The Taste of Tears

Just then, Sanchez's forceful run down the left forced Arnold to knock the ball out for a corner.

Arsenal had another chance from the corner.

"Get up there! Everyone push up!!" The Professor waved his hand, sending Arsenal's players into the penalty area.

The cramped box was instantly packed with bodies. Both sides shoved and jostled, neither willing to give an inch.

Mesut Ozil's curling delivery flew toward the middle of the box, again looking for Olivier Giroud.

This time, Van Dijk got to it first!

His forehead met the ball with precision.

The ball flew out of the box and dropped to the left side of the arc.

Being shorter, Milner had stayed on the edge of the area, so he was the first to reach it.

He first stepped forward to hold off Granit Xhaka's pressure, then flicked the ball toward the right with the outside of his left foot.

Whoosh...!

A spray of turf flew into the air.

Mane had already burst forward the moment Milner released the pass.

Smack...

A powerful knock ahead!

At this point, only Granit Xhaka and Monreal remained in Arsenal's half.

Their center-backs were still in Liverpool's box, fighting for the previous corner.

Arsenal's backfield was wide open.

Mane was like a cheetah racing across the African savannah, grass clippings constantly flying up from his studs as he picked up more and more speed.

Every touch, every stride forward, seemed to stamp on the hearts of Arsenal's supporters, leaving them afraid to breathe too deeply.

Granit Xhaka caught up from the side and reached out to tug at his shirt.

Mane shifted his body slightly to the right. The Swiss midfielder grabbed nothing but air, lost his balance, and tumbled onto the turf.

Now, only Monreal remained.

Without slowing down, Mane shaped