Tottenham's defense is notoriously tough, unfazed by fouls.
Tottenham leads the Premier League with an impressive six yellow cards, a record unmatched. Their biggest change this season is a newfound boldness.
They believe that by playing aggressively, they can stop any ball. This approach has yielded visible results, placing them second in the league standings.
However, this robust style of play can be seen as somewhat unsportsmanlike. The Premier League has always encouraged physical contact, with relatively lenient rules. To earn a card, a foul must be exceptionally egregious.
With the Champions League and World Cup on the horizon, a crucial injury at this juncture would be disastrous.
No one wants to get injured at this time, and even Tottenham will likely start playing more cautiously in their upcoming matches.
Fortunately, Messi was back on his feet within two seconds, brushing off the dust. He scanned the field, exchanged a glance with the referee, and then moved to the spot for the free kick.
Seeing this, the fans' worried hearts finally settled.
Messi's fans wouldn't tolerate him getting injured, not even a scrape on his knee. With only two or three months left until the World Cup, this is Messi's last chance to achieve a career grand slam.
If he had Cao Baming's iron-like physique, the fans wouldn't be so concerned. But Messi has suffered major injuries before; the one in '09 is still fresh in their minds.
The most nervous person at this moment was Bissouma, who had committed the foul. Sweat poured from him during those two seconds.
His instinct told him he absolutely couldn't let Messi pass, as it would create a highly dangerous situation. When Messi faces a single defender, it's usually a formality.
But when he realized the player was Messi, and the Messi who was about to play in the World Cup, he panicked instantly.
Fortunately, Messi got up in time. Had he stayed on the ground for two more seconds, he might have been dragged into a dark room for an entire night after leaving the stadium.
If Messi were to get injured now, it wouldn't be surprising if he were assassinated by a sniper outside the stadium!
At this moment, Cao Baming also walked over slowly, standing behind Messi.
"Do you want to take it?"
The fans in the stands couldn't hear their conversation clearly, but they could tell from Messi's gesture that he was offering the kick.
Although Arteta hadn't clearly defined the free-kick order before the match, he hoped Cao Baming would take it now.
The ball was more than four, almost five meters from the penalty area. While Messi's free-kick ability was world-class, this distance was a bit too far for him.
If Cao Baming were to take it, for some reason, there was a sense of reassurance. He was sure to score!
After all, they had seen him score countless free kicks from this position on the training ground.
The fans, however, seemed to want Messi to take it himself and not yield anymore.
While Cao Baming was indeed very skilled, Messi shouldn't be too humble. He was also a one-of-a-kind "King of Football"!
As Messi's fans, they naturally didn't want their idol to give up the kick. They wanted Messi to be assertive now, not to bend down humbly for anyone!
At this, Cao Baming just smiled and shook his head, replying.
"No, no, you should take it. You're much better at free kicks!"
Cao Baming thought to himself that he hadn't had a chance to repay the favor from last time and couldn't always be the one giving way.
After Messi agreed, he took the kick himself a few seconds later!
The fans jumped up in excitement, their eyes fixed on the ball's trajectory...
The wall in the penalty area was a mere formality. No wall could stop a Messi free kick!
The ball flew towards the goal at high speed, and then there was a dull thud. The ball hit the crossbar!
The hearts of the fans and everyone on the field leaped!
"No way!!! Did it hit the woodwork again?"
Just then, everyone realized that the ball had hit the underside of the crossbar and, at the moment it bounced onto the ground, had already crossed the goal line before bouncing out!
After VR verification, the goal was confirmed!
Messi excitedly turned to his teammates and then performed his signature celebration towards the sky.
Even a god-like goalkeeper with supernatural powers would have been helpless against this shot!
"One-nil! Arsenal breaks the deadlock! A free kick from Messi, the suspense is practically over!"
Bissouma was filled with regret. Not only did he fail to prevent the goal, but he also earned the wrath of Messi's fans. The next time he faces such a situation, will he still dare to defend?
"God-tier shooting ability!"
With this goal secured, Cao Baming also smiled in satisfaction, knowing Messi's skill. A free kick from this position was by no means difficult for him.
After the restart, possession shifted to Tottenham.
In the thirtieth minute of the match, Son Heung-min played a piercing through ball from the left, instantly breaking the defense. Harry Kane, with a deceptive run, somehow appeared inside the penalty area!
Receiving the ball, he shot without stopping, equalizing the score!
The entire defense could only spread their hands in helplessness, unsure who was to blame for conceding the goal.
Tottenham's fans finally breathed a sigh of relief! Enthusiastic cheers erupted from the sidelines.
Playing away at their opponent's home ground is like this.
Cao Baming also sighed in resignation and continued to observe the field.
By this point, the possession statistics were starting to widen the gap. With Messi and Cao Baming both playing in midfield, helping to control the tempo, Tottenham's rhythm was completely dominated.
Even strong teams like Manchester City couldn't compete with the two of them, so how could mere Tottenham maintain an advantage?
However, Tottenham, known for their sharp, knife-like attacks, showcased this characteristic to the fullest today!
If they can't win on possession, they'll strike straight for the heart whenever an opportunity arises!
This is the Tottenham that fans want to see!
After the celebration, the first half of the match was gradually coming to a close.
Just a few minutes later, from a similar position, Tottenham created another threat. After a few passes, they scored again from the same area, and this time the protagonist was Perišić!
Harry Kane, who was originally going to shoot himself, was blocked by Cao Baming, forcing him to pass. He intended to pass to Son Heung-min, but by chance, he assisted Perišić for another goal!
In an instant, the game situation turned upside down!