This was the only option; if they didn't commit a foul, they would most likely score.
Sigh! Lin Hao has suffered greatly from poor corner kicks and the lack of teammates to get to the ball. It was the same last season at PSG, and it's still the same now that he's back at Arsenal. When will his corner kicks improve?
The game continued, and Liverpool had a close-range free kick. Arnold took the free kick, but his shot was just a little off target, going slightly over the crossbar.
Arsenal continued their attack, with Martin kicking off directly to Saka, but the ball went out of bounds.
The information was inaccurate.
Liverpool took the throw-in, and Arnold dribbled forward quickly. Lin Hao was fast and immediately caught up with Arnold, using every physical challenge and hand to him. Arnold's dribbling became increasingly erratic, but he just wouldn't pass.
Finally, Lin Hao seized the opportunity, accelerated past Arnold, held off Arnold, and intercepted the ball. Liverpool immediately counter-pressed, and Gotland was unable to react in time and was kicked out of bounds by a Liverpool player.
Salah spread his hands and looked at Arnold, "What are you doing? Pass the ball!"
Arnold muttered defiantly, "I know!"
Lin Hao's lips curled into a slight smile. Everyone had initially provoked him, which had angered him, but in the end, it seemed that they had all been turned on by him. They themselves had lost their composure, and when they lost their composure, they were bound to make mistakes.
Arsenal took a throw-in, which was passed directly to Lin Hao, who was back to goal. His teammate immediately pointed to the ground in front of him, indicating that he wanted to pass the ball to Lin Hao.
Lin Hao turned and left. Needless to say, he turned around so fast that Arnold hadn't even turned around yet before Lin Hao was already over.
Arnold chased after him, but there was no way he could catch up.
Lin Hao strode away, with Wijnaldum chasing after him. Joe Gomez came over to cover, and the two were about to close in. Lin Hao passed the ball between them to Xhaka, who then passed it forward to Lin Hao in a one-two pass.
Lin Hao continued forward, reached the byline, and crossed the ball.
Lin Hao's cross wasn't a powerful one; players aiming for headers can use that power, and the slower speed allowed him to find the attacking player more accurately.
Nketiah's header was too weak and too straight, and Alisson caught it easily.
Alisson caught the ball and immediately ran forward, passing it to Robertson at the edge of the penalty area. Robertson dribbled forward down the wing and then passed the ball to Fabinho, who passed it to Milner. Milner, with his back to goal, flicked the ball with his heel and then passed it to Robertson.
The three-man triangular attack broke through Arsenal's defense. Robertson dribbled diagonally to the edge of the penalty area and passed the ball in. Firmino received the ball in the penalty area, took a shot, and was blocked by David Luiz.
The ball went out of bounds, giving Liverpool a corner kick opportunity. Van Dijk stepped up to act as a high point, but the ball was too close to the goal and was saved by Martin with one hand.
Xhaka received the ball, made a brilliant backheel turn, and then passed the ball to Saka on the right wing. Saka dribbled forward, used his rhythm and speed to get past Robertson, and then passed the ball to Van Dijk, who had just been contesting a corner kick and couldn't get back.
Fabinho arrived and stuck out one foot to stop the ball, unable to kick it in any other direction.
Nketiah reacted quickly, stopping and pulling back to try and kick him, while Fabinho once again stood out with his eye-catching outfit.
"Oh dear!" Enketia covered her head, feeling regretful. It was so close! Fabinho was just too good.
Fabinho was at his peak at this time.
Arsenal had a corner kick opportunity. They took a corner, Lin Hao received the ball, and with a flick of his wrist, he shook off Arnold and entered the penalty area, then crossed with the outside of his foot.
The ball, curving in the air, found Nketiah, a pass that drew gasps from the fans, but Nketiah managed to deflect the shot high and wide.
Lin Hao clutched his head, on the verge of tears. Nketiah also looked apologetic, raising his hand to indicate that the ball was his fault.
At this point, the game became more open and aggressive, but head coach Arteta on the sidelines was clearly not satisfied.
This shows that Arsenal has been dragged into Liverpool's rhythm, but Arteta also knows that there is nothing that can be done. Arsenal cannot control the situation through possession, so they can only be pulled into Liverpool's rhythm.
In the 37th minute, Saka crossed the ball high from the right flank to the far post, where Lin Hao headed it across to the middle. Nketiah then headed the ball towards goal, but Alisson palmed it away.
Fabinho received the ball with his back to goal, and with great experience, waited for just half a second. The situation changed then; the Arsenal players had already started moving. Fabinho passed the ball back to Van Dijk, which made things safer.
A slight pause won't slow down the pace.
Van Dijk didn't hesitate at all, immediately passing the ball over the top to Salah. Salah received the ball and sped forward, heading straight for the penalty area, almost a one-on-one opportunity.
He cut inside the penalty area again, evaded Tierney, and unleashed his signature curling shot, the ball finding the top right corner of the Arsenal goal, almost a perfect dead end, and into the net.
Pharaoh scored, and Salah ran to the sidelines and performed his classic celebration move, standing on one leg.
Liverpool fans were ignited with enthusiasm, and the players ran to the sidelines to celebrate with them. When they returned from the celebration, Arnold gloated to Lin Hao, "See that?"
"I saw it!" Lin Hao nodded. "What does it have to do with you? You didn't touch the ball once during this attack! What gives you the nerve to swagger around in front of me!"
"And..." Lin Hao raised his voice after he finished speaking, "Keep up the good work, Liverpool guys! One goal isn't enough, you have Arnold, you're born to be 0-1!"
"Don't you even need to think before you speak? Did you even get in?"
"It's only a matter of time!"
Arsenal launched another attack, passing the ball to Lin Hao on the left wing. Arnold was watching Lin Hao very closely.
Lin Hao, dribbling the ball, suddenly lowered his center of gravity and moved towards the baseline. Arnold followed, but Lin Hao changed direction and left.
After slowing down and facing Wijnaldum, he suddenly lowered his shoulder and tried to flick the ball outward with his foot, then passed it back to his left foot with his right foot, and then slightly poked it forward with his left foot. This was also one of Lin Hao's signature moves. Although he himself had only used this move a few times, he was the only one in the world who had ever used it.
That was his signature move: Lin Hao used a nutmeg to dribble past Wijnaldum, and just as he entered the penalty area, he took a shot that went straight for the near corner.
Alisson held firm at the near post, keeping the ball out of the net, before Wijnaldum cleared it away.
Lin Hao quickly returned to his position, shouted to control the ball, and then passed the ball back to Lin Hao.