The stadium quickly fell into a chilling silence, only to erupt once more!
William's face was a mask of disbelief.
The video replay soon confirmed it: William's slide tackle came *after* Cao Baiming had passed the ball, clearly aimed at the player himself!
With both feet off the ground, the studs of his boot targeted Cao Baiming's ankle!
It wasn't just flesh and bone that would have snapped; even rebar would have been severed!
Witnessing this, Cao Baiming's fans could no longer contain themselves, slamming their fists on tables in fury.
"Is this bloody soccer or a brawl! Is he trying to kill the guy?"
The commentator immediately reacted.
"That looked like it had some serious force behind it! This is dangerous!"
Cao Baiming was still down on the ground as the team doctor rushed from the sidelines.
A wave of intense pain radiating from his ankle suggested Cao Baiming was indeed injured!
Despite his incredibly strong physique, his ankle, one of his most vulnerable points, couldn't withstand the inertia of that tackle!
"This bloody Willian wants to kill me!"
Cao Baiming could no longer endure the agony, his face contorted in pain.
His teammates were instantly filled with anger, nearly erupting into a brawl on the field.
The team doctor arrived, conducted a brief assessment, and Cao Baiming confirmed he couldn't continue. He was stretchered off the field!
No one had expected Cao Baiming to be taken off!
Arteta glanced at Cao Baiming's injury with concern. From his current state, it looked very serious!
Anxiety surged through him. On one hand, his star player Cao Baiming was out, forcing a substitution. On the other, Drogba was already warming up nearby.
Tuchel wasn't faring any better! With Willian's red card, the decision of whether to bring Drogba on or not presented a genuine dilemma!
Lying on the stretcher, Cao Baiming felt the throbbing pain in his ankle. The game was beyond his control; he had done all he could!
He'd leave the mess for the two head coaches to battle out with their strategies!
Four volunteers in blue and white uniforms swiftly carried Cao Baiming off the field towards the medical room.
The team doctor would conduct a more thorough examination, and if there was a severe ligament or bone injury, he might even need surgery at a major hospital!
Only Cao Baiming knew the depth of his despair. If surgery was required, his entire season could be over!
He had only just arrived!
Meanwhile, Arteta, on the sidelines, didn't have the luxury of contemplating such matters. His immediate problem was on the field.
With Cao Baiming out, the entire team's tactics would need a significant overhaul. This was the true test!
Taking advantage of the situation, Arteta brought on number 6, Gabriel, to replace Cao Baiming. Simultaneously, the opposing team also prepared for a substitution.
Tuchel had clearly thrown caution to the wind. He could no longer tolerate his forwards' performance and decided to sub off both of them, bringing on Drogba and a center-back!
This signaled a shift to a 4-4-1 formation, with Drogba as the lone striker, tasked with creating a miracle while everyone else focused purely on defense!
The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers as Drogba finally entered the field.
Their tickets weren't bought in vain; they had indeed gambled on this moment!
If Drogba truly played, the ticket price would be well worth it!
This was Drogba's debut!
Drogba, walking slowly towards the pitch with determined strides, felt a touch of regret.
He had hoped to have a chance to go head-to-head with this Premier League defender from the Tang Dynasty, but it seemed their paths wouldn't cross now. They had just narrowly missed each other!
Recently, Cao Baiming had been the subject of widespread discussion, lauded by public opinion to a remarkable extent. Even Drogba had taken notice of him.
Cao Baiming, too, felt a sense of missed opportunity, but what could he do!
Once Drogba entered the game, the formations widened, and Arsenal quickly deployed two defensive players to mark the "monster" throughout the match.
Now, Chelsea had only Drogba as an offensive threat. As long as his passing lanes were cut off and he couldn't receive the ball, defense would be manageable!
Tuchel, pushed to his absolute limit, made this decision, praying for Drogba to perform a miracle and save the team!
The match had reached the 76th minute, and the stamina of all players, except for the newcomers, was visibly diminishing.
During this period, although Drogba was actively moving, posing a constant threat from Chelsea's rearguard, the multiple defenders marking him and blocking his receiving lanes meant he couldn't get the ball for long stretches.
By the final ten minutes, the score remained two to one.
However, a king is a king. He dropped back to receive the ball, skillfully evading defenders, and then advanced with a solo run.
After a quick one-two with the wing-back, he skillfully dribbled past two more players and unleashed a shot!
The goalkeeper's save was almost fumbled, but ultimately, the ball was kept out of the net!
The crowd on the sidelines went wild!
"That was only Drogba's second touch of the ball since coming on!"
"And it's the most threatening attack Chelsea has mounted in the entire match, aside from their goal!"
"Silence was golden, but his emergence is spectacular!"
"He truly lives up to his 'King' title! He's a dominant force in this team, utterly unstoppable!"
Arteta, witnessing this play, broke out in a cold sweat and hastily instructed his defenders to increase their focus on Drogba.
This guy, as long as he's not touching the ball, he's manageable. But once he gets it, it's a crisis!
Furthermore, Drogba's physical strength was unparalleled. Perhaps only Cao Baiming on the field could have matched him head-on. Now, the defenders marking him closely were utterly ineffective.
In front of Drogba, Arsenal's defenders appeared as fragile as paper!
Chelsea's morale surged!
A minute later, a Z-shaped pass in midfield reached Matic on the flank.
The full-back then joined the attack, and the ball was successfully brought to the side of the penalty area.
Drogba didn't come to receive it; he chose to trust his teammates.
This time, he cleverly stayed in the box, waiting for a chance to pounce! Whether it was a header or a ground pass, he possessed world-class finishing ability!
However, even the best couldn't overcome Matic's final cross, which struck an Arsenal defender and went out for a corner!
For Arsenal, the danger was far from over, as this was a corner kick opportunity!
Drogba was already positioned in the center of the box, waiting.
Beside him, three defenders were tightly marking him, nearly pushing him into the air.
As the corner was delivered, Drogba moved with remarkable agility, instantly shaking off the three defenders and leaping high!
A precise header sent the ball low and bouncing into the net!
"Brilliant!"
"Brilliant!"
Drogba's goal showcased a quality that immediately set him apart from the rest!
The power and angle of his header were perfectly controlled, and he even utilized a bounce!
He had clearly underestimated the goalkeeper!
The excitement of the fans on the sidelines reached its peak!
Arteta clasped his head in despair, utterly helpless!
"Only three minutes left! If they could have just held on a little longer, it would have been over. Why fall apart now..."