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The game was opening up fast. Arsenal maintained possession, dictating play through Özil's elegance and Cazorla's sharp movement. Francesco remained active on the right, constantly looking for openings.
The match remained locked in an intense stalemate through the opening 20 minutes, with both sides battling to establish control. Arsenal relied on quick, incisive passing to probe Juventus' defensive line, while the home team responded with disciplined pressing and sharp counterattacks.
Francesco felt the weight of the contest in every sprint, every touch, every duel. Juventus' defense was as formidable as expected, with Chiellini and Bonucci cutting out passes and shielding Buffon with their usual authority. On the other end, Ospina was equally heroic, diving low to deny a curling effort from Morata and then reacting instinctively to push away a close-range strike from Tevez.
Despite the high stakes, Francesco was thriving in the electric atmosphere. He had already tested Evra twice, once by cutting inside and launching a powerful shot that Buffon punched away, and another when he dashed to the byline, delivering a sharp cross that Giroud just missed with an outstretched boot.
Wenger had told them to be patient, and Francesco could see why. Juventus wasn't just sitting back—they were trying to lure Arsenal into overcommitting before springing forward through Pirlo's vision and Marchisio's drive. Arsenal had to strike the right balance: be aggressive, but not reckless.
As the clock neared the 25th minute, Juventus had their best chance yet. Vidal won a 50-50 duel in midfield and quickly fed Tevez, who turned sharply past Coquelin and surged toward the box. Francesco sprinted back to help, but Tevez released the ball just in time, slipping it through to Morata.
For a brief moment, the entire stadium seemed to hold its breath.
Morata took a single touch before blasting a shot toward the bottom corner. It was struck cleanly, with venom, and for an instant, Francesco thought it was going in.
Ospina, however, had other ideas.
The Colombian keeper flung himself low, stretching every muscle in his body. His fingertips barely brushed the ball—but it was enough. The shot deflected off his gloves and ricocheted off the post before Mertesacker cleared it away.
A collective gasp from the Juventus fans. A roar of approval from the traveling Arsenal supporters.
Francesco exhaled, exchanging a quick nod with Ospina. They were still in this.
Arsenal responded with their own attack just a minute later. Özil, finding space near the center circle, threaded a perfect pass between the lines, splitting Marchisio and Vidal. Giroud let the ball run, acting as a decoy, allowing Alexis to pick it up in full stride.
Francesco saw his opening and immediately burst forward down the right. Alexis spotted him and played a lofted diagonal pass, perfectly weighted. Francesco controlled it with his chest, took one touch to steady himself, and drove toward the box.
Evra was backtracking, trying to cut off his angle. Francesco feinted to shoot, drawing the defender in, then slipped the ball onto his left foot and fired a curling effort toward the far post.
Buffon reacted with stunning speed for his age. The Juventus legend dived across and, with a strong left hand, parried the shot wide.
Another close call.
Francesco let out a frustrated sigh but quickly clapped his hands. "We keep going!" he called to his teammates.
The match continued at a relentless pace. Juventus, now growing into the game, pushed forward again. Pirlo orchestrated their attack with his usual elegance, spraying passes to the flanks and pulling Arsenal's midfielders out of position. One particularly dangerous move saw Lichtsteiner deliver a looping cross into the box, where Morata met it with a powerful header.
Ospina reacted superbly once more, tipping it over the bar.
From the ensuing corner, Koscielny rose highest, heading the ball clear, but Juventus recycled possession quickly. Vidal drove into the box, twisting past Cazorla before unleashing a shot that skimmed just wide of the post.
Francesco's heart was pounding. This wasn't just a game—it was a war of attrition.
By the 30th minute, Arsenal began to regain control. Özil started dictating play more freely, dropping deeper to link up with Coquelin and Cazorla. Wenger's game plan was working: wear Juventus down, make them chase, and wait for the gaps to open.
Then, in the 33rd minute, Arsenal found their breakthrough.
It started with a quick transition. Coquelin intercepted a pass meant for Marchisio and immediately played the ball forward to Özil. Seeing space ahead, Özil turned and carried the ball upfield before slipping a through ball to Alexis, who had drifted centrally.
Francesco recognized the opportunity and accelerated, darting behind Evra. Alexis, ever aware, spotted him and released a perfectly timed pass into his path.
This was it.
Francesco took one touch to steady himself, his mind calculating everything in an instant. Buffon was coming off his line, narrowing the angle. Chiellini was closing in from the side.
No time for hesitation.
Francesco struck the ball cleanly with his right foot, driving it low toward the far corner.
Buffon dived.
Too late.
The ball zipped past him and kissed the inside of the post before nestling into the net.
Silence from the Juventus crowd.
A deafening roar from the Arsenal fans.
Francesco barely had time to register what happened before Alexis and Giroud tackled him in celebration. Özil arrived next, ruffling his hair, and soon the entire team joined in.
Wenger, on the touchline, simply nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.
Francesco stood up, chest heaving, adrenaline surging through his veins. He turned to the Arsenal fans and pounded his chest over the club crest.
This was why he played.
Juventus restarted the game with urgency, clearly stung by the goal. They upped their intensity, pushing more players forward. Pirlo, now playing with renewed determination, began dictating the game even more aggressively, spraying precise passes that stretched Arsenal's defensive shape.
Five minutes later, Juventus nearly equalized.
A quick one-two between Tevez and Vidal unlocked Arsenal's defense, allowing Tevez to break into the box. Mertesacker lunged, but Tevez skipped past him and unleashed a shot toward the top corner.
Ospina, having a phenomenal game, somehow got a hand to it, pushing it onto the crossbar before Koscielny scrambled it away.
The warning signs were there.
Juventus weren't backing down.
The rest of the first half was a tense battle of tactical adjustments. Arsenal, knowing they had the lead, began playing more conservatively, focusing on controlled possession and quick counters. Juventus, however, continued to probe, looking for any weakness.
Just before halftime, they had one final chance. A whipped cross from Lichtsteiner found Morata once more, but this time his header sailed just over the bar.
The referee blew the whistle.
Halftime.
As Francesco walked toward the tunnel, he could still feel the adrenaline coursing through him. He glanced up at the scoreboard.
Juventus 0 - 1 Arsenal.
A long way to go. But they were in the lead.
The players trudged back into the tunnel, sweat dripping from their brows, jerseys clinging to their bodies from the intense first half. The air inside the locker room was thick with both exhaustion and anticipation. Some players grabbed water bottles, taking long gulps, while others stretched their legs, keeping their muscles from tightening up.
Francesco sank onto the bench, running a hand through his damp hair. His heart was still racing, the adrenaline refusing to fade. Scoring in the Champions League against Juventus—it was a dream moment, but the match was far from over.
Arsène Wenger stepped into the room, his presence immediately commanding attention. He wasn't a manager who shouted; he didn't need to. His calm authority was enough. He took a moment to look around at his players, gauging their energy levels, their focus.
"Well done," he said finally, his voice even, but carrying weight. "We played with intelligence. We were patient, and we took our chance when it came. That was good."
There were nods around the room, but no one looked too relaxed. They all knew what was coming.
Wenger continued, moving to the tactical board. "But this second half will not be the same as the first."
He pointed to Juventus' formation on the board. "They started cautiously, looking for counterattacks, but now they will shift to all-out attack. They have no choice. They are losing at home, and they will not accept that."
The players leaned in, absorbing every word.
"This means two things," Wenger went on. "One, they will press higher. Their full-backs, Lichtsteiner and Evra, will push up more aggressively. Their midfield will step further forward, and Pirlo will look to dictate from deeper, spreading the play wide to stretch us."
He tapped the board where Juventus' wingers would be. "We must be disciplined defensively. Bellerín, Monreal—be aware of their overlaps. Do not let them isolate you."
Bellerín and Monreal both nodded. They knew the responsibility that lay ahead.
Wenger turned his attention to the midfielders. "Coquelin, Santi—your roles are crucial now. They will try to overload the center, using Vidal's late runs and Tevez dropping deep to create an extra man in midfield. Do not get dragged out of position. Stay compact."
Coquelin rolled his shoulders, ready for the challenge.
"And two," Wenger's gaze moved to the attackers now. "Because they are pressing higher, there will be space behind them. This is our opportunity."
His finger moved along the board, showing the potential gaps Juventus would leave. "When we win possession, we must transition quickly. Özil, Alexis, Francesco—you three will be key. Özil, find the pockets of space. Alexis and Francesco, stretch the field, force their defenders to make difficult choices."
Francesco straightened, listening intently.
"Francesco," Wenger said directly, his sharp eyes locking onto him. "You are playing well, but in the second half, they will target you more. Evra and Chiellini will not let you move freely. Expect more pressure. Use it against them. Draw them in, then release the ball quickly. But when the time is right, take them on."
Francesco nodded firmly. He wasn't afraid of the challenge.
"Lastly," Wenger concluded, stepping back, "we must remain calm. Juventus will come at us hard, but we do not panic. If we keep our shape and take our chances, we will control this game."
He let the words sink in before clapping his hands together. "Alright. Stay focused. We go again."
The team rose to their feet, determination etched across their faces. A few last-minute stretches, some words exchanged between teammates, and then they were moving again—back through the tunnel, back into the cauldron of noise that was the Allianz Stadium.
As they emerged onto the pitch, the atmosphere was even more intense than before. The Juventus fans were louder, their chants echoing through the night. The players could sense the shift in energy.
Buffon clapped his hands, rallying his team. Chiellini was barking orders, pointing to his defenders. Juventus was preparing for war.
The referee blew his whistle.
The second half began.
And just as Wenger predicted, Juventus attacked immediately.
They came forward with relentless energy, pushing Arsenal deep into their own half. Lichtsteiner bombed down the right, forcing Monreal to retreat. Evra surged forward on the left, linking up with Tevez. Pirlo, always elegant, sprayed passes with pinpoint precision, shifting Arsenal's defensive shape.
The first warning sign came in the 48th minute. A quick one-two between Marchisio and Vidal unlocked the midfield, allowing Marchisio to thread a pass into the box. Morata latched onto it, striking low and hard—
Ospina reacted brilliantly again, diving to his right and getting a strong hand on the shot.
The Juventus fans groaned in frustration.
But they kept coming.
Francesco barely had time to catch his breath before Juventus attacked again. This time, Tevez danced past Koscielny and fired a shot from the edge of the box.
It rocketed toward the top corner.
Ospina, again, was Arsenal's hero—tipping it just over the bar.
Francesco gritted his teeth. They had to weather this storm.
For the next ten minutes, Arsenal barely got out of their own half. Juventus were relentless, their attacks coming in waves. Bonucci even pushed forward, joining the attack, adding an extra body in the box.
The pressure was suffocating. Arsenal was holding on, but only just. Every clearance felt like a temporary relief, every interception a small victory. Juventus smelled blood, their relentless attacks pushing Arsenal further and further back. Francesco could hear Wenger's voice on the sideline, urging them to stay compact, to not panic—but the momentum had shifted, and they needed to ride out the storm.
Then came the moment Arsenal had been dreading.
It was the 57th minute, and Juventus' persistence finally broke through. Pirlo, ever the maestro, orchestrated the attack with a vision few in football could match. He spotted the run before anyone else, lifting his head and delivering a perfectly weighted through ball that carved through Arsenal's defense like a blade.
Morata was already in motion, darting between Mertesacker and Koscielny. The two defenders hesitated for just a second, momentarily unsure whether to step up or drop back. That moment of indecision was fatal.
The ball landed precisely in Morata's stride, giving him a clear path to goal.
Francesco sprinted back, desperately trying to close the distance, but it was too late. Morata was through.
Ospina had been heroic all game, but a one-on-one situation against a clinical finisher was always a goalkeeper's nightmare. He rushed off his line, making himself as big as possible, his eyes locked on Morata's every movement.
But Morata was composed.
With a simple feint, he sent Ospina slightly off-balance before calmly slotting the ball past him, tucking it into the bottom corner.
The Allianz Stadium exploded.
A deafening roar erupted from the Juventus faithful, their voices shaking the very foundation of the stadium. The Juventus bench leapt to their feet in celebration, fists pumping in the air. Morata peeled away, arms outstretched, as his teammates swarmed him.
Francesco felt his stomach twist.
1-1.
They had worked so hard, defended with everything they had, but one perfect moment of play had undone it all.
He looked around at his teammates—Mertesacker shaking his head in frustration, Koscielny clenching his fists, Ospina picking himself up with a look of pure disappointment. Arsenal had to respond. They couldn't let Juventus take control now.
Francesco took a deep breath, exhaled sharply, and jogged toward the center circle. The game wasn't over, not by a long shot.
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Name : Francesco Lee
Age : 16 (2014)
Birthplace : London, England
Football Club : Arsenal First Team
Championship History : None
Match Played: 25
Goal: 31
Assist: 12
MOTM: 8