Chapter 47: Not Because We're Incompetent, But Because Xia Qi Is Too Cunning
Wenger refused to give up on French striker Olivier Giroud, hoping to activate him; he planned to bring Xia Qi on for Abou Diaby and switch Arsenal to a 4-3-3.
On the pitch Norwich were pressing forward; just past the halfway line, Santi Cazorla made a precise tackle to disrupt play, the ball was cleared to Mikel Arteta's feet.
Arteta immediately lofted a pass that landed perfectly in front of Xia Qi.
Xia Qi ran forward, taking the ball with the instep and then one touch to accelerate to full throttle.
"Xia Qi!!!"
"Watch out — he'll eat you!"
"Oh my! Foul him!"
Seen often on TV as "a solo run per match," now spectators could see Xia Qi's run live. Norwich fans were conflicted — they wanted to witness the solo run but didn't want their own team to be devoured.
A club used to yo-yo seasons doesn't hold much hatred toward opposition stars — whether Xia Qi, Wayne Rooney, or others…
In an instant sharp boos echoed from all sides of Carrow Road, but unlike other stadiums' boos — which are solely angry and intimidating — here Xia Qi could even sense excitement.
Xia Qi sped down the flank and Norwich sent four defenders to double-team him.
Unfortunately, that kind of four-man trap probably hadn't been rehearsed; their step rhythm was inconsistent and stride lengths were off.
If it had been coordinated, even AFK mode AI would avoid their edges — but now…
Johnson was the first to throw himself at Xia Qi with a big sliding tackle.
Not just the AI — even the Xia Qi inside his head knew that that early heavy slide, flashing aggression so soon, would only gift the attacker the ball.
A slide tackle must be unexpected and lightning-quick; this one was easily read.
With a simple burst of acceleration Xia Qi left Johnson sliding on air.
After passing Johnson Xia Qi, seemingly unable to brake, barreled toward Alexander Tettey.
Tettey paid for his experience; he expected a crash and braked, lowering his center to prepare.
But the collision never came.
As Tettey dropped his center, Xia Qi decelerated and used a single touch to drag the ball; his oblique core muscles powered a 90-degree twist at the waist. Left foot pulled the ball; right foot took a touch to change sideways, then he burst away.
Amid cries of astonishment,
the car that seemed destined to collide with Tettey suddenly drifted away…
An unavoidable crash avoided!
Tettey remained stunned, his mind scrambled: is this world-class dribbling? If Messi is the dribble king, this player must be seven floors higher.
Bennett was the third and least noticeable of the four.
He saw Xia Qi drift past and was stunned for a second.
That one second's daze
was enough for Xia Qi to "devour" him.
Xia Qi dribbled the ball past Bennett like a flash.
Pilkington was the last of the four; he appeared fearful, edging back and unwilling to commit his body.
Appearing timid made him seem spineless, but in fact he was the most capable.
His choices were the most rational defensively.
Xia Qi's fast attack failed!
But the solo-run drama continued.
Seeing no quick counter, Xia Qi slowed. The two moved in and out until they reached the edge of the penalty area.
Pilkington felt the cover coming behind him and took heart; he could no longer retreat — to fall back would mean entering the box.
Pilkington put his hand behind his back, gestured, and launched a fierce lunge at Xia Qi.
Unexpectedly, Xia Qi seemed to have predicted that move; he immediately clipped the ball with his right foot, changed direction, crossed past Pilkington and slipped behind him.
Michael, who had dropped back to cover Pilkington, burst forward trying to catch Xia Qi off balance.
But Xia Qi simply nudged the ball out, spun his body — a Cruyff turn — and escaped the defender's range.
He chased the ball and lifted his left foot.
"Shoot!"
"Xia Qi's shooting!"
"Huff, huff, huff…!"
Norwich fans shouted in panic and continued to boo Xia Qi.
Xia Qi attracted every eye; beyond the gaze,
Giroud had moved to one metre from the penalty spot, and Podolski was in the far post corner — but he was offside, and he didn't know it.
Xia Qi frowned slightly; as his raised left foot came down his ankle twisted — what had been an inside-of-the-foot strike became an outside-of-the-foot curl.
The ball curled around the chest of the defender Javi Garrido and climbed rapidly toward Giroud's head.
Giroud leapt and headed — the AI's predicted probability of success had been 80% — and the header landed on the stand.
The result was greeted with warm applause from Norwich supporters; they praised "thoughtful" Giroud.
They got to see their favorite player survive a solo run and yet keep a 1–0 lead.
Giroud — consider yourself forgiven!
Wenger grew anxious; time was running out and he called Xia Qi to the touchline.
Norwich fans immediately fired boos at Wenger.
"Stay in the box. Use Giroud and Podolski — see if you can score."
The cold Xia Qi didn't answer, only nodded.
But when he returned to the field he didn't plunge into the box; instead he hovered with defenders outside the area.
This style made Norwich's defenders queasy.
Xia Qi stood on the box line, ever-ready to strike like a Damocles sword hanging overhead.
Just as Norwich's backs trembled, Xia Qi suddenly cut in from the right corner of the box on a 45-degree angle toward goal;
Pilkington chased, Bassong tried to intercept ahead, and Xia Qi immediately shifted and slipped behind Giroud.
The two defenders hurried to close on Giroud — but Xia Qi had disappeared.
At the same moment Jack Wilshere's pass flew over everything toward the far post.
Unable to find Xia Qi, Pilkington watched the flight of the ball and saw a red-and-white flash go behind teammate Martin Olsson.
"Martin!"
Martin retreated while tracking the ball; as it dropped he swung his leg to clear and heard someone shout his name.
Before he could realize what had happened,
he saw an unfamiliar thigh in his sight.
He understood instantly,
but it was too late!
The ball didn't head for the near corner but rose, drawing an arc that brushed past goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Ruddy missed the ball; a desperate one-handed swipe grazed a shadow…
The brilliant rainbow struck the far top corner unimpeded.
"Xia Qi!"
The stadium DJ shouted:
"Cunning movement, a hunter's instinct! This conceded goal — Norwich's kids are innocent. It's not that we're incompetent, but that Xia Qi is too cunning…"
"Give applause for the traveling Xia Qi, and for the Norwich warriors who tried to outwit the fox on the pitch!"
This is Carrow Road's home atmosphere: measured hostility while enjoying football's original joy…
On the LED replay everyone now saw clearly: Xia Qi ran behind Giroud then snuck behind the defender marking Giroud, using the two players' bodies to block sightlines, then slipped to the far corner.
The fox's movement, the predator's strike!
"Wow! That run — so sneaky!"
"Xia Qi must have been a jungle predator in a past life — so good at hiding."
"That curl was so sharp. I felt Ruddy's despair — who would imagine Xia Qi wouldn't aim near post but curl to the far corner?"
"This is top predator thinking — I predicted your prediction…"
"Don't you think Wilshere's pass timing was perfect too? Exactly the moment Xia Qi hid behind Giroud…"
In the 87th minute Xia Qi equalized, fished the ball from the net, and strode with icy calm toward the center circle…
(END CHAPTER)
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