But unexpectedly, Glen Johnson slipped his arms through under his armpits, using his arm strength to clamp him and push him aside.
Ma'el, caught off guard, almost got thrown to the ground. After stabilizing his center of gravity, he realized he might not be able to chest-trap the ball, so he stepped forward, intending to head it to Van Persie, who was in position to respond in the center.
But just as he took a step forward, he felt Glen Johnson's right arm switch from a clamp to a bear hug, pulling him backward.
"I got it!!"
A shout rang out, and Skrtel, the Liverpool defender in the center, rushed over and headed the ball toward Arsenal's half, clearing it.
"Ah...!" Ma'el with a helpless smile spread his hands towards the referee, shouting: "Can't you see? No foul?!"
Seeing the referee shake his head, he understood that Glen Johnson's right hand was probably in the referee's blind spot, so he had to swallow this small loss.
