
But for now, David Dein wasn't going to discuss that issue.
Everyone present was a major shareholder of Arsenal, but clearly, they hadn't realized just how serious the situation had become.
"In front of each of you is a copy of our club's actual financial statements for the past three years."
David Dein looked at the shareholders, his expression grim.
"This is the club's biggest secret. It may only be viewed in this meeting room. Once you leave this room, not a word of it is to be spoken."
The shareholders were stunned as they opened the files in front of them. The financial figures inside were shocking.
"I want to point out that losing Champions League qualification for the past two seasons has had a far greater impact on the club than we previously estimated."
Arsenal's finances had never been made public.
They contained many secrets—like the compensation and benefits of David Dein and other board members.
And many other things.
Everyone on the outside said that Arsenal had gone deep into debt building their new stadium.
But how much exactly?
In fact, it was £260 million.
Back in 1999, the original estimate for the project was £150 million, but it exceeded expectations and reached £300 million.
By the time the construction was completed and the final accounts were settled, the actual cost came to £470 million.
Of that, Arsenal's main debt came from a £260 million loan taken out from several banks in 2003. The loan term was 14 years, relatively short, with significant annual repayment pressure.
So, in 2006, David Dein, Peter Hill-Wood, and the board decided to issue bonds on the open market. Using the completed Emirates Stadium as collateral, they issued £210 million in fixed-rate bonds and £50 million in floating-rate bonds.
The loan interest rates were 5.14% and 5.97%, with a maximum repayment period of 25 years.
With the funds obtained, they paid off the bank loans.
Why use bonds to repay bank loans?
Arsenal's official explanation was that bonds had longer repayment terms and more favorable interest rates.
But in reality?
The purpose of repaying the bank loan was to be able to borrow another loan from the bank.
In 2006, Arsenal also launched a large-scale apartment real estate project.
They tore down the original Highbury Stadium and built apartment complexes on the site.
So, in 2006, after issuing bonds and paying off the previous bank loans, Arsenal took out another short-term loan of £133.5 million, with a four-year term.
Therefore, from 2006 to 2010, Arsenal not only had to repay the principal and interest of the £260 million bonds, but also the £133.5 million short-term loan.
At least £56 million per year.
See it now?
Whether it was the bank loan to build the stadium, or the bonds issued later to repay it, those were within Arsenal's ability to handle. What really crushed Arsenal was the real estate loan for the apartment project.
In the 2005/06 season, Arsenal's revenue was around £145 million.
Originally, the club expected revenue to reach £180 million in the 2006/07 season.
If that happened, then even repaying £56 million a year, though difficult, would be manageable.
Moreover, once the apartment project was completed and units were sold, the club could recoup some cash.
But now?
The club missed out on Champions League qualification in both the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons, losing at least £20 million annually.
Revenue had fallen far short of expectations.
Earlier, selling Henry had brought in a transfer fee, which helped them hold on for a while.
But now?
Note that the transfer fees for Aaron Lennon and Chimbonda were to be amortized over six years.
But Henry's transfer fee was recorded in full immediately.
Back then, Arsenal's thinking was: sign Lennon and Chimbonda to fill key squad gaps and push for Champions League qualification.
But who would have thought—it ended in failure.
And not just failure—Chimbonda massively underperformed after joining.
On one side, the club had to pay £56 million annually in interest and loan repayments, plus player salaries and various expenses. On the other side, club revenues weren't increasing—in fact, they were stagnating.
"We've suffered massive losses for two straight seasons. By the 2008/09 season, our finances won't hold up anymore."
David Dein warned the board members very seriously—the situation was dire.
Peter Hill-Wood closed the report in front of him and sighed, "Let's hold on a bit longer. This year the situation looks better. Maybe we'll make it back into the Champions League. Plus, the apartment project is nearly complete. Once we sell the units, we can recoup the funds. The pressure will ease."
"Peter!"
David Dein raised his voice, "Can we stop lying to ourselves?"
"America—just across the Atlantic—they've been cutting interest rates and injecting liquidity into the market nonstop."
"The subprime mortgage crisis has already erupted. It can't be covered up anymore."
"Look at the UK housing market now. Even if we finish building the apartment project, will we even be able to sell it?"
The shareholders present all knew deep down why they had agreed to the real estate project in the first place.
Everything Boils Down to One Thing: Everyone Wants to Make Money
When it came down to it, everyone was just in it for the money.
Since the decision was made back then, and the gamble had now failed, they would have to accept the consequences.
David Dein laid out a brutal truth.
Arsenal wouldn't last until 2009!
In fact, if the club's financial pressure wasn't relieved, they'd have to sell players again in the summer of 2008.
And the more players they sold, the less competitive the team would become.
"The Premier League today is completely different from what it was in 1999 when we decided to build the new stadium, or in 2003 when we secured bank loans. The times have changed entirely."
"We never imagined Abramovich would completely rewrite the rules of the Premier League."
"Even more unexpected was that a lower-league team from the north side of Hyde Park would transform into a Premier League powerhouse."
"We've already missed the Champions League for two straight seasons. This season—can we really afford to gamble again?"
No one present could answer David Dein's question.
Compared to ordinary people, they were all wealthy elites, members of high society.
But compared to Abramovich and those truly extravagant owners who burned money on football, their assets were nothing.
Over the past few years, David Dein had repeatedly proposed to these shareholders that they lend money to the club to ease the financial burden.
It would be considered a loan.
But no one was willing to invest more.
"Now, we only have two options. One—we all go down together. I've already sold my shares anyway."
"Or—we accept an external investor."
The moment "investor" was mentioned, silence fell over the room again.
Everyone looked to Peter Hill-Wood.
The septuagenarian was the most resistant to foreign investors.
Back in 2003, he had already turned down Abramovich's bid.
This year, he again refused both Kroenke and Usmanov.
But now, the situation had outpaced his resistance. He could no longer afford to be stubborn.
"We could allow new capital to come in, ease the club's financial stress, and let them into the board—but only as non-executive directors."
David Dein let out a cold snort.
"Peter, do you take them for fools?"
Peter Hill-Wood's face twisted in anger, but he quickly sighed again.
"I'll say it again—there's no other choice. Either we accept investment and dilute everyone's shares, or we sell our shares to one investor, let him buy out the club, and then inject capital."
Either way, it was something the current Arsenal shareholders didn't want to do.
With that, David Dein reminded everyone that the financial report absolutely must not be leaked.
Then he stood up and left.
Leaving the others in the meeting room exchanging looks, clearly unable to come to a decision.
...
The night of November 6, Wembley Stadium in London.
Champions League Group Stage, Round 4. Bayswater Chinese vs. Real Madrid.
Just 100 seconds into the game, Bayswater Chinese threatened Casillas's goal with a spectacular overhead kick from near the penalty spot.
The work of Andrey Arshavin.
The Russian clearly had a taste for bicycle kicks now.
That play ignited the crowd instantly.
With the advantage of being the home team, Bayswater Chinese relentlessly pressured Real Madrid's back line from the get-go.
Unlike the previous match, Real Madrid had most of their injured players back this time.
Goalkeeper: Casillas;
Defense: Heinze, Skrtel, Cannavaro, and Ramos;
Midfield: Sneijder, Gago, Mahamadou Diarra, and Robinho;
Forwards: Raúl and van Nistelrooy.
Schuster's side was still set up in a 4-4-2 formation.
Different from the first leg, Robinho was deployed on the right wing.
Clearly, they wanted to target Bayswater Chinese's left side.
Leighton Baines was carrying a knock, so Marcelo started this match.
Schuster obviously knew Marcelo was strong going forward but weak defensively, so he aimed for that side.
Yang Cheng also understood their intent, but instead of shoring up that side, he chose to go head-to-head with Real Madrid.
He had the confidence to do so!
He also wanted to give the home fans a true football spectacle.
So from the first whistle, Bayswater Chinese went all out on the attack against Real Madrid's defense.
Real Madrid was never known for a solid defense—they had issues at the back.
What unfolded was a shootout.
In the 14th minute, during a high press up front, Real Madrid's defense misplayed a pass.
Heinze's ball to Skrtel was intercepted by Džeko.
The Bosnian striker drove into the box, cut past Skrtel, and sent a low pass with his left foot. Arshavin arrived late and calmly slotted it home to open the scoring for Bayswater Chinese.
1–0!
But just five minutes later, Real Madrid hit back.
During a quick counterattack, Sneijder delivered a diagonal ball, and Robinho burst down the right wing, broke into the box, and fired low past Neuer to equalize.
1–1!
It was blade against blade—neither side giving an inch!
In the 24th minute, Bayswater Chinese earned a corner on the left after a sustained attack.
Modrić took the corner and delivered it perfectly to the near post.
Pepe won the first header and flicked it on.
At the far post, Yaya Touré outjumped both Cannavaro and Ramos and thundered in a header.
2–1!
The crowd exploded with joy.
When was the last time they'd seen a football match this wild, with no regard for defense, just a direct shootout?
Down a goal, Real Madrid responded with fire, pushing forward aggressively.
In the 31st minute, Gareth Bale received a pass from Modrić on the left and, under pressure from Ramos, fired from distance—only to send it soaring over the bar.
The Welshman had been in great form recently, but tonight, Ramos had locked him down. His performance suffered greatly.
This was typical of young players—highs and lows.
But in the 35th minute, Bayswater Chinese regained possession in midfield.
Lass Diarra intercepted a pass and immediately tried to thread a through ball for Džeko, just like he did against Newcastle.
The French midfielder was hooked on those passes.
But this time, his intent was too obvious—Mahamadou Diarra cut it out.
The ball fell to Modrić.
The Croatian took one touch and then delivered a stunning through ball.
Like a surgeon's scalpel, the pass slid more than 20 meters across the grass, landing perfectly at Džeko's feet inside the box.
The Bosnian striker stopped it, shot, and in one fluid motion, sent the ball flying past the keeper with effortless elegance.
3–1!
Both sides continued to create chances, taking shot after shot.
But neither could find the back of the net again.
Neither team made changes at halftime.
After switching sides in the second half, in the 54th minute, Robinho broke down the right and was fouled by Marcelo, winning a free kick in a dangerous area.
Sneijder delivered it, Ramos rose highest, and headed it into the net. 2–3!
Real Madrid were still trailing, but they kept pressing.
Even with a one-goal lead, Bayswater Chinese showed no mercy.
When it came to attacking football, Bayswater Chinese feared no one!
Yang Cheng quickly brought on Walcott, replacing Džeko, who had played two full matches in a row.
The Bosnian had a goal and an assist—a standout performance.
The home fans rose to their feet, giving him a thunderous ovation.
After the Substitutions, the Battle Raged On
Even after a round of substitutions from both sides, the match remained a wide-open, all-out brawl. Neither team was willing to show weakness.
The fans in the stadium were absolutely thrilled.
In the 87th minute of the second half, Real Madrid earned a corner kick in the attacking third.
Sneijder delivered the ball into the box, but it was headed clear by a defender.
The ball dropped to the edge of the area, where Gago and others were waiting.
Gareth Bale contested the aerial ball with Gago and nodded it toward the left channel, where Walcott was completely unmarked.
The Little Tiger instantly touched the ball ahead of himself and launched into a sprint like an arrow released from a bow.
All eyes were on that red figure as he chased down the ball at lightning speed, then sent it flying forward again with another powerful touch—and chased it down once more at full tilt, not losing a shred of momentum.
In a flash, he blew past wave after wave of white-shirted defenders.
Over 75,000 fans in Wembley erupted in a frenzy of screams and cheers.
The sheer impact of that explosive burst of speed sent adrenaline surging through the entire stadium.
Walcott tore through Real Madrid's defensive line like a hot knife through butter, charging all the way into the penalty area, one-on-one with the last man.
Then, with an elegant Marseille turn, he slipped past Casillas, who had gone to ground, and calmly slotted the ball into the empty net with his left foot.
The moment the ball rolled into the goal, over 75,000 fans at Wembley shouted Walcott's name in unison.
Nothing electrifies the crowd like a thrilling, coast-to-coast run.
Especially after a match packed with such end-to-end action, Walcott's long-distance strike was the perfect finale.
From the moment they stood up, the fans in the stands never sat down again.
They applauded continuously for the players on the pitch.
Thunderous applause echoed through every corner of Wembley.
It was clear that the fans were absolutely delighted with what they'd witnessed.
4–2!
Six goals!
Not a single dull minute all match long.
Both teams completely threw defending out the window and attacked with wild abandon.
In the end, Bayswater Chinese's firepower outgunned Real Madrid's.
...
After the match at Wembley, media across Europe heaped praise on the game.
Bayswater Chinese and Real Madrid traded blow for blow for 90 minutes, with the two teams combining for an incredible 41 shots on goal.
It was sheer madness!
On average, a shot every two minutes.
You can imagine what kind of match that was.
Bayswater Chinese fired 23 shots, Real Madrid 18.
But when it came to shots on target, Bayswater Chinese had 14 and scored 4, while Real Madrid had just 7 and scored 2.
In terms of both attacking volume and shooting efficiency, both teams were impressive.
Especially Bayswater Chinese.
14 shots on target—but only 4 goals.
The clearest result? Casillas was named Man of the Match.
Despite the loss, AS still gave Real Madrid high marks, noting that they had several brilliant moments at Wembley.
Sneijder and Robinho both stood out with eye-catching performances.
Gago also did a good job dictating the tempo and distributing the ball.
But AS also emphasized that Sneijder and Robinho needed to find consistency and perform well more regularly.
The British press also gave Bayswater Chinese glowing reviews. With four wins in a row, they secured first place in the group and qualified early for the Champions League Round of 16.
It was the second consecutive season that Bayswater Chinese had reached the Champions League knockout stage.
Everyone agreed that, based on their current form, Bayswater Chinese had every chance of going further than they did last season.
After all, midfielders like Modrić, Lass Diarra, and Yaya Touré were far more mature and powerful than they had been the previous year.
Many outlets were focused on the team's rising young stars.
Walcott and Rakitić both impressed, and while Marcelo got torched by Robinho at times, his contributions in attack were undeniable.
By English standards, Marcelo's performance was certainly controversial.
On one hand, his offensive qualities—technique, ball control, passing, even long passes—were excellent, making it clear he was a classic Brazilian full-back.
Especially his long diagonal switches from the left flank—those were consistently dangerous.
But on the other hand, his defense was really subpar.
Otherwise, Schuster wouldn't have immediately moved Robinho to the right side as soon as he saw Marcelo in the starting lineup.
The player who received the most praise, however, was Walcott.
That stunning coast-to-coast run after coming off the bench sent the British media into a frenzy.
Everyone said he had the flair of a young Michael Owen.
Yang Cheng was already used to how the British press hyped their homegrown players.
In his eyes, whether it was Walcott, Gareth Bale, or Aaron Ramsey, they were all fairly self-disciplined, without any bad habits.
Most importantly—they listened.
The worst thing for a young player is to get a bit of attention and suddenly believe they're invincible.
Having personality and pride is a good thing.
That's how young players should be.
But they also need to be able to take advice—to understand what's good for them.
A player who always goes their own way, no matter how talented, usually won't fulfill their potential.
...
Noon, November 10, Wembley Stadium in London.
Premier League, Round 13. Bayswater Chinese vs. Arsenal at home.
By the 44th minute, the scoreboard still read 0–0.
Bayswater Chinese earned a corner kick from the right flank.
Modrić dashed over to take it quickly.
Meanwhile, the Bayswater Chinese players rushed into Arsenal's penalty area.
At that moment, nearly 65,000 fans in the stadium were shouting with everything they had.
On the sideline, in front of the visitors' bench, Arsène Wenger stared nervously at the field, silent.
He tried desperately to hide his anxiety—but his eyes betrayed him.
With the whistle from referee Rob Styles, Modrić took a short run-up and curled in a low-driven corner.
The ball dipped sharply toward the near post.
Very near.
Koscielny rushed forward unmarked and flicked it on with a slight header.
The ball whipped across the face of goal at high speed.
Arsenal's penalty area was already in total disarray.
Most of the defenders' attention had been drawn by Koscielny's movement.
So when the ball reached the six-yard box, none of the players at the near post managed to touch it.
Some were too slow to react, others swung and missed.
Both Bayswater Chinese and Arsenal players alike failed to connect.
But right at the top of the six-yard box, a hulking red figure came charging in.
He barreled into the area like a semi-truck plowing through a packed shopping street.
Who could stop him?
And just as Arsenal keeper Almunia dived forward, Yaya Touré stuck out a foot.
The ball slipped underneath the outstretched hands of the Spanish keeper and rolled into the net.
Referee Rob Styles blew his whistle immediately!
Yaya Touré was already sprinting away, roaring with excitement. The Ivorian midfielder waved his arms wildly, shouting as he charged toward the stands and spread his arms wide to the Bayswater Chinese fans.
In that moment, the scoreboard flipped.
1–0!
Every single fan in the stadium was chanting one name.
Yaya Touré!
Wenger's Regret
Wenger had always believed he had an excellent memory.
Especially when it came to numbers—he was particularly sensitive. Even things from long ago, certain figures, he could still recall with crystal clarity.
But this time, he couldn't remember—exactly when had Yaya Touré come to Arsenal for a trial? How long had the trial lasted?
The only thing he was sure of was that it must have been in the summer of 2003, during the team's preseason preparations.
Back then, Kolo Touré had approached him, hoping to recommend his younger brother for a trial at Arsenal.
The Ivorian defender had performed well, and Wenger gave him the courtesy, so he agreed.
Not long after, this player from the lower divisions of the Belgian league arrived at Arsenal.
Wenger didn't have a deep impression of him—he only remembered that the kid trained regularly with the team and played in midfield.
Exactly what position he played, Wenger couldn't say, because he was all over the place.
Reportedly, he had played as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder, defensive midfielder, center back, and even out wide.
In short, he claimed he could play anywhere.
All in an effort to stay at Arsenal.
Wenger had long been used to this kind of declaration from young players. His first impression of Yaya Touré? Incredibly strong.
Once he saw him on the pitch, he realized the kid had good footwork too.
But he tended to hold onto the ball too long.
A common problem for players without formal academy training—a very streetball kind of style.
Wenger no longer remembered exactly how long Yaya Touré was on trial. Seemed like he played in one friendly match.
He'd made special arrangements to give him some minutes, but the kid blew it.
And at the time, he couldn't even apply for a work permit.
Oh, right—Wenger remembered now.
July.
The British media had run stories about work permits back then.
A third-division club had actually secured the first-ever English work permit—for a scrawny little kid from Croatia.
Most absurd of all, the young owner of that third-division club had boldly claimed that skinny kid would become a midfield genius!
Back then, the whole country had treated it like a joke.
Many believed it would become yet another embarrassment for the FA.
But time passed.
Four years flew by.
Now, that third-division team had transformed into the defending champions of the Premier League—the very team Wenger's side was facing tonight—a rising power in European football.
And that "joke" of a skinny kid, the one nobody took seriously, was now the captain and midfield core of Bayswater Chinese.
Luka Modrić wasn't flashy, his stats weren't eye-popping, but anyone who truly understood football could see—he was a genuine genius.
And that cocky rich kid who made those wild claims back then—he created all of it.
As for Yaya Touré, the same player Wenger once refused to apply a work permit for—he had just scored against Arsenal, representing the former third-division team.
In an instant, all these memories collided in Wenger's mind, forming a surreal and difficult-to-digest scene.
Wenger understood now—why Yaya Touré always seemed extra fired-up whenever he played against Arsenal.
A lot of players were like that.
They simply wanted to make people like Wenger regret their past decisions.
Wenger quietly turned around and returned to the bench.
He sat down, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples, trying to suppress the irritation building in his chest.
Because he truly did regret it.
...
The first half ended with Bayswater Chinese leading 1–0 thanks to Yaya Touré.
But there was still another half to play—it was far too early to relax.
"Arsenal is one of only two teams in Europe's top five leagues that are still undefeated this season!"
In the locker room during halftime, Yang Cheng was rallying his players.
"Against a team like that, we have to give 200 percent!"
Yang Cheng wasn't happy with the way his team had started the match.
Bayswater Chinese had struggled at the beginning, allowing Arsenal to dictate the pace of the first half.
If not for that late corner kick and Yaya Touré's goal, this would've been a very tough match.
Now, he needed his players to make changes.
"Arsenal won't sit back—they can't defend!"
Yang Cheng was confident.
With Gilberto Silva out injured, Wenger had paired Flamini and Fàbregas in central midfield.
As it happened, this wasn't even Flamini's contract year.
Arsenal's performance in the first half had made it clear—they weren't in top form.
They'd just been knocked out of the UEFA Cup.
Arsenal was in a good spot in the league—currently third—and Wenger wanted to secure a top-four finish to qualify for the next Champions League.
But with the current squad, Arsenal clearly didn't have the depth to compete on multiple fronts.
So Wenger had to prioritize.
Everyone knew what he would choose.
"In the second half, they're going to push forward!"
"And our job is to smash their attack right back at them!"
"This isn't just about three points. This is about Arsenal challenging us on the table!"
"I want you to use this match to show all 65,000 fans in this stadium—to show all of London—who the real king of London is!"
...
The second half began just as Yang Cheng had predicted.
Arsenal kicked off and immediately launched into attack mode.
Within the first minute, they fired two shots from the left side of Bayswater Chinese's penalty area—but both were blocked and posed no real threat.
Still, the Gunners weren't satisfied and kept pressing forward.
But in the 48th minute, Fàbregas received the ball in midfield and was instantly closed down by Modrić.
The two tangled in a fierce duel near the center circle on Arsenal's left side.
Neither won the ball.
It squirted free toward the left flank.
Di María pounced on it first, beating Fàbregas to the ball and poking it forward—then burst into a full sprint to chase it down.
Up ahead, Džeko was already making a run.
Arsenal's two center backs were a bit too spread out.
Di María played a precise through ball, threading it between Kolo Touré and Gallas, straight into Džeko's path.
The Bosnian striker sprinted forward, used his body to shield off Kolo Touré, and carried the ball into Arsenal's box. Just before Almunia could rush out, he chipped the ball.
It sailed over Almunia's head and into the unguarded net.
Gallas gave chase, trying desperately to clear it off the line.
But the ball was faster.
"GOAL!!!"
"Just three minutes into the second half, Bayswater Chinese have scored again against Arsenal!"
"2–0!"
"What a beautiful through pass from Di María!"
"And a very clever run and finish from Edin Džeko. Kolo Touré just couldn't match him physically."
The entire stadium roared with chants of "Džeko!"
The fans were going wild.
...
As the match neared its end, Arsenal earned a corner kick.
It caused chaos in Bayswater Chinese's box.
In the scramble, Hleb pounced on a loose ball and slotted it into the net.
1–2!
It was already the 87th minute.
In the end, Bayswater Chinese defeated Arsenal 2–1.
And when the final whistle blew, the stadium erupted in deafening celebration.
Every single fan was on their feet, showering the team with thunderous applause and cheers.
Arsenal's Unbeaten Run Finally Ends!
From this point on, only one team remained undefeated across Europe's top five leagues.
Liverpool!
And in the same round, Liverpool defeated Fulham 2–0 at home.
Chelsea, after a string of strong performances in previous rounds, were held 1–1 at home by Everton.
Manchester United, meanwhile, secured a 2–0 home win over Blackburn thanks to a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.
After 13 rounds, United sat atop the table with 32 points.
Bayswater Chinese were right behind with 30.
Arsenal and Liverpool were level on 27 points.
Manchester City followed in fifth with 26, and Chelsea were sixth with 25.
...
After the match, Yang Cheng took the initiative to walk over and shake hands with Wenger.
As usual, he politely asked if Wenger wanted to grab a drink.
In the past, Wenger had always declined.
But today, for some reason, he actually agreed.
Which left Yang Cheng in an awkward spot.
I was just being polite, man—why'd you take it seriously?
I didn't prepare any wine!
Seeing Yang Cheng's expression, Wenger—bitter over the loss—suddenly felt his mood lift.
Hypocritical bastard, now your mask's been ripped off, huh?
"The whole of England knows you're a one-way vampire," Wenger teased. "What, not even a bottle of wine to spare?"
Yang Cheng wasn't going to let Wenger have the upper hand.
There's a saying, after all: What you can't win on the pitch, don't think you'll win at the table either.
Yang Cheng was on good terms with the Wembley stadium staff—he figured he could borrow a bottle or two. No way those guys didn't drink.
So he invited Wenger over and had Brian Kidd go ask around for a bottle.
Sure enough, it didn't take long before someone delivered one.
"This wine... isn't great," Wenger frowned.
Yang Cheng chuckled. "With your mood right now, even the best wine would taste sour."
Wenger didn't argue.
When Yang Cheng poured two glasses, Wenger took one, clinked it against the other, took a sip—and immediately clicked his tongue twice.
Yep, it really was bad.
This cheapskate must've just scrounged this up last-minute.
"Understandable, I've never hosted anyone for drinks in this stadium before."
"That's why everyone calls you the stingiest manager in the Premier League."
"Well, since you knew I'm stingy, why'd you agree? You're clearly the most tactless manager in the league," Yang Cheng shot back.
Wenger burst out laughing.
When it came to shameless banter, he had to admit—he couldn't beat Yang Cheng.
The two continued to tease each other, their conversation drifting from topic to topic.
Suddenly, Yang Cheng remembered the recent headlines and decided to poke around.
"Hey, I heard your club's about to be sold?"
"Fake news," Wenger replied irritably.
He was tired of being asked that question.
Judging by Wenger's expression, Yang Cheng was even more convinced.
If it were fake news, pigs would fly.
"Even The Guardian ran a piece on it, not to mention Reuters had that report about Usmanov. You're telling me all that's made-up?"
Wenger snapped back, "We're supposed to be rivals—why do you care about this?"
"Because I'm planning to buy Arsenal!" Yang Cheng replied with mock seriousness.
That actually made Wenger laugh.
A perfect comedic punch.
"You really selling?" Yang Cheng pressed.
Wenger grunted, clearly suspicious that this guy was fishing for info.
"If we really did hook a big-money owner and got taken over, the first thing I'd do with my massive transfer budget would be to poach every one of your players."
Yang Cheng laughed aloud.
Like he'd fall for that trick?
"Go ahead, as long as you're willing to pay, I'll sell you whoever you want!"
Wenger was a little surprised. His sharp old eyes stared at Yang Cheng, trying to read any hint of guilt.
But this was Yang Cheng.
He'd lived three lifetimes—like Wenger could read him?
"I really don't get you," Wenger sighed. "How are you always so confident?"
Yang Cheng grinned. "Because you can't afford the price I'd ask!"
Wenger was speechless.
This guy was the worst—always knew how to kill the mood.
And it was true. He couldn't afford those prices.
Take Gareth Bale, for example—Yang Cheng could just slap a £100 million tag on him.
Even if Wenger could afford it, he'd have to be insane to spend that much on Bale.
For that kind of money, he could buy Ronaldo from Ferguson.
Or go after Messi at Barça.
"So... it really is being sold then," Yang Cheng circled back to Arsenal.
"Which means the rumors are all true. If you can't find new investment, if you don't make the Champions League again, it's going to be a rough ride."
Wenger didn't deny it anymore.
"It's your fault then, isn't it? You've really messed us up," he grumbled.
By this point, it wasn't really a secret.
And soon, once the dust settled, everyone would know anyway.
"Is it the Russians? Or the Americans?" Yang Cheng asked, gossip mode fully activated.
"No idea," Wenger shook his head.
The board wouldn't consult him unless they'd already made a clear decision.
Yang Cheng had no interest in getting involved in boardroom drama either.
Kroenke or Usmanov—who could say which was better or worse?
Truth was, they were all in it for the money.
Anyone who thought otherwise was deluded.
Just look at Abramovich and Chelsea. Love? Yeah right.
All nonsense.
But there was one thing Yang Cheng wanted to work with Wenger on.
And that was why he'd invited him for drinks tonight.
He wanted to push for stricter refereeing in the Premier League—especially when it came to dangerous, malicious fouls. Intentional fouls that could injure players should be punished harshly.
On this point, Wenger agreed wholeheartedly.
In recent years, Arsenal had taken more than their fair share of hits. In the name of "repaying old debts," they'd been bullied across the league.
So Yang Cheng's proposal hit the mark.
It wasn't about banning fouls from lower-table teams, but rather drawing a clear line between tactical fouls and malicious ones.
The Premier League's current leniency toward dirty fouls hurt young players—and technical players too.
In this, Yang Cheng and Wenger stood united.
Of course, Bayswater Chinese were still somewhat isolated in the league.
Adam Crozier could speak out occasionally, make some noise, but to make real change, they needed allies like Arsenal, David Dein, and Wenger.
This was something that benefited both sides.
Maybe they could even avoid another horror injury like Eduardo da Silva's broken leg.
It would also help the Premier League's public image and global marketing.
Wenger agreed on the spot.
As for how their clubs would coordinate, how they'd lobby, and how to rally other teams—Wenger said he'd go back and talk to David Dein.
Then they'd coordinate directly at the club level.
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