Whoosh!!!
The Emirates Stadium instantly erupted into a frenzy, with tens of thousands of fans involuntarily rising to their feet, their eyes locked intently on Ling, who was leaping into the air to strike the ball.
Even from the critical perspective of Arsenal fans, this goal was undeniably beautiful.
Especially the change of pace before the pass, which carried a unique rhythm—a dance of deception.
In the competitive sport of football, everything comes down to skill, and those dazzling stars, without exception, each possess distinct characteristics.
Ronaldinho's agility, Ronaldo Nazario's explosiveness, Lionel Messi's quick footwork, Zinedine Zidane's elegance...
And Ling had evoked the same feeling in them.
Although his playing style was still slightly raw, it had become increasingly clear and brilliant with each match.
Man United fans trembled with excitement in the away end.
For them, Sir Alex Ferguson's departure marked the end of an era, and Man United had yet to find a new helmsman on the pitch.
Jose Mourinho had the opportunity and the capability on the touchline.
But a leader on the pitch was equally indispensable.
Zlatan Ibrahimović couldn't fill that role long-term, nor could Marcus Rashford, David De Gea, or even Paul Pogba.
Just as they were beginning to despair, they discovered that the unremarkable Chinese player from before had gradually grown into Man United's sharpest weapon.
Perhaps he could be the one.
The applause lasted for dozens of seconds.
Ling looked up at the sky, bright as daylight under the floodlights, and after a moment, for some reason, a wide smile spread across his face.
He loved the feeling that scoring a goal brought—it made him feel that his efforts hadn't been in vain.
His training intensity far exceeded that of his peers, and he even spent his free time reviewing match footage while others partied.
He had devoted his entire being to football, believing that those who worked hard shouldn't be let down.
Even if that sentiment was somewhat unreasonable.
After giving so much, wasn't it all for goals, honors, and the future?
Having been reborn, he valued these things even more.
He wanted to make up for his family and himself, and for that, he was willing to sacrifice even more.
Ling suddenly turned his gaze to the sidelines, where his eyes met Mourinho's, and both raised a fist in unison.
Behind him, his Man United teammates rushed over excitedly, turning his already messy hair into something resembling a bird's nest.
Ling sighed and tidied it up briefly, thinking to himself that he should get a haircut soon.
Meanwhile, in the commentary box.
"Beautiful! Just... beautiful," Peter Drury murmured, staring at the replay.
Usually eloquent, he could only repeat the word now.
In truth, the goal wasn't just a goal..... but an art.
"The calm and effortless way Ling handled the ball... it leaves you breathless."
Jim Beglin's smile was full of warmth. "You know, Peter, I really wish I could chat with Ling again. Not to ask him how he improved so quickly, but to find out how he managed to persevere."
"When I was a professional player, I realized how monotonous it can be to turn a passion into a job."
At this, Beglin let out a wry laugh. "After seeing Ling's training schedule—basic shooting, passing, juggling, fitness... it takes up most of his time. Repeating such tedious drills every day, how does he not grow tired of it?"
"But perhaps it's precisely because he can endure the solitude that others cannot that he's reached where he is today. I truly envy Ling's dedication."
Drury quickly added, "Jim, you mustn't underestimate yourself. In our line of commentary work, we have to review vast amounts of materials every day too!"
"Haha, true. I used to sound listless during commentaries for boring games, but now what I look forward to most are Man United's matches. This kid is special."
Twitter was even livelier, with millions of fans engaging, flooding the timeline with reactions.
@BinCityNative: As Ling's fellow townsman, I truly feel proud. He is putting us on the map!
@ChinaFootball: I wonder if Ling will return home after the season ends? We could organize a city-wide friendly match to give Ling a real challenge! The hero returns!
@Gooner4Life: Even Koscielny couldn't stop Ling—do you think our local team can? He's a monster.
@RedDevils: Haha, let Ling take on 11 players by himself! I bet he'd still win.
@BinCityUltra: I hope Man United pushes harder to win the Premier League title, so our Bin City will have two Premier League champion players. Legendary status awaiting.
@Tactico: That turn. That finish. That is elite mentality. He ruined Koscielny's career with one touch.
...
The camera cut to the sidelines.
Arsène Wenger no longer looked as surprised as he had during their first encounter.
Instead, he smiled faintly and clapped softly, a sudden thought crossing his mind.
What if...
What if Ling had played for Arsenal?
Would the outcome have been different? Would he not have had to leave?
Wenger glanced at Mourinho, who was celebrating excitedly, and couldn't help but press his lips together.
He envied his old rival quite a bit—arriving in the Premier League and changing the established order with financial power, then taking over Man United and encountering such an exceptional disciple.
Since leaving was already a reality, he didn't want to dwell on it anymore.
From now on, he would hope for Arsenal's revival from a fan's perspective.
He might have to wait a long time, but he had plenty of time in the future.
After all, the sun would still rise without him, and life would go on.
But then, a surge of fierce anger welled up inside him.
He could endure the overwhelming "Wenger OUT" chants from the outside world, but he couldn't accept the club firing him under pressure after all he had built.
He couldn't help but think of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri.
These were the betrayals he despised the most!
Over 22 years, he had given his all to build the magnificent Emirates Stadium, only to end up like this.
No matter how humble and refined he was, this still weighed heavily on him.
Earlier, David Dein had approached him about erecting a statue in his honor.
But that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted respect while he was still here.
Noticing the gazes of the Arsenal players, Wenger instinctively straightened his back and gestured for them to push forward.
No matter what the future held, he was determined to win this match and fight for a Champions League spot.
Beside him, Mourinho watched Wenger stubbornly standing in the technical area and sighed silently.
He knew Wenger was reluctant to let go.
While those off the field reminisced and reflected, the intensity on the field grew fiercer.
To put it in words repeated countless times—everyone had reasons not to lose, reasons compelling enough to fight with everything they had.
74th minute of the match.
Aaron Ramsey deftly dribbled past Ling and then played a diagonal pass to Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the wing.
Facing his former club, Mkhitaryan showed no mercy.
His form was even sharper than before—he wanted to prove that his decision to leave wasn't a mistake.
Having been teammates for so long, Nemanja Matic knew his opponent's weaknesses well and decisively closed him down, applying tight pressure.
Since joining Arsenal, Mkhitaryan had indeed improved significantly.
He wobbled unsteadily under the challenge but never lost balance, creating a passing lane before striking the ball.
The ball skimmed across the turf, speeding toward the center of the pitch.
A man eerily resembling a corpse emerged from the shadows—Mesut Özil—deftly nudging the ball past Pogba's long legs.
For some reason, Ling irritated him.
So he channeled his frustration into a determination to retaliate with a goal.
Ignoring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's loud demands for the ball, he charged toward Man United's defensive line on his own.
Arsenal fans in the stands erupted in thunderous cheers.
They hoped an Arsenal player would step up and deliver the perfect conclusion to the match.
Özil closely monitored David Luiz's movements, rapidly shifting his center of gravity.
The Pendulum Dribble!
Though his character left much to be desired, his technical skills were genuinely impressive, having become Arsenal's key creator in recent seasons.
David Luiz wasn't one to wait passively—he aggressively pressed forward to challenge.
Yet he held back slightly, not committing fully.
After the traumatic 7-1 defeat Brazil suffered against Germany, he had grown stronger through pain and regret, shedding his previous recklessness and lack of judgment.
As the distance between them narrowed.
Özil suddenly pushed the ball outward, dramatically shifting his weight.