As a top player, Messi possesses top-tier pitch comprehension. He recognized the problem not much later than Cao Baming.
If the midfield continuously fails to gain possession, then even if the front and back lines are strong, they will still be suppressed and attacked.
After Messi dropped back, the midfield situation also opened up slightly. At least under his guidance, the strategy became much clearer than before, so much so that it was visually apparent.
Ball possession also gradually increased, though it still couldn't reach the terrifying level of Manchester City.
Seeing this, Cao Baming made a decision.
He personally went to the midfield and joined Messi in controlling and organizing the midfield.
The two exchanged glances for just one second, and their intentions were immediately understood.
As Cao Baming moved to midfield, Haaland was also subtly probing behind him. At this moment, his only thought was to secretly receive the ball behind Cao Baming when he wasn't paying attention. If he could receive this pass, it would be a sure goal.
However, Cao Baming himself knew this principle just as well. The reason he dared to move from his original position to midfield was his absolute confidence in his coordination with Messi. At least in terms of ball possession, they would no longer be suppressed by Manchester City like this.
Clearly, the outcome was as he predicted. After Cao Baming and Messi joined the fray, the gap between the two sides immediately became less pronounced.
Although each Manchester City player possessed good ball-controlling ability and strategy, with the presence of the two top geniuses, Cao Baming and Messi, Arsenal's midfield strength instantly more than doubled.
On the sidelines, Arteta was intently watching the pitch and suddenly realized.
Although Manchester City's players were still striving for possession and control, the situation was no longer as easy. The ball possession was now a fifty-fifty affair.
Arteta knew that the ball-controlling ability of these two players in his team was undoubtedly world-class. Moreover, Cao Baming, in addition to his excellent ball control and organization, also possessed a special skill: an extremely high successful tackle rate.
Soon, even the Manchester City players began to struggle. Midfield possession dropped, and consequently, the positions occupied by both teams unconsciously shifted forward, gradually moving from Arsenal's own half to Manchester City's half.
As the game continued, within ten minutes, Manchester City players were completely pinned in their own half and couldn't get out.
They had absolutely no experience with this kind of situation!
Although their bodies were still playing and they were trying to maintain composure, their minds were completely in disarray.
After all, in previous games, it was always Manchester City suppressing their opponents, playing almost entirely in the opponent's half. They were used to that kind of game, but being pinned in their own half and unable to escape was something they truly lacked experience with.
After all, looking across the top five leagues, no professional team had managed to suppress Manchester City in their own half for an entire game.
This seemed incredibly unrealistic even to the fans!
Watching the situation on the field, Guardiola's hands unconsciously moved to his head again.
On the field, Cao Baming and Messi acted as the core of the midfield, dictating the rhythm, while players like Vieira and Elneny also gradually adapted and performed significantly better.
While it is often said that unity is strength, having two genius-level existences in a team is absolutely enough to invigorate the entire squad. The current situation on the field was the best proof of this.
Although Haaland continuously made off-ball runs, repeatedly hovering around the offside line, he was waiting for an opportunity that never came to his feet.
"It's over, it's over! Manchester City is being suppressed! This is a historic moment, rarely seen!"
"Arsenal didn't even make a substitution. At some point just now, the rhythm of the game suddenly changed so drastically!"
"It's Cao Baming who has emerged!"
"Huh?"
For Cao Baming's old fans, this term "emerged" had been used countless times.
It meant that Cao Baming could finally break away from the defensive line and move to midfield for organization, becoming a free agent on the entire pitch!
"And Messi too! Look, Messi's current position is almost at the back line!"
"It's truly a sight to behold! With these two coordinating, even Manchester City's midfield can't withstand it!"
At this moment, on the field, the two were coordinating in the front court. Whether it was Cao Baming or Messi, as soon as one of them received the ball, at least two or three defenders would swarm them. Yet, despite this, the football stuck to their feet as if it had a magnet.
Cao Baming had now upgraded to the Level 2 Control Master talent, and his control attribute points had surpassed 100. His fancy footwork and dribbling ability were now comparable to Messi's.
Arsenal continued to probe the edge of Manchester City's penalty area for nearly ten minutes. Finally, Cao Baming seized an opportunity and shot the ball into the net, further extending the lead!
"Cao Baming! A brace!!!"
"Is there anyone who can stop him?!"
And within two minutes, Messi also scored a goal from almost the same position!
65 minutes!
Manchester City 1:3 Arsenal!
What were Guardiola's thoughts on this score? It seemed to fall far short of the bold claims he made before the match.
"You want a clean sheet with that? Don't you even consider yourselves?"
...
Sarcastic comments about Manchester City flooded the internet.
However, at this moment, the Manchester City fans became much quieter. Most of them remained silent.
There was no other way. This was a clear slap in the face! With the current outcome, they could do nothing but stand there and be repeatedly humiliated.
Guardiola, on the sidelines, was almost on his knees watching the game. With the match still having a long thirty minutes to go, his eyes revealed despair and helplessness.
He deeply resented those two players, Cao Baming and Messi!
If it weren't for these two monsters, he was absolutely confident that he could have controlled the entire game until the final minute.
Cao Baming was one thing, but Messi was another. He was a monster whom Guardiola himself had nurtured.