October 16th.
The eighth round of the Premier League officially began, with Arsenal hosting Birmingham.
At the pre-match press conference, there were almost no questions about the game itself. The Fleet Street reporters repeatedly questioned Arsène Wenger about whether Fly would play for England.
Arsène Wenger answered patiently, "It is a player's freedom to choose which national team he plays for."
"As a coach, I cannot and will not interfere with that freedom."
"Whether Fly plays for England or the United States, I support him."
"However, I want to tell him one thing: only by performing well at the club can he be called up to the national team."
"At this stage, the most important thing for him is to improve himself and have a good performance at the club."
At this moment, a reporter suddenly said, "Mr. Arsène, what if Fly has the opportunity to play for France? Do you support that?"
This sudden, almost nonsensical question, immediately caused a frown among the surrounding colleagues.
Who is this?
Glancing at the reporter's pass hanging around his neck, the colleagues suddenly understood: "So it's a reporter from France Football, no wonder."
Arsène Wenger couldn't help but shake his head and smile when he heard the question, spreading his hands in a helpless expression:
"Of course, I am French. If France can get Fly to join, then the France team will quickly become a strong favorite to win the next European Cup."
"Of course, you know, this is impossible..."
As he finished speaking, Arsène Wenger shrugged his shoulders in a helpless gesture, causing a burst of laughter from the media present.
After returning to the locker room, Arsène Wenger only told the players to pay attention to the intensity of the game, avoid unnecessary tackles, and prioritize staying healthy.
Arsenal had a great start to the season, and Arsène Wenger didn't want the team to collapse in the mid to late season due to injuries again.
...
"Ladies and gentlemen, the eighth round of the 2010-2011 English Premier League officially begins. The teams facing off in this match are the home side Arsenal, taking on the visiting Birmingham!"
"Now, let's look at the starting lineups for both teams."
"Arsenal is playing a 4-4-2 formation in this match."
"Goalkeeper: Fabianski."
"Defenders: Sagna, Varane, Koscielny, Clichy."
"Midfielders: Alexandre Song, Diaby, Wilshere, Nasri."
"Forwards: Fly, Arshavin."
"Birmingham is playing a 4-5-1 formation in this match."
"Goalkeeper: Ben Foster."
"Defenders: Dann, Roger Johnson, Carr, Ridgewell."
"Midfielders: Sebastian Larsson, Carsley, Hleb, Lee Bowyer, Barry Ferguson."
"Forward: Žigić."
"OK, the Main Referee has blown the whistle to start the match, let's get into the game..."
After the match started, Fly quickly got into the rhythm.
Since playing Chelsea, Fly hadn't played a match for about half a month and was itching to play.
In the 20th minute of the match.
Nasri and Wilshere played a one-two wall pass about 35 meters from the goal, and then Nasri received the ball and dribbled forward.
Before Sebastian could slide tackle, Nasri passed the ball to Arshavin, and then ran diagonally into the penalty area.
Arshavin had a telepathic understanding, and without stopping the ball, he immediately threaded it behind the Birmingham defenders Carr and Roger Johnson.
By the time the two of them turned to chase the ball, Nasri had already touched it before them.
Facing the charging Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster, Nasri gently tapped the ball to the left.
Fly, who suddenly appeared, met the rolling ball and easily pushed it into a largely open net!
Arsenal led Birmingham 1-0.
"GOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"
"Number 13, Fly Adams!!!"
"Incredible, this kid has scored again and again and again."
"As of the eighth round of the Premier League, this kid has played 7 games, scoring 13 goals, averaging almost two goals per game!"
"This is simply a miracle, the ninth greatest miracle in human history!!!"
In the 33rd minute of the match.
Birmingham had a corner kick, and Carsley's cross found the head of the 2.02-meter tall giant Žigić.
Facing this towering beast who should be on an NBA court, the defender marking him, Varane, was helpless and could only watch him being pressed down as he saw Fabianski's desperate eyes.
Header, goal, Birmingham equalized 1-1!
"GOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"
"Number 19, Žigić!!!"
"god, this is simply a beast standing on the green field. The 191 cm Rafael looks like a child in front of him."
"There was nothing he could do, Arsenal goalkeeper Fabianski could only surrender in the face of this level of talent."
"Birmingham equalized, the score is 1-1, temporarily tied."
Facing this pure talent header, Fly could only shake his head helplessly.
You really can't blame Varane for this goal. A 202 cm football giant, once he jumps, no one can stop him.
In the 41st minute of the match.
Nasri played a through ball to Fly, who sprinted into the penalty area with great speed, but was tripped on his standing leg by Carr just as he was about to shoot.
The Main Referee did not hesitate to show a yellow card and awarded Arsenal a penalty.
Logically, with Fabregas absent, the second penalty taker for Arsenal is Nasri, and this penalty should have been taken by him.
But Fly had already privately agreed with him that if he let him take a penalty to compete for the Premier League Golden Boot, he would treat him to a fruit platter.
Nasri himself is not someone who cares much about statistics, and furthermore, under the leadership of captain Fabregas, everyone in the Arsenal team now supports Fly's pursuit of the Golden Boot.
So basically, any penalty that could be given was given.
Of course, all of this was done with Arsène Wenger's permission.
Arsène Wenger is indeed very fond of Fly. He even agreed to this request, which he would never have agreed to in the past.
Taking the ball, Fly faced Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster, adjusted his breathing, and at the moment the referee blew the whistle, he immediately took a shot, and the ball went into the net.
2-1, Arsenal took the lead again!
"GOOOOOOOOAL!!!"
"Fly's penalty is as firm and decisive as ever, without the slightest hesitation. The ball went directly into the bottom right corner of the goal. Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster guessed the wrong direction, and Arsenal took the lead again."
After the second half started, Birmingham played with fire in their own half, which directly led to Wilshere stealing the ball.
As soon as Wilshere completed the steal, he immediately kicked the ball towards the left side of Birmingham's penalty area.
Fly had already sprinted forward at the moment he saw the mistake in Birmingham's defense.
By the time the ball had just rolled to the left side, about 15 meters from the goal, Fly had already arrived.
At this moment, all the Birmingham defenders raised a single arm high, signaling to the referee that Fly was offside.
But the Main Referee saw that the linesman had not raised his flag, so he ignored it.
And after receiving the ball, Fly faced the trembling Ben Foster standing in front of the goal, decided to end his suffering, straightened the back of his right foot, struck the bottom of the ball, and took a powerful shot!
The ball went into the net again like a white flash!
Arsenal extended their lead to 3-1 in the second half with Fly's lightning-fast goal.