THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
Chapter 716: The First Half Battle at Emirates

The warm-up soon concluded with the Arsenal and Liverpool players heading back to their respective dressing rooms.

Zachary's heart was pounding, his mind running through each tactical setup Klopp had drilled into them all week. Minutes later, as he pulled on the purple away kit, he could feel the anticipation building. Beside him, his teammates were just as focused, each man silently preparing for the ninety minutes of intense football that awaited.

Klopp's pep talk soon followed, his words reverberating through the room with his characteristic zeal and intensity. He encouraged each player to go out on the pitch and give it their all. As usual, he went all out to motivate his players before sending them out onto the playing field.

When Klopp's words faded, the team gave a collective nod, acknowledging the coach's words. Zachary and the others then quickly made their final adjustments before filing out of the dressing room and into the tunnel.

The atmosphere surged as they neared the pitch, the roaring cheers of Arsenal fans flooding the tunnel like a crashing wave that almost overwhelmed their ears. It was exhilarating, intense, and Zachary once again felt his pulse quicken as they stepped onto the pitch.

The prematch routines then went by in a blur—handshakes, the captain's coin toss, and the team huddle—each step pulling them closer to the main action.

Then, at precisely 5:30 PM, the referee blew the whistle, and the match was underway.

Within the first two minutes, Arsenal seized control. Their players immediately slipped into formation, dominating possession with quick, calculated passes.

They lined up in a familiar 4-2-3-1, with Mesut Özil playing as the attacking midfielder and orchestrating the attack just behind Alexandre Lacazette. It was clear that Unai Emery, Arsenal's coach, had prepared his players to control the tempo and pin Liverpool back with their passing game.

The Gunners advanced with a one-track mind, pushing forward and probing for weaknesses within the Liverpool formation. They moved the ball skillfully through midfield, with Özil constantly dropping deep to link up with Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira, each touch driving them closer to Liverpool's defensive third. In the meantime, the Arsenal fans roared with every pass, sensing an early opportunity to unsettle the visitors.

But the Liverpool players were ready. Zachary, positioned at the heart of the midfield, could see the intentions behind Arsenal's possession tactics.

Klopp had drilled into them the importance of disrupting Arsenal's flow, and Zachary was keen to set the tone. As the ball made its way to Xhaka, Zachary surged forward like the wind, leading Liverpool's high press with the intensity of a predator chasing his prey. His teammates followed suit like a pack of wolves on the hunt, closing in on the Arsenal players, cutting off passing lanes, and pressurizing every touch.

From there on, Zachary's presence became undeniable as he moved tirelessly in coordination with his teammates, closing down gaps and challenging every Arsenal pass. His focus was unwavering, his stamina seemingly infinite as he continued anticipating their movements and forcing errors with his relentless pressure.

Just like that, the match proceeded forward, and by the 13th minute, Liverpool's high press began to pay off.

The first signs of cracks in the home side's setup occurred when Arsenal's backline, under pressure, made a misjudged pass from Héctor Bellerín intended for Xhaka.

Zachary was quick to intercept, pouncing forward like there was no tomorrow, his first touch pushing the ball forward as he scanned the field. He immediately spotted Salah making a run on the right, and with a deft pass, he threaded the ball through Arsenal's midfield, bypassing Torreira and finding Salah in stride.

Salah surged forward, the Arsenal defense scrambling to close the gap as he unleashed a shot toward goal. Fortunately for Arsenal, his low shot skimmed past the post, barely missing before going out of play for a goal kick.

The Emirates immediately fell silent for a moment, tension thick in the air as Liverpool narrowly missed taking the lead in the 13th minute. Arsenal had been in control of the game during the opening minutes, but with just one lethal attack, Liverpool had changed the atmosphere of the game.

Emboldened by the near-miss, Liverpool's press then intensified, with the team working in unison to disrupt Arsenal's rhythm. The forward players, including Salah, Mane, and Roberto Firmino, upped their game, constantly running at the Arsenal defenders to disrupt their build-ups from the back. The midfielders, including Zachary, Milner, and Fabinho, also did their part by closing down the passing lanes and adding more pressure on the Arsenal players.

Arsenal's flow was soon disrupted, and by the 18th minute, Zachary found another opening. This time, he received a pass from James Milner near midfield, controlling the ball with the composure of a seasoned playmaker. With a swift turn and a slight angling of his body, he evaded Xhaka and burst forward, picking up speed as he approached Arsenal's defensive third.

Lucas Torreira quickly came forward to stop the attack, but Zachary's quick footwork allowed him to bypass the defensive midfielder with a skillful flick before sending a perfectly timed through ball to Firmino, who was just making a run toward the box.

Firmino took a touch and immediately unleashed a curling shot toward the inside of the far post. But Bernd Leno, Arsenal's goalkeeper, was ready and made a crucial save that deflected the ball out for a corner.

Liverpool's fans groaned, their collective frustration blending with the tension of the game. But they were happy as their team was asserting their presence, matching Arsenal's intensity with every passing minute. So, they continued cheering their team on with renewed energy.

The match then continued, and Arsenal attempted to regain control, pushing forward with renewed vigor. Özil and Mkhitaryan combined down the right wing, testing Liverpool's defense as they threaded passes around the final third. However, each time Arsenal gained ground, Liverpool answered, showing their resilience. The Reds' backline, marshaled by Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, especially held firm, blocking shots and clearing the danger time and time again to keep the score deadlocked at 0:0.

The proceedings moved forward, and the momentum continued to swing, with both teams probing for an advantage. But then, in the 21st minute, Zachary finally saw his moment to punish the opposition. He intercepted a loose ball from Torreira, one of Arsenal's midfielders, around the center circle before immediately pushing forward into open space.

He cut through the middle of the pitch like a bullet train on the rails, causing the Arsenal defenders to scramble as they sensed the danger brought about by his approach of their final third.

Rob Holding, one of Arsenal's center-backs, rushed forward to stop the run, but Zachary chose not to tango with the Arsenal defender.

With a swift glance, he saw Firmino's movement—a run cutting across the box and inviting an immediate through ball. As always, Zachary's mind clicked into place, and with a perfectly weighted pass, he did the needful, slipping the ball past Shkodran Mustafi, the other Arsenal center-back, and threading it straight into Firmino's path.

Firmino, with his trademark composure, didn't disappoint as he met the ball in stride. With a quick touch, he angled himself perfectly before sending a low, powerful shot past Leno and into the bottom corner of the net to score Liverpool's opening goal during the 21st minute.

Arsenal 0: 1 Liverpool

The away section of the Emirates erupted, Liverpool fans on their feet, their cheers piercing the heavy Arsenal atmosphere as the words on the large jumbotron flashed to display the updated score.

On cue, Liverpool's players, including Zachary, rushed to celebrate with Firmino. Zachary felt a swell of pride as his teammates surrounded him, acknowledging his pivotal role in the goal. Meanwhile, Klopp was all smiles on the sideline, his fists pumping in the air as he celebrated the goal. The Arsenal players, on the other hand, exchanged frustrated glances, regrouping as they prepared for the restart.

The game restarted after the brief celebrations, and following the goal, Arsenal's approach shifted. They could sense Zachary's impact on the game, and it became clear they intended to limit his midfield influence at all costs. Xhaka and Torreira, in particular, took it upon themselves to shadow him closely, their focus honed on cutting him off from the ball.

Their intent was plain for everyone watching the match to see, and as Liverpool attempted to settle into their rhythm, Zachary found himself the target of Arsenal's physical play.

In the 27th minute, as he moved to receive a pass, Xhaka charged in with a strong shoulder barge, sending Zachary sprawling to the ground. The referee blew the whistle, awarding a free-kick to Liverpool, but the message was clear—Arsenal wasn't going to make things easy for him.

Undeterred, Zachary picked himself up, brushing off the impact. He knew this was part of the game, especially against a team like Arsenal. The fouls continued, each tackle growing more aggressive as Arsenal's frustration mounted. And by the 30th minute, Zachary had been brought down twice more, the referee's whistle becoming a regular interruption to the flow of the match.

Zachary, though, remained resilient, using his quick footwork and agility to evade Arsenal's defenders whenever possible. Moreover, his movements were often calculated, drawing the Arsenal players in, tempting them to commit, and winning free kicks that allowed Liverpool to advance. The yellow cards began to stack up against Arsenal, with both Xhaka and Bellerín receiving yellow card cautions for their tackles before the 40th minute.

The only downside was that the physicality was taking a toll on Zachary. Each collision, each tumble, added to the strain on his body, and by the 40th minute, Zachary could feel some dull fatigue creeping into his system. His muscles ached from the repeated knocks, and a faint bruise was forming on his right shoulder from a particularly rough challenge by Mustafi.

Still, his determination held strong. He knew he was a crucial piece in Liverpool's attack, and he wasn't about to let Arsenal's tactics break his focus.

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