The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 379: Battle of Wills

As Christmas arrived, the Millwall squad, along with the coaching staff, boarded the bus heading north on Seven Sisters Road. On a day like this, the team traveled light, with the usual administrative staff already on holiday for the festivities.

Highbury was packed to the brim, with the Christmas spirit enveloping the stands, as many fans donned Santa Claus outfits to enjoy the match.

This London derby's atmosphere is now completely different from what it once was. A few years ago, while Arsenal faced decline and Millwall rose to prominence, there existed a slight hostility between the fans of both teams, although there wasn't any real hatred. Today, however, the rivalry feels largely diminished; the animosity has faded to the point where all that remains is pure competition, with neither side willing to relent.

Rivalry and hatred are two very different concepts. Hatred is like the tension between Millwall and West Ham United or Chelsea, where the hostility always exists regardless of the league ranking or team strength. Competition is similar to the situation between Manchester United and Millwall, where fans may not clash directly but refuse to yield to one another. The fervor among supporters is palpable, yet the atmosphere lacks that explosive energy.

Aldrich didn't engage Wenger much today; he settled on the bench early, awaiting the match to begin.

Wenger was in a sour mood. Though Arsenal retained the initiative in the league, their early exit from the Champions League after finishing third in their group was disheartening. Everyone had believed Arsenal would advance, yet they couldn't even secure the second spot.

"Dear viewers, Merry Christmas! Today, at Highbury, we're about to enjoy a fascinating London derby between defending champions Arsenal and Millwall. The points gap is razor-thin—just one point separates the two teams, with Arsenal ahead and Millwall just behind. Manchester United is a point clear of Arsenal, while Chelsea trails Millwall by one point. It's a tight race, with just one point separating the top four clubs. There's chatter in the media suggesting that London teams are pressuring their Manchester counterparts, and it certainly seems that way. The focus of English football has shifted from Manchester to London, with Millwall, Arsenal, and Chelsea leading the charge."

"Martin, do you want to discuss the match today?"

"I just don't want to set the audience's expectations too high. Although the two teams are ranked second and third, Millwall is struggling with injuries today, and Arsenal's attacking power has slightly declined this season. Therefore, I believe this match won't be as exciting as the Christmas clashes of the past two years that Millwall participated in."

"Both teams focus on defense, and with nearly half of the league season completed, Arsenal's goals against tally is astonishingly low at just eight. Millwall has conceded thirteen goals, placing both teams among the top two defenses in the Premier League. When it comes to attacking prowess, the difference between them is marginal, but both have seen a noticeable decline compared to last season. Arsenal's young French talent, Anelka, has started partnering with Bergkamp in attack, while Millwall's golden trio from last season has completely disappeared in the first half of this season. The standout players, Ronaldinho and Nedved, are missing from the squad, so I believe the excitement of this match will certainly be diminished."

"Heh, Wenger and Hall were evenly matched last season. The win against Millwall secured three crucial points for Arsenal, which was one of the key matches in their championship journey, especially alongside their away victory against Manchester United. I think if Wenger wants to retain the title in the league, he must aim for a win at home against Millwall. As for what Hall is planning, I can't say. Given that they're trailing in points, he should normally be looking to press forward, but with a significant lack of key players in his squad, his choices are quite limited."

Arsenal's defense this season is nothing short of extraordinary. The backline boasts an average age of over 32, yet they exude unmatched energy, achieving a level of defensive excellence reminiscent of Graham's era. However, this comparison overlooks the fact that Graham employed a five-man defense emphasizing counterattack, while Wenger's current setup relies on four defenders maintaining regular defensive stances.

Millwall's lineup today gives an impression that they won't be able to match Arsenal.

Goalkeeper: Butt.

Defense: Schneider, Materazzi, Ferdinand, Zambrotta.

Midfield: Van der Meyde, Gattuso, Lampard, Makélélé, Gronkjaer.

Forward: Van Nistelrooy.

Aldrich deployed two defensive midfielders, with four attacking players: two wide midfielders, Lampard, and Van Nistelrooy, forming a diamond in attack.

Fifteen minutes before kickoff, Wenger took his seat on the bench and furrowed his brows upon seeing Millwall's starting lineup, sensing a tactical miscalculation.

Based on last season's experiences, it was unexpected for Millwall to choose a 4-5-1 formation for this away match instead of the usual 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, clearly leaning towards a defensive strategy.

This could create problems.

Arsenal's offensive strength has decreased in the new season. While Anelka is labeled a talent, his goal count is still short of that of a world-class striker. That said, given his age, an average of one goal every two matches is truly remarkable. Just remember Alan Smith was hailed as a 'genius killer' despite scoring only once every four or five games. It's fair to expect Anelka to evolve into a world-class scorer.

When summarizing the reasons for last season's league failure, Odric also engaged in some self-reflection. Millwall lost all two crucial matches: one away at Manchester United and the other away at Arsenal. Although they managed to win at home against these teams, the away losses granted their opponents three points, which became particularly significant as they ended the season just one point shy of the championship.

Where did Millwall go wrong?

Odric thinks it was due to his own misjudgment.

During the first half of the season, with Millwall lagging in points, they still chose to attack aggressively in away matches, raising the risk of conceding goals, and this ultimately resulted in losses.

Had Millwall remained composed, or if Aldrich could have calmed down and ignored the points gap, they might have achieved better outcomes in those two matches.

He clearly conveyed his message to the players today: the goal was not to lose.

It might sound lacking in ambition, but it's the reality; Millwall isn't in a position to arrogantly face Arsenal at Highbury, who boast the league's top defense.

Today's Premier League isn't just about grit and determination. With the influx of foreign players, teams have developed more steadily and evenly, raising the overall standard of the league.

Relying solely on passion to overpower opponents would be na?ve; over half of the attacking squads in the league crumbled before Arsenal's seasoned defense.

Aldrich understood that winning the league now requires more than just physical strength; it demands a high level of tactical acumen from the manager as well. He can't just charge into the game, urging his players to fearlessly push forward. There are times when it's necessary to hold back, to be patient, maintaining morale without sacrificing stability.

When the match kicked off, both teams mirrored each other's approach: six men in defense and four in attack. Remarkably, Lampard contributed even more intensity in defense for Millwall.

Ten minutes in, commentator Martin Tyler sighed in frustration.

"In the first ten minutes, both teams engaged in a brutal midfield battle, with neither able to push an attack into a dangerous area. There hasn't been a single shot on target."

"Just wait a bit. I believe both coaches are aiming for victory. With the first half being cautious, they'll surely go all out in the latter stages."

"Wenger gazed at the unfolding situation on the field with a lack of optimism.

This Arsenal squad had, under his leadership, achieved a nearly optimal state; their transitions between offense and defense were exceptionally smooth, and the team's tactical system was difficult to fault. Yet, there was a particular backdrop to consider: they favored counter-attacking play as their opponents advanced."

Positional play is not their strong suit, and as a result, when other teams in the Champions League play more patiently and conservatively, Arsenal's mentality and experience actually fall short compared to their opponents. Dynamo Kyiv secured the top spot in their group largely due to their superior experience.

"Wenger knew that to change this situation, he needed to reshape the midfield. The combination of Vieira and Petit offered solid defensive capabilities, but when it came to attacking, especially in positional play, they lacked the flair required.

Despite having Bergkamp in the squad, there was no true number 10 on the starting list.

Wenger believed this was a significant gap for Arsenal. When opponents also adopted counterattacking strategies, Arsenal found limited opportunities to unleash their attacking prowess, making their lack of creative synergy a fatal flaw in diversifying their gameplay.

In the 17th minute of the first half, the first shot of the game finally occurred, with Pires cutting inside and firing a hurried long-range effort under defensive pressure.

Butt easily collected the ball, and Millwall responded with a counterattack, with Gronkjaer breaking through Petit's defensive help to take a long shot that slid past the goal.

Both teams found it hard to create threatening opportunities in their positional battles, leaning solely on the individual talents of their attacking players to make a difference. Yet, the outcome was lackluster, as strong defensive strategies from both sides stifled any breakthrough.

The atmosphere in the stands at Highbury was vibrant, though the match itself felt subdued, with fans entertaining themselves in the holiday spirit—it's Christmas, after all, why wear a frown?

Aldrich sat with unwavering focus, chin resting on his hand as he watched the game.

When strong teams face weaker ones, attacks can be devastating. However, clashes between equally matched teams tend to be more tedious, each facing off against an identical level of defense.

Especially with Arsenal's current iteration, the outside world lauds their playing style, particularly their attacking flair on the counter.

As long as the opposition committed players forward, Arsenal excelled in capitalizing on the spaces left behind, utilizing their speed to tear through defenses, and finding goals in the 40-50 yard range. Millwall could also thrive with such tactics, yet against top teams that prioritize defense and maintain static formations, it becomes exceedingly difficult.

The match's first half unfolded with fouls, interceptions, long-range shots, and star players getting dispossessed...

Neither side managed a clear chance to score, and the first half concluded.

Just before heading to the locker room, Wenger specifically observed Aldrich's demeanor, noting the calmness in his expression, which sent a chill down Wenger's spine.

It was a sensation reminiscent of seeing Lippi smoking a cigar in Turin.

Wenger wanted to see Aldrich's disappointed or anxious expression. Even a smile would let him know Aldrich's intention. However, facing Aldrich's calm expression, Wenger got nothing in the end.