Just as the match was about to begin, a significant piece of news broke.
Erling Haaland, one of Manchester City's absolute main forwards, was out due to injury. He wasn't even on the bench and had been directly removed from the squad list.
Manchester City released this information simultaneously with the full squad list, thereby eliminating any suspicion of smokescreens or other deceptive tactics.
It was reported that Haaland sustained an ankle sprain during a training session due to a teammate's tackle, which prevented him from being included in the matchday squad. This news was undoubtedly a devastating blow to Manchester City.
The team had maintained a strong form throughout the season, holding a significant lead over third-placed Tottenham Hotspur in terms of goals scored. They had also continued this impressive run in recent matches, largely attributed to the acquisition of Haaland, a super goal-scoring machine upfront.
Manchester City's midfield and forward players were undeniably skilled and talented. Their passing and coordination in the midfield had become seamless, a fact even before Haaland's arrival, allowing them to score goals even without such a prolific finisher.
However, with the absence of the monstrous Haaland, Manchester City would undoubtedly suffer a massive blow, especially with an upcoming match against a team like Arsenal.
The image of Chelsea being utterly thrashed by Arsenal with a score of 1-8 seemed to have just passed, and the grim scene was still vivid in memory.
Upon the release of this news, fans immediately engaged in heated discussions.
With the match imminent, Cao Baiming naturally noticed this development. On his way to the stadium, Cao Baiming accessed the system's time-bubble space and used this period to simulate several possible outcomes for the match.
In these simulations, Arsenal emerged victorious in almost every instance. Manchester City, without Haaland, appeared listless, reminiscent of their performance in that Champions League match.
Strictly speaking, their current form was even worse than what was observed in that game, and the second half would be even more challenging, as Cao Baiming intended to score in the first half.
Scoring just one goal wouldn't suffice. He aimed for at least two, and to achieve this, he needed to score in the most humiliating way possible for the opponent.
Now, everything was about to unfold.
As the two teams approached the stadium, the fans erupted in celebration. The anticipation for this match was evident in everyone's body language and expressions.
Each person displayed their excitement and joy. They jumped, danced, and cheered with friends, heading towards the stadium. Even though they couldn't enter yet, they lingered around the stadium's perimeter, contributing their passion to the teams they supported.
At this moment, the Manchester City players' sole desire was victory. Everything else seemed to pale in comparison. They craved this win because a single victory would be enough to erase the reality of their poor form in previous matches.
After all, today's opponent was Arsenal. If they could successfully defeat Arsenal, then losses to weaker teams or any other opponents would become less significant. At the very least, it wouldn't be a reflection of their true ability; this match would be the true testament to their prowess.
However, this was far from easy. Even Pep Guardiola himself lacked confidence, and he even conveyed this sentiment directly to his players before the match.
Although the public had not been overly critical of Manchester City's recent performances, the players themselves were fully aware of their situation. Since that Champions League match, their current form had not been their absolute best.
Guardiola, ever perceptive of such details, used them to inform his players that they were not performing well. At this moment, the Manchester City players were permeated by this mindset, and each held themselves to exceptionally high standards, standards unmatched by other players.
This elevated self-demand intensified their craving for victory, and each player was exceptionally eager for a win.
The two teams engaged in their final pre-match warm-ups on the pitch. During this time, players from both sides could catch glimpses of their opponents. Although there was no direct interaction, their gazes carried a subtle, blade-like intensity.
As the final warm-ups concluded, both teams retreated to their dressing rooms, where their respective head coaches delivered their final words of encouragement and pre-match pep talks.
As captain, Cao Baiming embraced this responsibility. His passionate speech instilled absolute confidence in all the players regarding victory. With this confidence, securing a win would become considerably easier.
However, relying solely on this spirit wouldn't be enough to achieve victory. The players needed to internalize the match and diligently recall the tactical instructions and core ideas their coach had laid out. Each of them needed to maintain this understanding because their advantage lay in their greater unity compared to their opponents.
Even Manchester City, at this point, was no match for Arsenal; this was an indisputable fact. In Cao Baiming's view, this match was akin to a game; as long as they played with casual relaxation, defeating the opponent would be effortless.
Following this impassioned speech, everyone felt even more confident about the upcoming match.
After the final speeches, both teams were ready. They proceeded through the narrow player tunnel and slowly made their way onto the pitch. In the dim, sparsely lit confines of this tight passage, the players from both sides were only separated by a mere two meters.
As their eyes met, it was like the clash of blades. Although no explicit words were exchanged, an intense competition had already begun in their minds.
Haaland's absence was undoubtedly a significant blow to Manchester City.