Chapter 165: Arsenal — Winter Champions
Arsène Wenger shoved past reporters with his horn-like arm, pushing them aside. Seeing his fierce demeanor, everyone expected him to scold Xia Qi, but instead he smiled and gave Xia Qi a hug.
"Boss, I…"
"Mario is important, isn't he?" Wenger ruffled his hair and told the gathered reporters, "When I was young I also thought friends were more important than myself…"
He patted Xia Qi on the butt, signaled for him not to argue with Ferguson, and urged him to leave quickly…
In truth, Wenger did not agree with Xia Qi's actions at heart. He felt some anger and displeasure about Xia Qi volunteering to get a red card, but such displeasure could be discussed privately. This was not a matter of life and death. Think of the madman Eric Cantona, the frantic mouse Lee? Wise? the tiger Roy Keane… any of those men were more problematic and controversial than Xia Qi, yet no one could deny their greatness!
Football is black and white, but football people are not!!!
At the players' tunnel, Mario Balotelli, leaning on a crutch, opened his arms…
Reporters clicked their shutters again.
"Thank you, brother!!! I promise you, while you're sidelined I'll lead the team forward."
"You look like that — can you even play?"
"Can a man say no?"
"…"
Arsenal made no attempt to hide their support for Xia Qi; Wembley fell into chaos, boos and applause mixed… Emotions clashed and security and police rushed in to separate the agitated crowds.
"Xia Qi clearly knew the consequences of what he did, so he turned and walked down the tunnel without looking back. I never expected he'd be a bad boy!"
"Who pushed him to become a bad boy? Before tonight Xia Qi had always been obedient, even when wronged he wouldn't protest. Who forced him to become like this tonight??"
"Are you all indulging him? The Professor is covering for him, you too…"
In the Sky Sports studio Thierry Henry and Ole Gunnar Solskjær were at each other's throats.
Xia Qi's flying kick was brutal, but he stood up for a teammate and deserved Arsenal's full backing.
Football is war; on the battlefield having a teammate who protects you is crucial. No matter what others say about Xia Qi, in the hearts of Arsenal people Xia Qi was sanctified.
…
On the pitch, with Manchester United up a man but trailing by three goals, Ferguson decided to push for more attack and substituted Jesse Lingard for Michael Carrick.
Yet Arsenal, a man down, played with even sharper attacking impetus.
Xia Qi's departure made them more united and focused.
Gnabry seized a United defensive error and assisted Theo Walcott.
United not only failed to exploit their extra man, they saw the deficit increase.
5–1!
That was the final score.
After the match, Arsenal players rushed into the tunnel, dragged Xia Qi and Mario Balotelli out, and together they attended the trophy presentation.
This was Arsenal's second trophy of the season.
At the post-match press conference, Wenger faced reporters' accusations aimed at Xia Qi and made his position clear in support of Xia Qi.
"For some people, friends are more important than themselves…"
"Whose youth wasn't about 'brothers like limbs'? I'm not saying his action was right; I mean young people sometimes act without cool heads — don't be too surprised, that's the price of growing up…"
After the ceremony Balotelli was taken to hospital for further checks and treatment.
Xia Qi and his teammates jostled with the trophy… Wenger called Xia Qi aside:
"Sorry, Boss."
"Xia, you don't need to apologize. You were wrong, but… how to put it, that kick was invigorating — it made me feel younger by several years."
"Heh, Boss, I thought you'd criticize me."
"…I wanted to say your foul may lead to further punishment… and the club can't appeal because of that red card — we can't support you publicly, at least not in public — so…"
"Boss, I understand. I won't appeal and I won't blame the club…"
That night Xia Qi and Emma Watson went to a "Home Inn"…
That same evening, Manchester United and United fans demanded Xia Qi apologize to Michael Carrick.
Xia Qi refused. Facing reporters' questions, Xia Qi clearly stated he would only apologize if Carrick first apologized to him and Balotelli.
"Carrick is injured and will be out for at least a week — because of you."
"Do you know how long Balotelli will be out? Three weeks!!! And I'll be suspended for at least three matches, and may be further punished — this is all because of him, and he has the nerve to ask for an apology?"
Xia Qi pushed away a Manchester evening paper reporter who was interviewing him.
No doubt Xia Qi was angry!
With Balotelli and Xia Qi absent, Arsenal's frontline weakened. Their title probability dropped from 55% to 40% at a stroke.
…
The disciplinary committee quickly handed further punishment for Xia Qi's violent foul: a 1+3 suspension.
Under English football rules, red cards in the League Cup, FA Cup, and Premier League are cross-applied.
That meant although Xia Qi's red was in the League Cup, his suspension applied to the Premier League.
Four Premier League matches — Xia Qi would miss about a month of league action.
It would be surprising if Arsenal's title chances didn't drop.
In December, Arsenal had only four Premier League matches and no other competitions. Xia Qi did not take time off because he couldn't play; he trained hard at the Colney training ground.
The system needed at least three months of rest, meaning Xia Qi had to play himself for at least two months.
He would have to carry much of the load himself, including in February's Champions League round of 16 against Bayern.
Today's sweat was so he would not cry when facing Bayern two months later…
…
The Premier League's Round 16 began. Without Xia Qi and Balotelli, Arsenal were hammered away by Manchester City's youngsters, losing 6–3!
Their unbeaten record was broken!
After the match, the media dragged out the suspended Xia Qi and tore into him, saying the main reason for the defeat was his indiscretion in the League Cup.
At the end of their pieces many echoed reverence for Arsenal's 2003–04 unbeaten season, saying it was a record that would be very hard to beat again.
Round 17, Arsenal drew Mourinho's Chelsea 0–0 at home with difficulty.
After that match, the media criticized Mourinho's second spell, saying his tactics were too conservative and he had failed to take advantage of Arsenal's "sickness" — he didn't finish them off.
Round 18, West Ham 1–3 Arsenal.
Round 19, Newcastle 0–1 Arsenal.
That match fell on Christmas.
Afterward the Premier League entered a short winter break.
2013–2014 Premier League winter table:
1: Arsenal — 16 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, 50 points
2: Liverpool — 13 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses, 41 points
3: Manchester City — 13 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses, 41 points
4: Chelsea — 12 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses, 40 points
5: Manchester United — 11 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses, 37 points
6: Tottenham Hotspur — 10 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses, 34 points.
The media were a little disappointed with Liverpool and Chelsea — they hadn't closed the gap on Arsenal while Xia Qi was suspended.
Instead Manchester City quietly strung together four straight wins to climb from seventh to second, trailing Arsenal by only nine points.
(END CHAPTER)
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