From Donn and Carl. Spike's bet began as Nottingham Forest made it two wins in a row in the league – following a win over Chelsea and then an away win over Middlesbrough. As if hearing the trumpet urging the departure, the army strode onto the journey. Maybe every step is not so steady, and there is still some tiredness and staggering, but it is still moving forward. He also climbed to third in the table, leaving only Liverpool between them and Arsenal.

On April 2, Forest hosted Champions League quarter-final opponents Arsenal at home.

Nottingham Forest will play Arsenal three times in a row in the coming week. The Champions League has two legs home and away, as well as one league game.

This week will be a pivotal week that will determine what the Forest team can expect this season. There are already media outlets that can't wait to hype up the headline of "Decisive Battle".

“…… Tony. Donne said that if he wants to win the league title this season, it is clear that he will face Arsene Wenger's Arsenal head-on. Coincidentally, they also face Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. There can be many kinds of results, and each one will be interesting enough for us as an audience. Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest twice, or Nottingham Forest beat Arsenal twice, or Forest were eliminated from the Champions Cup, and Arsenal were constrained by the Champions Cup, which ultimately allowed Forest to come back from the league. Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that Forest will eliminate Arsenal and give up the league for the Champions Cup......" (apology statement: the author was dizzy when he wrote, and forgot what he wrote in front and forgot about it later. So the only way to do this is to revise the previous chapters, Arsenal have not yet been eliminated from the Champions League, and they will also play against Nottingham Forest. I would like to express my sincerest apologies to our readers. ）

“…… Tony. Donn and Arsene Wenger have a good personal relationship, but they will certainly forget all about their personal friendship during the week and fight for the title at the end of the season. Maybe the game will be good......"

“…… This is the first time the two teams have met in the Champions Cup since the 05-06 season. Last time out, Forest eliminated Arsenal on penalties in the semi-finals, and they lost to Barcelona in the final. Will Arsenal succeed in revenge this time? ”

“…… Arsenal are in good form right now, with nine straight league wins and six points clear of Nottingham Forest. However, we can't underestimate Nottingham Forest's energy in the cup. I think Tony. Donn is a coach who is good at playing cup games, and his team has a drive that is perfect for cup games. So the ideal outcome should be for Forest to abandon the league and eliminate Arsenal. ”

There are different opinions about the outcome of the two teams, and it suddenly seems that everyone has a point.

Of course, supporters of each team must have thought that their team would get the best result.

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At the Wilford gate, Donn was blocked by a group of reporters.

"I don't predict the outcome of the game the day after tomorrow." Countless microphones reached out to his lips, and Don just waved his hand. "Yes, I have a good personal relationship with Arsena and he is a coach that I respect very much. But none of this has anything to do with the game the day after tomorrow. Don't fool me, I'm smarter than you think. ”

He's cautious because the team has been particularly physically drained lately, and three back-to-back games in a week could have a negative impact on the team – such as a last-minute breakdown...... He doesn't want to talk too hard and he doesn't want to put too much pressure on the players.

Seeing that he was about to squeeze out of the encirclement, a reporter shouted anxiously: "Three consecutive games against Arsenal, will it have an adverse effect?" ”

"No, I think it's a good thing to get all the troubles together. Tackling Arsenal in this week allows us to concentrate on other opponents. Don is a dead duck with a hard mouth, not letting others see what he really thinks in his heart.

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Meanwhile, at A.T. Kearney training base in north London, Arsene Wenger was surrounded by an equal number of journalists.

'I'm looking forward to playing Nottingham Forest again. Tony. Don is a very capable coach, just look at the number of championships he has. Arsenal will be careful to deal with ......"

A reporter was tired of such an official answer, and he asked loudly: "Alex." After Ferguson retires, is it only Tony. Donn makes you feel like a rival, Arsena? ”

Arsene Wenger looked up at the reporter who asked the question, and he smiled: "All the coaches are my opponents. ”

"I mean Tony. Is Donn the 'special one'? ”

"Of course he's a special one, and he's a news figure everywhere he goes." Arsene Wenger jokingly avoided the potentially contentious subject.

The war of words between the two managers did not ensue, much to the disappointment of the media. When Ferguson was there, every time Nottingham Forest met Manchester United, Done wouldn't mind a big war of words with Ferguson. But that's always the case with Arsene Wenger. It's just so boring.

Or for Arsene Wenger, Tony. Don is still not the "special one", Alex who has retired. Alex Ferguson is "the most special one". It's like when Jose Mourinho left England, Done felt a little lonely, and I wonder if Wenger would often feel this way after Ferguson retired.

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Sesk. Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal's current captain, the flag of the Emirates Stadium. Today, he is still the core of the midfield of the Spanish national team, and he can be called a superstar in world football, but there is always a shadow in his heart that has never been mentioned to anyone. That shadow was buried deep in his heart before he became popular, reminding him at all times that he was not the best person in the world.

He also remembers meeting George when he considered himself the best young player in the world. Wood's situation. It is undeniable that the field was terrible that day, which was not conducive to his performance, but the opponent was indeed an ordinary young player who was unknown. After the defeat to Wood, he came back to collect information about Wood, and the result surprised him even more - George. Wood turned out to be a newcomer who had only received professional football training for less than a year! Downright rookie!

It hit him a bit hard at the time. Think of yourself as the best player in the World Youth Football Championship who came out of La Masia, a famous youth academy in Europe, and lost to a rookie who has only been training in professional football for less than a year. He's even going to start denying whether he's fit to play or not.

This is clearly not what Wenger wants to see, and this is when Wenger plays to his strengths in coaching young players. He comforted Cesc Fabregas psychologically, telling him that the defeat to Wood was just an accident because the conditions were so bad. You can't deny yourself because of this, you can only say that the enemy is too cunning. As for George. Wood...... Wenger told Fabregas that he was still unknown now, but it was a big genius, a genius of the same level as Fabregas himself, and it was normal for two geniuses to win and lose each other, and there was no need to be frustrated.

These words inspired Cesc Fabregas to rethink his previous thoughts when he was a young man, and the defeat against Wood helped him in that sense and became a very valuable asset in his career.

Maybe he's going to thank Wood? But he would never admit it publicly.

This is a good opportunity as Arsenal will play Nottingham Forest three games in a row and he has a chance to beat Wood in the game.

Four years ago in the World Cup in South Africa, the then European champions Spain were defeated by George. Wood was alone, and later Wood received the title of "St. George". The title is a compliment for Wood, but it doesn't sound so comfortable to Fabregas. He would always think of being eliminated from the competition, a year when they had high hopes and were eliminated early......

At the European Championship two years later, both men were the main players of their respective national teams, but they never met. Fabio Capello's side reached the semi-finals, while Spain were eliminated in the quarter-finals......

Although they have two regular chances to meet each other in the league every year, and they have won and lost each other, none of them have been key matches. Unlike this time, three games, every game is important. Cesc Fabregas is eager to get George. Wood has had a no-brainer season.

He does admire Wood, and because of that, he enjoys beating Wood extraordinarily.

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George. Wood doesn't know what's going on in his opponent's mind, and he almost never bothered Fabregas like that. There are too many opponents, but he treats them all equally, and he doesn't treat a few people as lifelong rivals - his mind lacks this concept. The only team and player in his football world is Nottingham Forest, and the rest of the teams and players are nothing more than a symbol called "opponent" or "enemy".

Arsenal coming the day after tomorrow? Okay, let them come, we'll see you on the pitch.

This is George. Wood's full mental activity.

If a journalist were to ask him a question like Cesc Fabregas, his answer would be indifferent to the impression that he was deliberately working against the media.

A journalist once conducted a poll in his peer circle: Who do you think is the most difficult person to interview in a Premier League team? Who do you think is the least newsworthy player in the Premier League? Who is your least favourite Premier League player to interview with?

The number one answer was all one person: George. Wood.

Some reporters complained that he was as good as his name, like a piece of wood. His answer was lifeless and unhyped. This is what he and Tony. Don is really two extremes. For the same "one plus one equals how many" question, Wood would answer succinctly: "Two." "And Tony. Donn's reaction was much more interesting, and he would ask rhetorically, "Don't you know such a simple question?" Or, "Maybe it's three?" ”

Therefore, on the Nottingham Forest side, reporters are more willing to interview Pepe and Bale...... Or the other players, but George. Wood is a target that doesn't want to be touched.

Since his debut, there have been only a handful of interviews about him in the media. Any journalist would feel uncomfortable with Wood – they don't get an enthusiastic response to any question they ask. A celebrity interview is actually like two people playing tennis, someone serves and someone catches the ball, and then hits it like this, so that both the interviewee and the interviewer will feel smooth. But the interview with Wood was a one-man tennis ball, and the interviewer was desperately serving, and Wood didn't pick it up, and he didn't pick it up. So the interviewer had to be both a serve and a caddy, going back and forth between serving and picking up the ball, tired and half dead, looking up at George. Wood's wooden face. It was a devastating interview experience.

The media didn't ask Wood much about the three consecutive games against Arsenal, and only the Nottingham Evening Post, which has the best relationship with Forest, got Wood's interview.

Pierce. Bruce asked about his outlook for the game, and Wood wasn't as cautious as Donn, saying, "We're going to win." ”

"Three games? Or is it the one the day after tomorrow? Bruce asked.

"Three."

Bruce laughed, "But your leader, Tony. Don didn't say anything like that. ”

Wood shook his head: "If it's not for winning, why are we playing?" ”

That's a philosophical question, Pierce. Bruce was speechless.

He then used it in the headline to motivate the Forest team and its fans.

※※※"The purpose of the contest is to win?" Arsene Wenger couldn't help but laugh when he read the article. It's in line with Tony. Donne's football philosophy. ”

He was sitting on a bus from North London to Nottingham. He doesn't need to continue analysing their opponents at this point. To Tony. For Donn and his Forest team, Arsene Wenger is too familiar to know any more. Forest's home game against Chelsea two weeks ago may provide him with some insight. His team is also known for their skills, and Donn will certainly use that kind of brutal tactics at home to disrupt Arsenal's attack.

In this regard, Arsenal has made arrangements for surnames.

At the City Stadium, Arsenal will speed up the passing of the ball while minimising the amount of time the ball stays at the players' feet. If Nottingham Forest are going to press, let them be led by the nose and use up their last bit of strength.

He knows that in the recent end-of-season sprint, the Forest's physical exertion has been high. This is where he can take advantage.

In Arsene Wenger's mind, he didn't take this game out of its pocket, he was thinking about all three games, and thanks to the schedule, he had a very good overall plan.

First of all, to press Forest on the road, Wenger doesn't even mind losing to Forest on the road, as long as the difference in points is too big. The main aim is to continue to drain the Forest's energy and make them give it their all for a game victory. Then the next league and Champions League are Arsenal's home stadium.

In that league game, Arsene Wenger will continue to press the Forest team, forcing them to play at his own fast pace, further depleting the Forest's fitness. A draw is the best outcome, because a home win against Forest could spur Donn to focus his entire season on the Champions League, so if he has already lost to Forest in the first leg, the second leg will not be safe even at home...... If they lose to Forest in the league...... Arsene Wenger has also seriously considered the situation, which he believes is not entirely unacceptable, given that his side are six points clear of Forest and five points of Liverpool, and he is not worried about losing one game and losing the whole picture.

Finally, it's back to the Champions Cup in midweek. Arsenal will be on fire at home against a tired Nottingham Forest side who have been dragged away by two high-intensity games in a row.

By then, Nottingham Forest had run out of energy and were out of the league cup.

Arsenal are thus missing one of their strongest opponents.

(To be continued)