Football Dynasty-Chapter 530: The Strongest Arsenal

Chapter 530: The Strongest Arsenal
The Premier League was in full swing. Highbury was packed to capacity, buzzing with festive cheer as Arsenal fans made their presence felt, eager to intimidate Manchester City. Flags waved, scarves whipped in the cold wind, and the chants rolled like thunder through the stands.
"Ian!!!"
Richard’s voice cut through the cacophony. Ian Wright, just stepping off the team bus, squinted through the crowd and spotted him. For a moment, the noise of the stadium faded, and a smile broke across Ian’s face. He waved back as he made his way toward Richard, dodging photographers and fans eager for a glimpse of their heroes.
Arsenal players hustled past, some stopping to greet fans, others focused on the pitch, tension visible in their shoulders and faces. Ian approached Richard, waving as he went.
"How are you? You good?" Richard asked, pulling him into a brief, firm hug.
"I’m good. How are you, boss?" Ian replied, a genuine smile lighting up his face.
He had never played under Richard’s management, never worn Manchester City colors, and yet this man had saved him at a time when everything seemed lost. The year before, Ian Wright had nearly reached the edge—his career in jeopardy, almost got to jail, his future uncertain.
Richard had stepped in, offering support, guidance, and a chance to rebuild. To Ian Wright, Richard was more than an agent or a colleague—he was a benefactor, a lifeline in a storm.
"Good luck. Will you be starting?"
Ian Wright nodded, grinning. "Yeah, looks like I’m in the lineup today."
Richard clapped him on the shoulder, a quick, firm gesture. "Good luck then."
"Always do, boss. Always do."
They shared a brief nod, and then Ian turned toward the tunnels leading to the locker room.
Soon, Arsène Wenger, the last to step off the bus, appeared. Both men nodded professionally to each other before Richard turned and made his way toward his VIP box.
Manchester City found themselves mired in scandal, the consequences of which are still evident. Numerous Gunners fans in the stands waved banners mocking City, some bearing vulgar words.
Even the commentators on Sky Sports couldn’t help but mention it.
"Hey, Andy, it looks like the defending champions are in deep trouble, don’t you think?" Martin Tyler began.
"Maybe so... With the scandal brewing, it seems the new manager has already punished those responsible, showing no mercy. Perhaps it’s a good time for them to reflect." answered Andy Gray.
"I think their arrangements are reasonable. Firstly, it’s about protecting the players. Putting them on the field now would expose them to public ridicule and condemnation. Secondly, it’s about disciplinary action. It depends on whether the coach is strict with players like these. I hope they will not hold a grudge against their new coach."
"From what I hear, that shouldn’t be the case. The three players are training with the U-17s, and they’ve accepted their mistakes. Now what they want most is to win the match. I just wonder if such a win can bring fresh energy to the first team."
"Well, I think defeating Arsenal won’t be easy. Since Wenger’s arrival, he has quickly adjusted the team, avoiding the overly aggressive use of young players. After a period of adaptation, Arsenal’s performance has improved. Although they’re still behind the league leaders Manchester United, they’re only two points away. This gives Arsenal a real shot at claiming second place and potentially securing a spot in next season’s Champions League."
"Exactly. Especially considering City’s tough schedule in the coming months. One disadvantage for them is their thin squad. Honestly, their summer signings were aimed at the long term and can’t guarantee results now. Plus, in the latter half of the season, they’ll have to play more matches than Arsenal. Aside from the FA Cup quarter-finals, they have two League Cup semi-finals coming up next month. If they reach the finals, that’s yet another game they’ll have to manage."
Richard could then see from his vantage point how Mourinho exchanged a few words with Wenger on the sidelines.
Arsène Wenger hadn’t anticipated that City would find themselves in such a mess at this stage. With Arsenal in peak form, today’s match was undoubtedly more favorable for them.
Both coaches quickly resumed their positions, waiting for the match to kick off.
Manchester City would field a weakened side. Missing key players—Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cannavaro, Lampard, and others—their formation looked like this:
Starting Lineup – Manchester City:
Goalkeeper: Buffon
Defenders: Zanetti, Terry, Lucio, Thuram
Midfielders: Makelele, Pirlo, Zidane
Forwards: Pires, Henry, Larsson
For most people, this formation might not be the strongest for Manchester City, but for Richard, it was already very strong!
On Arsenal’s side, there was just one change compared to their last meeting.
Goalkeeper: Seaman.
Defenders: Dixon, Adams, Keown, Winterburn.
Midfielders: Overmars, Vieira, Petit, Berkamp.
Forwards: Wright, Anelka.
PHWEEEE~
The referee’s whistle sliced through the roar of the crowd. Arsenal kicked off first.
As the match began, Richard soon noted that Arsenal players quickly found their rhythm, showcasing clear movement patterns and an exceptionally high passing success rate, switching between offense and defense with remarkable speed.
"Arsène Wenger..." Richard muttered under his breath.
The term
legendary figure
has been overused, but he truly was a legend. He had completely transformed the Arsenal of old, making it impossible to associate this team with George Graham’s era.
Just a few months ago, Arsenal had struggled with cohesion. Their double-pivot midfield left gaps in transitions, attacks faltered, and players often failed to synchronize. Now? Every player moved like part of a single organism.
Vieira and Petit controlled the engine room with absolute authority, Bergkamp orchestrated the attack with intelligence, and Overmars’s explosive runs on the wing gave the team its lethal edge. The defense was solid, the attack sharp, and the energy of the starting eleven could challenge any team in the Premier League.
No wonder many Manchester United stars later said the 1997–98 Arsenal side was stronger than the celebrated 2003–04 "Invincibles."
On the right wing, Overmars received the ball, turned, and sprinted past Thuram, leaving the defender flailing after a perfectly timed feint. Reaching the byline, the little flying man whipped in a cross so precise it seemed choreographed.
Ian Wright surged forward from the center, leaping for the header—but Buffon reacted with lightning reflexes, tipping the ball over the bar in a breathtaking save.
Richard’s jaw tightened. He massaged the bridge of his nose, frustration creeping into his posture.
Thuram was playing at left back—not his natural position—and he had already been beaten twice in a row by Overmars. His defense looked completely ineffective.
Originally, it was supposed to be Zambrotta in that position. However, no one anticipated that Zambrotta would get injured in the last training session, forcing Thuram into action prematurely. His form was indeed a cause for concern.
"Damn it! Damn Boxing Day!"
Many players tend to struggle after this period, especially since other leagues have their winter breaks. In the last three years, City’s performance had fluctuated significantly during January.
Some players have learned to cope with this challenge, while others still seem to struggle, falling into a slump as soon as Christmas hits.
Arsenal persisted in applying pressure down both flanks, transitioning swiftly from defense to attack. Their movements were quick and fluid—almost every counterattack reached City’s goal, leaving their penalty area in turmoil.
Thirty minutes into the first half, it was evident that Thuram was struggling immensely. Overmars’ dribbling and speed had thoroughly outplayed him, almost as if he were toying with the defender.
Baltemar Brito suggested substituting Thuram for Jonathan Woodgate, fearing that the player’s confidence might take a significant hit in this match. Mourinho, however, shot down the proposal instantly.
"You’re crazy. It’s not even halftime yet," he said.
If Thuram were substituted before the first half ended, it would weigh heavily on his confidence. As for his form, he needed time to find his rhythm and improve his play on the pitch. It was simply a matter of bad luck; his first match as left back in a long time happened to coincide with one against a flying Overmars.
Mourinho asked Larsson to drop back and help ease the load on Thuram. However, the Frenchman also struggled with double marking on his side, forcing Mourinho to keep urging Makélélé to help defend the left wing.
This greatly reduced the threat of Overmars, as Larsson’s deeper position could block Overmars’ path to cut inside, allowing Thuram to focus more on containing the winger’s runs along the sideline. However, this adjustment left City’s offense almost paralyzed.
Arsenal tightened their defense further, learning from their previous match against City. Relying solely on six or seven defenders wasn’t enough to stifle City’s overall advance; even Bergkamp dropped back into his own half to disrupt Pirlo’s organization, causing a significant number of uncharacteristic errors in City’s forward play.
The entire first half felt overwhelmingly passive. Fans in the stands could see it clearly—Arsenal could reach City’s box and create threatening chances, but City found it impossible to progress past the opponent’s penalty area.
Arsenal fans witnessing this scene could feel their previous criticisms of Wenger starting to fade, and it was not without reason.
Being able to dominate Manchester City at home wasn’t just sheer luck; it was a testament to Wenger’s skill. His strategies showed that he had a clear direction for the team, and the players reflected that in their passion and style on the field.
At half-time, the score remained 0–0.
With this result, Richard immediately stood up.
"I’ll go to the locker room first."
Richard arrived shortly after, but before he could enter, he was taken aback by the sight of a disheveled and rushing André Villas-Boas.
"Boss!"
Richard turned and was momentarily shocked. "Are you okay? Are you ill?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
Boas, looking pale with swollen eyes and red veins, clearly hadn’t rested well. When richard saw he pulled out a stack of s to hand to people inside, he paused and glanced at them in surprise.
"You didn’t sleep?"
Boas nodded slightly.
Ricahrd sighed. "You’re a workaholic."
The in his hands was probably an Arsenal analysis that Boas had tirelessly prepared over several days. To be honest, Boas didn’t perceive his late-night work on the as a tremendous contribution; rather, he viewed it as part of his job, something he was expected to do.
Though it might seem of little value, gathering more information about opponents would indeed help devise tactical preparations and improve their chances in the match. Still, the weighty in his hands made Richard feel a bit guilty.
It seemed it was time for him to act—recruiting a scout team to help him.
A scout was an indispensable staff member in any professional football club. They were familiar with the football environment of a specific region, had wide connections, were well-informed, and possessed a discerning eye. It was an essential role, providing teams with fresh talent.
The cost of hiring a scout was considerable. Expenses were not limited to the scout’s salary but also included travel fees, lodging, equipment, and sometimes even payments to the families of players.
When Richard took over, City had fallen into a crisis. Since he had fired the entire scouting department, it was clear that the club had not prioritized their scouting staff. As a result, most of the scouts had left, leaving only him as the core figure responsible for recruiting players.
Richard nodded to allow Villas-Boas to pass first, then, with a poker face, became seemingly invisible as he observed the entire team talk.
As always, Mourinho quickly adjusted the team’s tactical approach.
"Thank you," he said, grabbing the s and briefly thanking André Villas-Boas before addressing the club.
Beyond the fact that Arsenal possessed a world-class defense, with diligent defensive midfielders and forwards tracking back to help, City was struggling with a plethora of issues. They faced challenges that went far deeper than what appeared on the surface.
Mourinho realized that he couldn’t let his team chase elaborate combinations anymore. Simple passes, teammates moving into space, and quick, direct combinations were necessary to break through the opponent’s defenses. What looked easy required a solid foundation.
From that moment, he decided to play more straightforwardly. The fluid attacking play they had once boasted had disappeared completely today. No-frills tactics in the second half would at least allow them to pose a threat to the opponent’s goal while avoiding being caught in counterattacks near their own box.
As both teams returned for the second half, following Mourinho’s adjustments, City’s formation shifted from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1.
This change yielded immediate results!