Chapter 220: Forgone Conclusion Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Albertini had been running towards Gilberto. Even if the ball were to be passed to the Brazilian, Albertini would be able to prevent him from scoring. But Upson had left his post and abandoned his position. The pass from Fàbregas landed exactly where Upson should have been.
Even with Hierro's vast experience, he had no way of dealing with a mistake like that. Furthermore, it was already the 85th minute and he could barely run.
After venting his frustration and unhappiness, Tang En called up Peter Crouch, who had just finished his warm-up from the substitute's bench. Tang En refused to end the match on a draw. He did not care a bit about that record; he just could not accept that the three points that they had almost had in their hands had slipped away and become only one!
We were dominating the entire match. But just because of a low-level mistake, we ruined such a good situation. I cannot accept this!
While Arsenal's players finished their celebrations and were about to kick off the match, Forest changed out a player on their sidelines – Tang En substituted Hierro, who was already dog-tired, for Crouch.
The tactics of the Forest team morphed into something simpler and cruder in an instant. There were no more complicated maneuvers, like cutting outside for support or feinting attacks from the wings while attacking from the middle. All backfield players took only one action when they received the ball – to pass it forward to Viduka and Crouch. If they had the opportunity for a direct attack, they would take it. If not, they would return it to Eastwood or Ribéry to use in long shots and high balls.
There was not much technique to speak of, but at this point, Tang En could not care less about that.
Forest, which had begun their battle anew, pressed towards Arsenal's penalty area in a frenzy. Tang En's substitution at the eleventh hour stirred up all of Forest; everyone knew that their boss was enraged. He could not accept this result.
And so, Arsenal, who had dominated the English Premier League for over a season, were pushed back into their penalty area even after their goal!
"This is a frenzied attack coming from Forest! Albertini makes a long shot! But Ashley Cole takes a mighty kick to get it out of the attacking area… Such desperation! Ribéry gets a break, and he's in! He fell over! The main referee refuses to award a penalty kick! City Ground's spectator's stands are ringing with heart-stopping jeers! That is despite the fact that Ribéry looked as if he was purposely trying to get a penalty kick off the judge from the footage…"
As his partner commentated enthusiastically, Martin Taylor shook his head. "If only Forest had started playing this way 20 minutes earlier, the score would have been 2:1 with them in the lead by now. It's too bad…"
He cast his gaze towards the sidelines. Both Wenger and Tang En were standing on the sidelines, anxiously watching the match's progress while looking at the time. While it felt all too long for the prior, it seemed much too short for the latter.
Although Forest's final wave of indiscriminate attacks had caused the defending champions some embarrassment, Arsenal managed to get the result they wanted: a 1:1 Draw. They managed 43 matches in a row without defeat, and a new record was birthed.
When the final whistle of the match was blown by the main referee, thunderous applause filled City Ground. Of course, the fans were not congratulating Arsenal for their new record, but Nottingham Forest, whose players performed remarkably despite the draw at the last minute.
Martin Taylor said it well. "Although Nottingham Forest did not manage to end the legend of Arsenal's undefeated streak, the young team showed the future to a countless number of Forest's fans. If this scene was the deciding factor of the result, then maybe they had not failed completely. But in all fairness, this match would have ended 3:1 with the home team victorious. It was too bad. Their youth gave them their courage, but it also made them pay for it. Regardless, I still like this Forest team. Looking at the back of a team of young ones running brings me hope."
No matter how they were at each other's throat during the match, the tension from Tang En's body seeped away as soon as the final whistle was blown. He looked at the scoreboard and then at Arsenal's players, who were running and cheering. He could only shake his head helplessly. The rage he had felt when they had lost the ball had all but disappeared.
The match was over, wasn't it?
He turned to see Wenger walking towards him with a smile and an outstretched arm.
"Whatever the result, this has been a great match," Wenger said, an echo of what Arsenal's youth team manager had once said to Tang En. That was during his first encounter with Wenger.
Tang En shook his head. "Except for the result, this has been a great match."
Wenger laughed. He was in a good mood.
Although Tang En himself was not in the best of moods, he still congratulated Wenger. "Congratulations on the new record."
This time, it was Wenger who shook his head. "Oh, no. A new record is only made for others to break. I hope we'll meet again on the field. I'll see you later at the press conference. I have to leave now."
Wenger gave Tang En a pat on his shoulder and left to join the celebratory crowd.
The despondent Forest players had their heads bowed as they walked past Tang En. He looked at Wenger and then shouted at the players, "Why do all of you look like you have lost a ball? Listen to the cheers from the spectators' stand! Who do you think they're for? They're not for Arsenal, they're for us! Everyone did well! Raise your heads!"
Tang En shouted so loudly, even Wenger could hear him clearly with his back turned. He only smiled and, with a shake of his head, walked to his own players with open arms.
※※※
At the press conference after the match, the media put all their focus on Wenger, who had led Arsenal to the making of the new record. They heaped all kinds of praise onto him, forgetting that Arsenal's field performance was almost abysmal.
Tang En sat at the side with crossed arms, staring coldly at the media who were all such opportunists.
In this regard, Wenger was much more considerate than the media and took the initiative to direct the topic to Forest instead. He repeatedly complimented the excellent performance and tactics shown by Forest and their players; how it all took him by surprise, and the outstanding management by Tony Twain. At the end, the Frenchman also gallantly paid tribute to Brian Clough.
The press conference ended with the managers in an embrace and shaking each other's hands. Everything appeared joyous and wonderful; on Forest's end, they did not lose the match and even got a draw off the mighty Arsenal; for Arsenal themselves, a new record was successfully etched into history.
However, in the hearts of the two, it was not as harmonious as it appeared to be. While this draw schooled both Tang En and Forest team, it also made Wenger realize a formidable opponent he would face in the future.