The British commentators believed that Zhou Yi's physique was the most significant obstacle to his development in the Premier League. Even if he joined Arsenal, his slight frame would not be able to withstand the rugged style of play, and he would be constantly injured.

They didn't think Arsenal had any reason to regret not signing Zhou Yi. On the contrary, Wenger had made a good deal.

After all, Arsenal's first team already had Jack Wilshere, a midfielder whose talent was in no way inferior to Zhou Yi. But even someone like Wilshere was plagued by injuries, let alone Zhou Yi.

Song himself was also very satisfied with his performance.

Before the game, Wenger had solemnly told them that Dortmund's core was Zhou Yi, and he was very important. If they could contain him, Dortmund's performance would be halved.

Song had imagined him to be some formidable opponent.

But he had dealt with him so easily, and his opinion of Zhou Yi plummeted.

He had initially thought highly of him, especially since Wenger was so concerned.

But who knew... Maybe Wenger also made mistakes in his judgment sometimes...

※※※

When Zhou Yi was knocked to the ground by Song for the third time in the game, the referee blew his whistle and called a foul on Song.

This time, Song seemed to feel wronged. He gestured a dive to the referee and said, "He's clearly diving, referee! I made a fair challenge!"

But the referee ignored his protests, so Song turned to Zhou Yi and said, "Hey, kid, is diving the only trick you know?" Hearing this, Zhou Yi, who was about to get up, looked up at him.

"What, do you have a problem with that?" Song asked, seeing Zhou Yi looking at him. "I think someone with your physique shouldn't be playing football. I don't want to hurt you, kid."

Zhou Yi continued to look at him, not saying a word, but got up, and then looked at Song, just looking at him, and walked past him.

Song glared back at Zhou Yi, not to be outdone, and shouted at him, "What? What? What are you looking at me for?"

Zhou Yi glanced at him, then looked away and ran forward. Song continued to nag behind him.

※※※

"Song is saying something to Zhou Yi, and the two seem to be having a verbal dispute..." Marcel Reif said.

Everything that happened between Zhou Yi and Song was recorded by the cameras and presented to everyone.

"Alexandre Song seems to be accusing Zhou Yi of diving... But that's just ridiculous. Look at his actions just now, it was clearly a foul, and the referee made the call. And yet he's still nagging Zhou Yi... Maybe he's trying to provoke Zhou Yi?" He Ping speculated.

"Zhou Yi probably isn't that easily provoked, is he?" Zhang Lu, the guest commentator beside him, said.

"Looking at Zhou Yi's performance just now, he didn't retort, just looked at the other guy, so that's probably the case..."

"Zhou Yi has a calmness and maturity beyond his age..."

If Cortana could hear what these two Chinese commentators were saying, she would probably roll her eyes—where did that kid get any calmness and maturity beyond his age? He's obviously very childish!

Mark, watching the TV at home, was furious when he saw Zhou Yi being fouled by Song again and again: "That Song is just trying to cripple someone! Look at his defensive moves, if Zhou Yi hadn't dodged quickly, he would probably be off the field already!"

Having just been injured himself, he was particularly sensitive to fouls that could lead to injuries. He didn't want Zhou Yi to follow in his footsteps.

"Don't stand up," Cortana said coldly, sitting next to him.

"But that black guy seems to be really giving Zhou Yi trouble..." Mrs. Wagner said worriedly. "Zhou Yi's physique isn't exactly the strongest, and that's his only weakness..."

Because Mark had just had surgery a few days ago and still had to use a wheelchair to go out, the entire Mark family was watching the game live on television at home.

"No, Zhou Yi will definitely have a way to deal with him!" Mark said firmly. "I believe in him, that Song is no match for him!"

※※※

In fact, Zhou Yi was no stranger to Song's playing style, after all, he had already played against Arsenal in the virtual space for three nights.

However, there were some things in the real world that the fifAoL3 virtual space could not simulate.

Such as trash talk.

Some players always liked to spew nonsense during games, taunt their opponents, provoke them, make them lose their minds, and thus lose their fighting power.

The most famous example was probably the scene in the 2006 World Cup final, when the French national team and the Italian national team were fighting fiercely, all the way to extra time.

It looked like the two sides were about to go to a penalty shootout.

The Italian center back, Materazzi, who was defending Zidane, suddenly said a few words to Zidane.

Zidane's expression at the time seemed quite normal, and he even seemed to be smiling. But after that sentence was said, his face suddenly changed, and he suddenly headbutted Materazzi, knocking the Italian defender to the ground.

This obvious intentional foul resulted in Zidane being sent off with a straight red card, and the French team, with one less player, eventually lost the championship in the penalty shootout.

The conflict between Materazzi and Zidane became the focus of everyone's attention, and there were many versions of speculation about what Materazzi said to Zidane that made him so angry.

Materazzi's provocation to Zidane ultimately determined the outcome of the World Cup.

Therefore, trash talk, as a defensive strategy and tactic, is very common. However, in football matches, the role of trash talk is not as prominent as in basketball games. After all, the basketball court is small, and players are more often entangled with each other, making it easier to spray trash talk face-to-face.

It is said that basketball superstar Michael Jordan was a master of trash talk...

Zhou Yi knew that Song wanted to provoke him, but if he fell for his trick, wouldn't he lose face? You want me to get angry and I get angry?

But to say that he was indifferent to Song's provocation was also impossible. Otherwise, he wouldn't have looked Song in the eye; he would have just dusted himself off and run away.

No one can be happy after being looked down upon and insulted.

Zhou Yi couldn't do it either.

Physically, he was indeed no match for Song, but that didn't mean he had no way to deal with Song.

Because football is not just about the body...

※※※

Dortmund launched another attack. This time, when Zhou Yi ran to the center circle, Sven Bender passed the ball up from behind.

Zhou Yi lifted his foot to stop the ball, and then pretended to pass the ball, but he seemed to have made a mistake, because his toe touched the ball first, poking the ball forward about two meters.

Song accelerated and rushed up, wanting to grab the ball.

Zhou Yi naturally didn't want to lose possession so easily, so he also rushed towards the ball.

However, judging from his previous encounters with Song, Zhou Yi would have a hard time gaining an advantage in this kind of purely physical contest.

Zhou Yi was closer to the ball than Song, so he reached the ball a little earlier than Song, but it was really just a little bit ahead... because right after, Song had already arrived.

Zhou Yi swung his leg to kick the ball, seemingly wanting to kick the ball directly out before Song could. This was also the choice of most players when facing this kind of pressure, to clear the ball first, and not let possession be lost in their area.

So seeing Zhou Yi swing his leg, Song accelerated towards Zhou Yi's front, trying to block the pass.

But when he rushed past Zhou Yi, the ball didn't hit him.

Did he fail to block it?

No!

He didn't kick the ball at all!

He turned back to look at the ball left behind Zhou Yi, his body continuing to rush forward according to inertia... He couldn't believe that Zhou Yi had actually made a fake move!

You should know that if an average person wants to fake a kick, they will stand still, so that it is convenient for him to continue to control the ball after making a fake move. But just now, Zhou Yi was clearly rushing towards the ball without slowing down at all, and he was clearly posturing to kick the ball away with a big kick.

Who would have thought that this could also be a fake move?!

Song could only rush past Zhou Yi unwillingly, stirring up a gust of wind and some grass clippings...

"Wow! Beautiful! Zhou Yi!" Marcel Reif exclaimed.

"Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi!! Beautiful escape!" He Ping was even more excited.

Having shaken off Song, Zhou Yi turned around, grabbed the ball, and rushed forward!

"Good job, go, Zhou Yi!!" Mark in front of the TV wanted to stand up and cheer for Zhou Yi again, but he thought of his sister, so his butt only lifted slightly, and then fell back down.

Zhou Yi's escape was fatal to Arsenal.

Because in the 433 formation that Arsenal fielded in this game, Alexandre Song was the only player in the midfield who could defend. The three forwards, Van Persie, Walcott, and Gervinho, were not worth mentioning, and of the other two midfielders, Arteta was a playmaker whose defensive ability was probably not much different from Zhou Yi's, and Benayoun was also a player whose offense was stronger than his defense.

After Zhou Yi shook off Arsenal's only defensive player in midfield, he went straight for the center!

Arsenal really didn't expect that Song, who had been able to suppress Zhou Yi so tightly before, would be shaken off so easily by Zhou Yi...

They were like bees attracted by a flower, rushing towards Zhou Yi in a swarm.

The defensive strength in other positions was reduced...

So when Arteta pounced on him, Zhou Yi passed the ball to Shinji Kagawa, who ran behind him.

After receiving the ball, Kagawa turned around, adjusted himself, and faced Arsenal's goal directly. He chose to shoot directly!

"Kagawa—!" The Japanese TV commentator screamed, hoping to use his voice to help Shinji Kagawa and help him score this goal!

Unfortunately, Kagawa's shot hit Arsenal's center back Koscielny's thigh, who rushed up to block the shot, bounced high, and flew out!

"Ah, what a pity!" Marcel Reif held his head in his hands. Zhou Yi created a good opportunity for Shinji Kagawa, but Kagawa didn't seize it.

Zhou Yi did what he could do, but he obviously couldn't take on the work of other teammates as well, which was a pity...