Chapter 7 Let Them Compete for the Starting Position

, the latest chapter is updated the fastest!

Sporting CP's attack should not be underestimated. After Arsenal gave up the ball, their advantage of intensive attack was established.

In the ten-minute attack, they threatened Arsenal's goal many times.

On the other hand, Arsenal's counterattacks frequently made mistakes.

The cooperation between Giroud and the two wingers was not so tacit. The cooperation between the three always felt like a lack of lubricant, and the success rate was not high.

It couldn't play the sharp pass that Mourinho wanted.

Even after Giroud retreated, he was often stared at by the opponent's players, or lost the ball, or couldn't pass the ball.

These are all the consequences of hesitation and slow kicking.

But if you want to increase the success rate, you need to kick a little slower.

Once you speed up, you will return to the situation of continuous mistakes.

"Still not running in enough!" Mourinho shook his head.

Sporting CP's attack continued, and finally at the end of the first half, their main shooter Dost scored a wonderful shot.

The assist was from Argentine player Acuña.

Sporting CP equalized the score, but they were always a little unhappy.

They knew in their hearts that Arsenal was rehearsing the new lineup and did not enter the game in a safe manner.

They were more experimenting, not caring about the outcome of the game.

And Arsenal's previous goal was their complete state.

Under this emotion, Sporting CP always felt a little aggrieved.

They tried their best to score a goal, but the opponent's attitude was a little light.

"Don't care about losing the ball, focus on tactics and lineup cooperation, Giroud should not be afraid of making mistakes, keep trying, Aubameyang and Mane should also cooperate with Giroud, you should communicate more!"

After Lekai shouted to the three people, he continued to invest in the game.

But the situation is still not ideal.

After the start of the second half, this set of tactics always gives people a feeling of stagnation.

Mourinho and other coaches on the sidelines also gathered together, although they thought that it would not be so easy to advance this lineup.

But there are obviously more problems.

"Lack of lubricant!"

Arteta said seriously; "Those three lacked a lubricant player before."

"Someone is needed to help them to cooperate, or to add a receiving point in the back, so that they may be able to play better!"

"Who will be the lubricant?"

"Wilshere?"

"Who will organize the rhythm in the front court?"

"Then let Kai be the lubricant!"

"You are wasting talent. Kai has the ability to shoot from the outside. If you let him do the ball distribution work, isn't it killing Kai's ability to shoot from the long distance?"

The coaches quarreled, thinking about lubricant-type players.

At this time, Mourinho waved his hand and said; "Don't quarrel, don't hurry now! Today's tactical drill ends here, and the other substitutes are still waiting!"

Hearing this, the coaches turned their heads and looked over.

On the bench, a group of substitutes including Xhaka were staring at them eagerly.

Only then did they realize that the game time was almost 80 minutes.

In the 79th minute, Arsenal made a large-scale substitution.

Except for Giroud and Lukay, all others including the goalkeeper were replaced.

Goalkeeper: Cech.

Defenders: Holding, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal.

Midfielders: Ramsey, Lukay, Xhaka.

Forwards: Welbeck, Giroud, Lacazette.

Five minutes later, Lukay and Giroud were also replaced, and the three little ones also got a chance to play.

In the end, the 90-minute warm-up match ended, and Arsenal tied Sporting CP 2:2.

After the game, Arsenal returned to London and immediately started the post-match summary.

Of the two lineups, the first one is undoubtedly more dominant.

However, after the 79th minute, Lukay and Giroud's cross-point shot was also excellent.

Giroud's sense of smell in front of the goal is extremely sensitive, especially good at heading.

And with Lukay's precise pass, this ability is infinitely magnified.

The most important thing is that Arsenal not only has Lukaku, an excellent crosser.

Robertson, Wilshere, Mane, and Aubameyang are all good.

And in counterattacks, their arc passes can help the center forward to exert force.

In this respect, Giroud's characteristics overlap with Lukaku.

And Giroud's physical confrontation feels no less than Lukaku.

The most important thing is that Giroud also has the tactical characteristic of being able to retreat and make a pass. Once he has completed the development of this tactic, Lukaku is estimated to give up the main position.

For this reason, Lukaku is anxious.

His performance in training and warm-up matches has become more and more active.

Not only in offense, but also in defense, he frequently launches threatening steals in the frontcourt.

A lazy Lukaku began to fight hard and was full of threats.

Seeing Lukaku's changes, Mourinho was very satisfied.

"Is there a possibility that Lukaku and Giroud can coexist?"

Everyone shook their heads, and the characteristics of these two players overlapped.

"Let them compete for the starting position!" Mourinho said; "Whoever is in better condition will be the starter!"

The recent competition between Lukaku and Giroud is benign. Both of them are secretly competing with each other and the cycle is upward. This is an extremely ideal state.

If both center forwards are in an excellent competitive state, it will be beneficial for Arsenal to configure more tactical lineups.

You can play different styles according to different opponents.

And this season Arsenal must fight on two fronts, and both the Champions League and the league must be taken care of. The two center forwards are in excellent condition, which is also a great contribution to the team.

"But Giroud's retreat tactics"

Arteta sighed; "Who is suitable to be this lubricant?"

In recent training matches, Ramsey, Wilshere, Kante, Xhaka, Lucky and even substitute Sam have tried the work of lubricants.

Among them, Ramsey and Wilshere have the best effect. If you have to say, Wilshere can make more threatening passes.

But the effect is still not ideal.

For this reason, the substitutes are also constantly working hard.

For players such as Ramsey and Xhaka, they know very well that as long as they can cooperate with Giroud, they may be able to sit in the main position of another lineup.

What a tempting option.

They are not like Lucky and Kante, who have absolute main attributes in the midfield.

Even Wilshere is trying to fit into this role.

"What kind of pass do you want?"

Wilshere took the initiative to find Giroud to ask.

Hearing this, Giroud looked at Wilshere and said; "I don't want a pass, I want a breakthrough!"

"Breakthrough?"

Wilshere was stunned for a moment.

Giroud nodded and said; "The speed of passing the ball to the wall is indeed fast, but it will suppress me in the middle position and I can't form a richer running position. So my idea is that the midfielder passes to the winger, and the winger waits for an opportunity to pass to me. When I hold the ball, the two sides and the midfield quickly run forward in three arrows, so that I can have three passing options, and I will also run based on this choice!"

Soon, Xhaka, Ramsey, Kante and Sam all ran over to communicate.

Giroud also treated them equally.

"How do you feel?"

After the training, Luka took the initiative to find Giroud. It is the captain's responsibility to help new players integrate into the team.

Giroud is a serious character.

"Very good!" Giroud said; "Everyone is working hard for victory, I can feel that everyone wants to improve quickly."

Lucky smiled and said; "Our goal is to win the championship!"

Giroud: "This is also the reason why I am willing to compete in Arsenal!"

Lucky nodded; "I will not favor any of your center forwards, nor will I not pass the ball to you just because Lukaku has been my teammate for a longer time. As long as you run to a threatening position, I will pass the ball. What I need is a center forward who can score for the team!"

Although it is a bit disloyal, this is what Luky thinks in his heart.

He will not favor anyone, scoring is the kingly way!

"I wish for it!"

Giroud nodded with a smile.

For a player like him, a fair competition environment is precious.

Lucky nodded with a smile; "There are two more warm-up matches next, and then we will wait for the league to kick off. I look forward to your Premier League debut!"

Giroud; "I am looking forward to it too! And I will score a goal!"

Lucky; "Let's talk about it when you score a goal."