In that unforgettable match, Kai, leading Crystal Palace, single-handedly scored a hat-trick at Wembley Stadium, crushing the once-dominant Manchester United!
He shattered their dream of claiming a second trophy that season!
And now—
Time has passed.
The once-super talent who led a Championship team to a historic double crown…
Has now become the new king of the Emirates Stadium!
Tonight!
He would lead Arsenal to face Ferguson's Red Devils once more!
As the Emirates erupted with thunderous support—
The moment Kai led the Arsenal players into view, the entire stadium exploded in deafening cheers!
In an instant, the roaring atmosphere completely drowned out the chants from the away section of United fans.
Beneath the night sky of North London—
Arsenal fans had turned their home ground into an unprecedented fortress of intimidation!
During the pre-match ceremony—
Kai exchanged team flags with Nemanja Vidić.
The two locked eyes, intense and sharp.
While politely shaking hands, they couldn't help but trade a few jabs of trash talk under their breath.
United fans in the stands were stunned.
This scene—hadn't they seen it just a few months ago?
As the feverish chants reached a crescendo—
Players from both sides lined up in formation across their respective halves.
Van Persie and Kai stood at the center circle, one behind the other.
Rooney and Javier Hernández stood at the front of United's formation.
Arsenal and Manchester United players stared across the halfway line, locking eyes.
In every gaze, flames burned fiercely!
"The formation tonight—Manchester United are lining up in a 4-4-2, while Arsenal are going with a 4-2-3-1!"
"Compared to last season, United have made a major upgrade at goalkeeper—young David de Gea has replaced the aging Van der Sar!"
"In defense, they're still led by Vidić and Ferdinand!"
"In midfield—Carrick, Park Ji-sung, Ashley Young, and Valencia!"
"Up front—Rooney and Hernández!"
"It's a squad still packed with stars!"
"But Arsenal aren't backing down in the slightest! With just Kai orchestrating the midfield, he alone is enough to strike fear into the hearts of any opponent!"
Under the night sky at the Emirates—
In the technical areas by the pitch—
Wenger and Ferguson stood barely five meters apart.
Wenger in a tailored suit, Ferguson in his signature trench coat.
Two legendary managers, rivals in the Premier League for over a decade, were about to engage in another epic showdown tonight!
Under the lights of North London—
When the clock struck 8 PM—
"Peeeep!"
The referee blew the whistle!
The match had officially begun!
A thunderous roar erupted from the stands like a tidal wave!
At the center circle—
Van Persie kicked off!
The ball was immediately passed to Kai's feet.
And to the surprise of the entire crowd—
This time, Manchester United's formation at the start was unusually sharp and aggressive!
After suffering a bitter defeat in the FA Cup final a few months ago—
Ferguson wasn't going to let his team fall into the same trap again.
Back in that FA Cup final, Kai had led Crystal Palace to strike hard and fast in the opening minutes, catching United off guard—
And scoring a record-breaking early goal!
Tonight, Manchester United came fully prepared!
On the pitch—
After Van Persie took the kickoff, he darted straight toward the heart of United's defensive line!
United's players quickly settled into shape within seconds.
Carrick, Park Ji-sung, and even the less defensively-inclined Ashley Young—
All three charged at Kai, who was carrying the ball forward!
The crowd was stunned.
Ferguson's tactics tonight were laser-focused on shutting him down.
Every time Kai carried the ball, at least three Manchester United players swarmed to press and block him!
United's objective tonight was crystal clear:
Break Arsenal's winning streak.
And above all—stop Kai from scoring!
Because if this Arsenal superstar scored even a single goal, he would tie a Premier League record that had stood for nearly 20 years…
Becoming the greatest single-season goalscorer in Premier League history!
But then—
Just minutes into the match—
An utterly unexpected scene unfolded, stunning Sir Alex Ferguson on the sidelines and shocking United fans in the away end.
Facing the intense close-press from three of United's midfielders—
Kai remained calm and composed.
His footwork was swift and fluid, almost poetic!
First, he executed an elegant "rainbow flick" to breeze past Park Ji-sung behind him.
Then, under the feverish eyes of tens of thousands of fans—
He shifted his body, boxing out Carrick with precision—
And with a sudden right-footed flick behind his leg—
He spun violently—
In an instant!
He broke past both Carrick and Ashley Young in one motion!
The stadium erupted in frenzied screams!
A Cruyff Turn!
Carrick and Park Ji-sung froze in disbelief.
Their minds went blank.
All they could do was instinctively give chase, sprinting desperately after the black-haired figure now charging ahead!
On the touchline, Ferguson stood frozen in shock.
Even United fans clutched their heads in stunned disbelief.
Faced with the coordinated triple press from three elite midfielders—
Kai had effortlessly danced through them with grace and ease!
A wave of dread washed over Ferguson.
Because in that single moment—
United's midfield press was completely undone.
And that meant—
Manchester United's defense was now outnumbered at the back!
Van Persie, Walcott, and Gervinho surged forward with lightning runs!
Rosický followed through the inside channel.
With Kai accelerating on the ball after breezing past the press—
It was a 5-on-4 in Arsenal's favor!
The attack suddenly opened up!
United fans leapt from their seats in panic.
No way…
Even though United had planned in advance, even though they had established their defensive structure from the very first minute—
Arsenal's attack was still flowing as smooth as water!
Red Devils supporters stared, horrified, at the black-haired figure driving the ball forward!
Painful memories flooded back.
Ferguson widened his eyes on the sideline.
Back on the pitch—
Amid deafening, ceaseless cheers—
A golden light flickered across Kai's vision!
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd—
Kai used the outside of his foot to deliver a sharp, slicing through ball—
A powerful ground pass with a vicious spin, threading perfectly between Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand—
Gliding toward the edge of the penalty area!
Screams surged from the stands!
Down the right side of United's box—
Van Persie had timed his run to perfection, matching the pass stride for stride!
Vidić, positioned slightly forward, was completely bypassed by the through ball!
Ferdinand, deeper in line, lunged forward in desperation!
Just as the United center-back was about to launch a crushing tackle—
Van Persie calmly laid the ball off, playing it back toward the edge of the box!
At that instant—
The Emirates Stadium held its collective breath!
In front of goal, David de Gea's expression shifted sharply.
He instantly prepared to face a long-range strike!
The Red Devils' brilliant young goalkeeper had studied Kai's shooting habits extensively before the match.
He knew—Arsenal's captain preferred raw power over finesse. His long shots were usually thunderous, with little curve.
But this time—
Kai surged forward into the space!
Meeting the ball at the top of the D!
Suddenly, a dazzling golden trajectory flashed before his eyes!
Without hesitation—
Kai shifted his weight slightly—
And with his left foot, struck a curling shot without stopping the ball!
A long-range curler from outside the box—
Soaring above the penalty area!
The ball bent around Vidić and Ferdinand—
And under de Gea's terrified, unprepared gaze—
It slipped past his outstretched fingers—
And rocketed into the top corner of the goal!!
BOOM!
The Emirates erupted in an earth-shaking roar!
Deafening screams and cheers engulfed the night sky of North London!
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