But sometimes, things on the football pitch were just that strange.
Arsenal launched wave after wave of attacks against New Manchester United. Their defence looked as if it was falling apart, as if Arsenal could break through at any moment. Several times, Arsenal's attacking players found good opportunities, but they just could not turn them into goals.
Either Almunia produced a brilliant save, or the defenders performed outstandingly and blocked the shots. Among them, Evra and Essien saved the team twice at critical moments, blocking Bergkamp and Henry's shots out of play.
In such a one-sided situation, New Manchester United clung to their last breath. Every Arsenal attack seemed capable of delivering the final blow at any moment, but each time, it ended in vain.
"We can see that New Manchester United are clearly planning to park the bus in this match. They haven't even left a single player up front. Even striker Žigić has returned to the edge of the penalty area to defend. Are New Manchester United really planning to give up attacking completely and defend until the end?" Andy Gray said with a bitter smile.
The match reached the 20-minute mark. In the first 20 minutes, New Manchester United's possession was a pathetic 23%, while Arsenal's was 77%. However, the difference in shots between the two sides was truly huge. Arsenal had 15 shots in total, 11 of which were long-range efforts that failed to pose much threat, while New Manchester United had not even managed a single shot and could not even enter Arsenal's penalty area.
It had to be said that this was a one-sided match, at least as far as the first 20 minutes were concerned.
Even so, the New Manchester United fans at the scene still supported the team wholeheartedly. Even when the team won a foul, they gave warm applause, as if their applause could bring motivation to the players on the pitch.
"There's nothing wrong with that, Andy. You know, Arsenal are a Premier League giant, while New Manchester United are just a National League team. Although both are at the top of their respective levels, the former are at the peak of the professional league system, while the latter are at the peak of the amateur league system. There is a world of difference between the two," Martin Tyler said with a smile.
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I really would have overlooked it. You know, that match at Highbury left such a deep impression on me that I still feel as if New Manchester United are on the same level as Arsenal!" Andy Gray laughed awkwardly.
"If we calculate it by league level, it will take at least four years for New Manchester United to rise to the same level as Arsenal. And in football, four years is enough for earth-shaking changes to happen. You only need to look at Ajax four years ago and Ajax four years later to realise just how deep that gap can be!"
"So, according to you, New Manchester United are clearly planning to stick with parking the bus until the end?"
"Why not?" Martin Tyler asked back with a smile. "In terms of attacking, I'm afraid that before New Manchester United even find the road to Arsenal's penalty area, Arsenal will already have pierced New Manchester United's goal. Rather than that, it's better to defend to the death."
"But even if they hold on to 0-0, the replay will be at Highbury. Do New Manchester United intend to give up their home advantage and think they have a better chance of winning at Highbury instead?" Andy Gray joked.
Martin Tyler shook his head. "I think the starting lineups for both sides in this match are very targeted, but the key to victory should be on the two flanks. Have you noticed? New Manchester United have almost completely stifled Arsenal's wide play!"
As he said this, Henry received the ball on the left and was about to accelerate, but Essien charged across from the side and forced him to the ground, committing a foul but also interrupting Arsenal's attacking rhythm.
"Parlour on the right can run well, but he lacks real explosiveness. However, Henry paired with Ashley Cole on the left is very threatening. Therefore, when New Manchester United defend, they pay great attention to providing support on their right side. Essien often appears in this area, along with Hleb tracking back and Stenson defending, so Arsenal's left side has failed to pose much of a threat."
"The right side can't break through, and the left side is restricted, which means Arsenal's two flanks can't get going. This has also caused Arsenal's attacks to be all sound and fury, but little end product. It looks as if they have the advantage, but in reality, there haven't been many attacks that truly threatened New Manchester United's goal."
As if to prove Martin Tyler's commentary, Arsenal launched another attack. Parlour received the ball on the right, but Olić quickly stuck close to him, forcing him to cross early. However, Kanu in the middle could not gain any advantage over Abidal.
"Another point I think we should note is that Kanu is the focal point of Arsenal's attack, but in this match, the Nigerian's height has not given him any real advantage. Look at the figures I just compiled. Apart from Evra, New Manchester United's back line has Abidal at 1.86 metres, Distin at 1.91 metres, and even right-back Stenson is 1.89 metres. Although none of them are taller than Kanu, Kanu has no advantage at all in aerial duels and positioning."
After listening, Andy Gray looked at the match on the pitch. Ashley Cole crossed from Arsenal's left, but Distin headed it out of the penalty area. Although Petit, arriving from deep, controlled the ball and started a second wave of attack, Poulsen quickly stepped up and forced Petit into a rushed long-range shot that missed the target.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is a deep defensive setup New Manchester United prepared specifically for Arsenal. The two flanks can't get going, the focal point in the middle is under control, and Arsenal's attack has suddenly lost its sharpness," Martin Tyler gave his judgment.
The match time ticked away, and just as Martin Tyler said, because of New Manchester United's desperate defending, Arsenal's attack could never truly get going.
"I think Wenger should make a decisive adjustment at this point!" Andy Gray watched for a while, felt the game was too dull, and could not help giving his opinion.
Martin Tyler smiled. "Everyone knows there are many ways to break down a parked bus. The most effective are wide play and long shots. But now that Parlour on the right can't break through, New Manchester United have enough energy to defend Arsenal's left side, which also causes the left to be restricted. As for long shots... haha, look, there are people everywhere in and around New Manchester United's penalty area. What gap can the ball possibly go through?"
After hearing this, Andy Gray looked at New Manchester United's penalty area. Damn, sure enough, it was packed with people.
"I think New Manchester United could consider calling over a few tall guys, lining them up in front of the goal, and letting Arsenal's players shoot to see who can score!" Andy Gray shook his head helplessly.
"There's no other way, Andy. The gap in strength between the two sides is too wide. As the weaker side, New Manchester United's primary concern is certainly not attacking, but trying to avoid conceding goals. Parking the bus is the best way," Martin Tyler said more calmly.
"But this kind of match is very sleep-inducing!" Andy Gray muttered.
After the fierce assault of the first 20 minutes, Arsenal's attack clearly weakened a little, and the rhythm of the game slowed. This was clearly Wenger signalling the players on the pitch not to press too hard, giving New Manchester United a chance to breathe and trying to draw them out.
But Bruce was also constantly signalling from the touchline, telling the players to be careful, to keep the three lines compact, and to give up attacking rather than give Arsenal even the slightest chance. Martin Tyler was right. Even if they did not score, they must not concede.
Against a strong team like Arsenal, once a goal was conceded, it would be a disaster for New Manchester United.
Since Parlour on the right did not have strong attacking ability, Arsenal's attacks were mainly concentrated on Henry and Ashley Cole on the left. However, New Manchester United's Essien and Juninho also frequently helped defend on the right. As a result, Poulsen and Vieira in the middle had many chances to go head-to-head.
When Vieira was preparing to receive a cross from a teammate, Poulsen suddenly slid in from the side, taking Vieira down with him and causing him to stumble a few steps, almost falling to the ground. By the time he reacted, the ball had already been cleared by Juninho.
"Hey, referee, that's a foul!"
Vieira rushed toward the referee in dissatisfaction, spreading his hands and shouting.
As Vieira's teammate, Petit also rushed over to put pressure on the referee, claiming it was a very nasty foul.
But the referee simply signalled that Poulsen had tackled the ball first and then could not stop his momentum, which caused him to trip Vieira, so it was not a foul. It was a very good piece of defending.
The fans at the scene gave loud boos to Petit's act of pestering the referee.
Petit's face darkened. As he walked back and passed Poulsen, the latter sneered. "When you defend, don't you often tackle opponents until they go flying too? What? Doesn't feel so good when it happens to you?"
As soon as Petit heard this, he immediately glared at Poulsen. The latter spread his hands, looking innocent, but his expression was closer to a sneer, which made Petit even more annoyed.
"Watch yourself, Danish boy!"
"I'll be waiting for you, Frenchman!" Poulsen did not give an inch.
Although Bruce's task for him was to annoy Vieira, in reality, Poulsen felt that Petit seemed easier to provoke than Vieira. He was now like an angry bull, especially with that look in his eyes. Poulsen knew very well that it was the look of someone preparing to make him pay, and because of that, Poulsen stayed alert.
Sure enough, Arsenal soon launched another attack. This time, it was still on the left, but under the joint pressure of Juninho and Hleb, Ashley Cole lost the ball.
Juninho, after winning the ball, saw no opportunity ahead and passed it back to Essien in the middle. Essien passed to the nearby Poulsen, but at that moment, Petit came in from the side with a vicious tackle and knocked Poulsen to the ground. After rolling once, Poulsen lay on the ground, clutching his right ankle tightly with a painful expression.
The referee, who was close by, immediately blew his whistle, ran over, and reached into his chest pocket for a card!
(To be continued.)