While Chen Jian was still in the Netherlands and his agent were unclear about what to expect from the future, Nottingham Forest faced their penultimate opponent in the league - Newcastle.

The match coincided with Arsenal's away game against Tottenham.

The north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur is perhaps Arsenal's toughest bone to bite in the final eight rounds of the league. Because it's not an ordinary league game, it's a derby.

Don also paid close attention to the game, Chris Rac wore headphones to listen to the latest game information on the radio, and if there was any update, he would tell Donn next to him as soon as possible.

The Nottingham Forest players also understand what this round of the league means to them, and they are just as concerned about the Arsenal side of the game, so it can be said that the whole team is half-hearted.

It's not what Donn wants to see, so he had to keep reminding his players to focus before the game.

The game has entered the second half, and the score of Nottingham Forest and Newcastle is still 0:0. On the other side, Arsenal lead Tottenham 1-0.

The two scores are a bit frustrating.

Don also felt that he was always obsessed with how others were not good for him, so he got up from his seat and did not listen to Chris Lak's "verbal broadcast", but yelled at the field to cheer up the players and make sure to score.

Meanwhile, on the other side, at Tottenham Hotspur's home stadium at White Hart Lane, Arsene Wenger was not comfortable despite a 1-0 lead.

Sometimes the score doesn't really reflect a game, especially in a game like a derby.

Although Arsenal have a one-goal lead, they are now being beaten by Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur fans also knew the importance of the game, with some even throwing slogans from the stands to Nottingham Forest, who were fighting in the north: "League to Forest, FA Cup to us".

As Arsenal's sworn enemies, they don't mind pulling Arsenal off the horse or watching Arsenal lose the title, and the pain of their opponents is their greatest joy and happiness.

Arsene Wenger stood anxiously on the sidelines, constantly shouting to remind his team to watch out for counter-attacks. His brow furrowed and his expression serious.

On the other side, Don gritted his teeth and glared at the court, clenching his fists and tensing his body.

As head coaches, the pressure on both of them is not light.

If Arsenal still win this game, then they will basically win the title in advance. Nottingham Forest is only theoretically possible – it is too unlikely that Arsenal will lose 8-0 in the final round and then Forest will win 6-0......

Donn looked at his watch, and there were twenty-seven minutes left before the end of the game. In other words, the end of the season is only twenty-seven minutes.

Cal. Spike was at St. James' Park, where he was going to witness Donn's defeat.

※※※

Don was hesitant to make a substitution. Newcastle were determined not to allow Forest to take the three points at their home stadium, basically ignoring the attack, and defending all the way, so that Bentley's pass could not be passed at all. Does this situation require Bentley's replacement?

After another two minutes, the Forest laid siege to Newcastle's gates, but there was little thunder and little rain. Don gritted his teeth and made up his mind. He told Chris Rac to call back the warm-up Mock.

Newcastle are clearly concentrating on defending wide crosses right now, so give them a different twist.

Mork ran to Donn's side and shouted, "Chief." ”

Keeping an eye on the pitch, Donn glanced at Mock before pulling him over and pointing to the pitch and saying, "I need you to play and use your breakthrough to cause some problems for Newcastle's defence." Do you understand? ”

Mork nodded, "I know how, sir." ”

"Remember, make sure to mess up their defenses."

"Yes, sir."

"Go ahead!" Donn slapped Mock in the back.

The fourth official held up a substitution sign on the sidelines, with Nottingham Forest calling for a substitution, with No. 7 Bentley coming down and No. 17 Mock on.

※※※

At White Hart Lane, Tottenham also made a substitution. Thirty-four-year-old veteran Michael. Owen came on to replace Croatian defender Korluka.

When the 34-year-old Owen was seen on the pitch, some of the visiting Arsenal fans burst into laughter.

Could it be that Tottenham Hotspur is no longer available? He sent such a man who couldn't even run.

The narrator couldn't guess Harry either. What exactly does Redknapp mean by this substitution.

Owen is thirty-four years old, has frequent injuries this season, and has not played a few games for the team at all, what is such a player whose fitness and condition cannot be guaranteed?

※※※

"Hey, Tony, there's a change over there." Chris Rac pressed his headphones and said to Donn.

"Huh?" Donn doesn't care much about the substitutions on White Hart Lane, he's keeping an eye on Mock's performance. Just now he broke through again but brought the ball to a dead end, making him, the manager, anxious to stomp his feet off the field.

"Tottenham substitutions, Owen is on."

The name was a little familiar to Donne, and he was stunned for a moment before he reacted. "Owen? Michael. Irving? The one that played in Liverpool and Newcastle before? ”

Chrislak nodded.

Don rolled his eyes. "Hasn't he retired yet? I thought he was retired, I haven't seen him this season. ”

'He's got a lot of injuries and hasn't played a full game this season. Chris Rac explained.

"What was Old Harry thinking? Forget it......" he sighed, gesturing to the mini radio in Chris Lack's arms, "turn off your." We don't have to worry about what happens to others, we play our game...... It's also considered no regrets. ”

When he heard that it was Owen's old guy who appeared, Don even had such an idea - Harry. Redknapp intends to give the title to Arsenal. So he has decided to take revenge on Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup final, not only to win, but also to beat Tottenham Hotspur without a fight, making them lose very facelessly.

Chrislac squirmed his lips and put his hand inside, but he didn't turn off the radio. Deep down, he was still expecting a miracle to happen......

※※※

December 14 last year, Michael. Owen spent his thirty-four years in a hospital bed. At that time, he had just suffered another serious injury in training, and everyone was asserting that he would retire. As a result, he did not announce that he was retiring, but said that he would actively treat and recover and prepare to return to the court. At the time, quite a few people took it as a joke.

But now, he did return to the pitch, albeit with one game and twenty-one minutes left until the end of the season.

Arsenal's goal was just below the visitors' fans' stands and he could clearly hear the laughter coming from the stands.

"Hey, old man! Why haven't you retired yet? ”

"Can you still run, Michael?"

"Be careful not to get hurt again! If you want to fall, don't fall in our restricted area! ”

He turned a deaf ear.

His career has experienced peaks and valleys, and he has seen all kinds of ups and downs, and such provocations can no longer shake his fighting spirit.

"This is really an older striker combination...... "The commentator shook his head vigorously when he saw this scene, "Thirty-two-year-old Pavlyuchenko, thirty-four-year-old Michael." Irving. Is it Harry. Is Redknapp going to use such a forward combination to break down Arsenal's defence? ”

Arsene Wenger turned his head to look at Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp, who was also standing on the sidelines, and the old man had no expression on his face, very calm.

He was behind but seemed to be more composed than Arsene Wenger, who was ahead.

Michael. Owen's appearance is incomprehensible to many Tottenham fans, they think that Redknapp has given up the game, otherwise why should he be replaced by such an old man? Boos rang out in the stands against Owen.

For Owen, it was a betrayal...... Even his own people are booing him.

※※※

Mock managed to break through Jose, the Spanish left-back who was defending him. Enrique, who didn't mean to pass the ball, continued to push inside, which caused the Newcastle defence to become confused.

Argentine centre-back Juloccini dropped Ibisevic to make up for it, and Mock pedaled his bike quickly to turn the ball to the baseline. Colocchini wasn't fooled, he just stuck it and didn't let him cut inside.

Mock, who had his back to Koloccini, suddenly knocked the football between the Argentine's legs with his heel, followed by him with Kolocini as the axis, turned one hundred and eighty degrees, and slipped in near the baseline!

Coloccini subconsciously stretched out his foot to hook the ball, but right in front of him he saw the football being walked away by Mock, and his leg hooked Mock's foot......

The next thing you can do with your knees is what to expect.

Kolocini's heart chilled.

Mock screamed and fell to the ground.

Goalkeeper Tim. Krull hugged the football, and he also heard the referee's whistle.

"Penalty!" The commentator shouted excitedly, and Nottingham Forest, who had been besieging Nottingham Forest for more than 70 minutes without scoring, took advantage of a breakthrough to score a chance.

The Forest players on the pitch were just as excited, rushing up to hug Mock, pat him on the head and beat him on the chest. Apparently these people are not aware of the fact that on the other side Arsenal are still ahead.

Comparatively, Nottingham Forest's coaches are much calmer, these coaches are people who know what is happening at White Hart Lane, even if the penalty goes in, as long as Arsenal continue to maintain this score until the end, then Forest will still not win the title.

※※※

'Forest got a penalty.' Arsene Wenger's aide leaned over and said to him.

Arsene Wenger grinned.

It doesn't matter if Forest win on penalties, as long as they win the game here, the title will almost certainly be Arsenal's. He didn't want to judge his opponent, let alone an opponent who was already dead.

He remembered one thing, Donn had said that a one-goal lead was the most dangerous score in the world, and that Arsenal were only 1-0 up was dangerous, and he should have reminded his players to step up their attack and try to score another goal, so that they could celebrate the league title at the stadium of their arch-rivals, and there is simply nothing more refreshing in the world than this.

He got up from his seat, not caring if the penalty went in from Forest's side.

※※※

"Ibisevic's penalty! The ball is in!! ”

The commentators shouted excitedly, but the celebration in the Forest dugout was limited. They just got up and slapped each other, not even hugging each other.

However, the Forest players on the field were very excited, hugging each other one by one, and it was almost another Arhat.

Donn saw the players like this, and he turned his head to look at Chrislak.

Chrislak knew what he meant, and quickly replied, "It's still 1:0 over there." ”

Don thought for a moment, "Don't tell them the truth. ”

"If they ask us......"

"Let's just say Tottenham equalized!" Don gritted his teeth.

※※※

After the goal, Ibisevic broke free from the arms of his teammates and ran to the sidelines. He wanted to ask about the situation over there.

"It's flat! Flat! Chrislak waved his hand. Tottenham equalised! ”

Ibisevic gave Donn a suspicious look, for he didn't see much excitement on the leader's face.

"Get back on the pitch and keep playing! What do you do with others? Don had to yell at him. Play your game first! ”

Ibisevic and his players turned and ran back to the pitch, only Wood looked at Donn and didn't act immediately.

Although they were told in the dugout that Tottenham had equalised, there was no happy expression on the faces of the people around them, and the Forest fans in the stands did nothing special to remind them, this "fact" is really doubtful.

"I think our acting is clumsy...... Chrislak grumbles as he walks back to the dugout.

Don stood on the sidelines with his hands folded over his chest, ignoring his complaints.

※※※

"Intensify the attack, press up! Press on! Arsene Wenger gestured to his players from the sidelines, "Neither Owen nor the Russian are speed strikers, don't be afraid of their counter-attacks!" ”

Arsenal's defence was getting higher and higher, and they even forgot it was a derby.

Wilshere's pass was cut off and Arsenal's defenders were still unguarded, waiting for their midfielders to cut the ball off before continuing to attack.

Tottenham passed. Modlic made a long pass directly from the back, and a white figure swept in front of Arsenal's backline to catch up with the pass that fell from the sky!

"Michael. Irving? ”

Even the narrator was surprised, and he used a questioning tone.

Owen glanced back at the Arsenal defender behind him, then turned to look at the linesman, who had to make sure he was offside. The linesman didn't say anything, just followed him towards the baseline.

Owen looked ahead again, and Almunia was hesitating whether to strike or retreat.

He didn't hesitate, he withdrew his gaze and took the football forward!

There was a huge cheer from the stands, and everyone was cheering for Owen at this moment, and Tottenham fans prayed that he would be ten years younger and become the "boy chasing the wind" again. Arsenal fans cursed him for falling to the ground.

※※※

"Michael. Owen ......" Chris Rac, who was halfway there, suddenly stopped, listened intently, and muttered.

"What?" Don frowned.

"He's dribbling...... No offside...... ...... single-handedly," Chrislac muttered intermittently.

※※※

"He's dribbling! It's fast, it's not offside! Not offside at all! What is Senderos doing? What hand? Back to defense! It's a one-handed knife! The narrator couldn't help but complain. This is not at all the sprint speed that a 34-year-old veteran should have! Michael. Irving! It was as if he had gone back in time sixteen years ago......"

Owen's speed was indeed fast, and it was so fast that Wenger was taken by surprise.

Almunia decided to make a move because Owen was about to go into the box.

As soon as he rushed out, he saw a flick of Owen's right foot as he was running......

The ball flew over his head and into the goal behind him.

At that moment, there wasn't even a sound on the White Hart Lane Stadium.

※※※

"Single Blade...... Almunia strikes...... Hanging ...... The ball is in!! The ball is in!! Chrislak suddenly roared frantically and leaped up from the ground. The ball is in! Tony!! Tony! The ball is in!! Tottenham equalised! This time it was a real equalizer!! ”

He turned to the radio in his hand and yelled at Don.

Don didn't ask, "Really?" Instead, he grabbed the headphones and stuffed them in his ears.

“…… Michael. Owen's beautiful lob shot! Almunia was completely unresponsive! It's really pitiful, the whole Arsenal team couldn't imagine that Owen would have such a sprint speed! An oversight in their backline gave Owen the opportunity, running 30 metres with the ball and leveling the score at 1-1 with a beautiful lob shot!! I've heard that Nottingham Forest just relied on a penalty to take the lead over Newcastle and now Toney. Donn's team is back to life!! ”

At the same time, there was a sudden burst of cheers in the stands of the visiting team. The forest, which was closer to the stadium, shouted at the fans waving their mobile phones and radios into the stadium.

"They scored! They scored!! Tottenham, it was Tottenham who scored the goal! ”

"Tony!" Chris Rac clenched his fists and gritted his teeth to look at Donn, "A miracle happened!" ”

Don didn't smile on his face, he was even in a trance. Did it really happen? Did Arsenal really get an equaliser? Could it be that there was a delay and Arsenal followed up with another goal? He looked around aimlessly and shoved the headphones into Chrillak's arms. "It's not over yet, it's too early to rejoice."

He turned around and yelled at the audience:

"One more goal! One more goal! Seal the win for me! Beware of their counterattacks...... Cheer me up!! ”

This time, Forest's players believed that Tottenham had really equalised, and the morale of the whole team was boosted. For a while, the whole Newcastle team was pressed into their defensive third zone.

※※※

"Owen! Irving! Irving! A voice rang out in the stands of White Hart Lane.

Veteran Owen ran on the field with open arms, he hadn't enjoyed such cheers and feelings for a long time, and the cool wind blew on his face, and he felt as if he had wings and was flying freely between heaven and earth.

When he was seriously injured this season, he was advised to retire and have a decent ending. But, he said: "Injuries are like my wife, and I'm used to spending time with them. I'm not going to retire because I still want to keep playing and I feel like I can keep playing. ”

At that time, everyone laughed at him for being a dead duck with a hard mouth and talking big.

Now, all the people who were laughing at him and mocking him have shut up. There was surprise, embarrassment, shame, and respect on his face.

In an instant, even injuries were lost at the feet of this strong veteran. He gave a slap in the face to those who were surprised when they saw him play: "Isn't this old guy retired yet?" It's a pleasure to fan......

Wenger hung his head, and no one could see what expression was on his face at this moment. Chagrin? Wrath? Unwilling? Smell a rat? Helpless?

None of that matters anymore.

Arsene Wenger has always believed that a professional player will start to decline in his career and competitive form after the age of 30, so he has always spared no effort to clean the team of "older players" who are over 30 years old, and provide space for the development of young talents he has cultivated, which is not wrong, and Arsenal recognises his concept of club development.

But today's scene is really a bit ironic. He was defeated by a veteran whom he had never taken seriously, and he had nothing to say about his defeat, and he couldn't even find a reason......

What can he say? And what kind of expression should he make in front of the camera lens?

Only hang your head and be silent.

※※※

The next day, when Nottingham Forest regained their hopes of winning the league title and Arsenal were held to a goal by veteran Owen, Owen pulled out a postcard from his mailbox.

It reads:

Your goal saves a person's life. Thank you, Michael.

There is no attribution.

(To be continued)