The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 188: Pioneers of European Style

The broadcast cameras on the Premier League scene were mostly focusing on close-ups, but at the start of the season, Aldrich had suggested to the live broadcasting crew to set up some wide-angle shots. As a result, six camera positions were added around the Lion's Den Stadium, with machines installed at the top of the stands. Given that the stands in this stadium weren't very high and had a capacity of under 20,000, it was easy to see how small the stadium felt.

From an aerial view, the Lion's Den Stadium looked rather odd, yet the live broadcast enriched the visuals significantly. With the wider shots, you could clearly see the players' movements and runs, which made the game's footage much more dynamic.

In this era, there was a greater emphasis on individual player abilities. Close-up shots could capture the intricate footwork of the players, but Millwall played a more collective style. Their football aesthetics weren't evident in isolation, and the live broadcasters from the previous season had already faced difficulties due to Millwall's speedy gameplay, with the cameras failing to keep pace. Thus, once the wide-angle shots began covering more of the field, Millwall's football style was immediately met with astonishment.

What did it look like?

It resembled a video game, with the ball being passed quickly, zigzagging across the field in an instant. One second it could be in the left half, and the next, it would be in the right. Before you knew it, the ball moved from the back, and after just a couple of swift passes, it was right in front of the opponent's goal.

At the center of this playmaking was Pirlo.

Arsenal's veteran midfielder, Pratt, was beginning to lose his pace, and he couldn't handle Nedved alone. This meant Vieira had to drop deeper to assist defensively. Mason alone couldn't exert enough pressure on Pirlo, while Bergkamp's support in defense was limited, allowing Pirlo to orchestrate play with ease.

Schneider and Capdevila took turns pushing up to assist, making Millwall's intricate passing game a real threat to Arsenal's goal.

Shevchenko and Larsson's off-the-ball movements almost twisted the aging Arsenal defenders' waists.

Yet Arsenal wasn't backing down. Once they switched from defense to attack, they organized rapid counterattacks almost immediately. These counters often started from the flanks; whenever there was an opening, they would waste no time in sending a straightforward pass forward.

The attacking play on both wings relied on Dixon and Winterburn, while the players in support up front were either Mason or Bergkamp. More crucially, Wenger instructed his three central defenders to make overlapping runs.

Bould, Adams, and Keown, the three central defenders, would always have at least one pushing forward during buildup play, whether it was for linking up or making a decisive strike—each time, you could catch sight of one of them in action.

But today, their tactic of pushing defenders forward ran into challenges. In midfield, Pirlo's defensive role as assigned by Aldrich was simple: stick to the opposing center-back. If anyone pushed up into midfield, seize the opportunity to intercept the ball.

If there was any noticeable change in Arsenal since Wenger took over, besides a shift in playing style, their formation remained old-school, 532.

This was clearly not Wenger's ideal formation, but as a newcomer needing to establish his ground in the locker room, he had to be careful not to adjust things too drastically. Promoting Vieira was already pushing it; even Anelka, who came in during the winter transfer window, was still sitting on the bench, and Pires was gradually replacing Mason.

Thus, the five key figures on the backline had to feature in the game. However, Wenger's tactical adjustments provided some flexibility, allowing the three central defenders to be released into attack, making them highly dynamic. With the chemistry they had, taking turns to assist wasn't hard, and what they did when they moved forward could vary: it could be supporting play, organizing attacks, or scoring—all at their discretion.

It must be said that Wenger's approach ignited Arsenal's passion, letting their talents flourish. In a way, it was clever; if he had directly thrown Adams into midfield, he certainly would have been reluctant to change positions. Instead, having Adams start as a center-back, then gallivant forward during attacks, made Adams comply willingly.

So, in Arsenal's attacks, a strange scene unfolded. Bergkamp was impeccable in possession in the front line, whether with short or long passes, grounded or airborne. Whenever he positioned himself to receive a ball, it was a graceful display of skill to control it effortlessly. However, when Adams or Bould and the other defenders surged forward to help out, there were occasions where they struggled to control even the easiest short passes.

It was precisely because of Pirlo's timely interceptions and the deficiencies in their own ball-handling abilities that Millwall was able to successfully stifle Arsenal's offensive play involving their center-backs pushing forward.

Consequently, their attacks increasingly transitioned to the flanks. Bergkamp was working hard, his foot skills unquestionable, yet Millwall's defenders weren't tricked by his moves; they never rushed in recklessly. Defensively, they aimed to slow down his rhythm, positioning themselves to wait for Bergkamp's choices. Relying solely on Wright's pace upfront was simply not a sufficient threat.

After failing to penetrate three times, Bergkamp attempted to break through on his own. He just passed Capdevila when he was easily intercepted by Southgate, who then quickly moved the ball down the left. He passed to Pirlo, and after controlling the ball, Pirlo sent a diagonal pass to the right side, where Schneider was unmarked. He greeted the ball with a long pass to the forwards, where Trezeguet, who had made a run from inside the box, met the ball with a header. The ball was laid off to the left, and Shevchenko surged forward, perfectly timing his arrival just as he brushed past Keown, waiting for the ball to land before taking a shot.

Keown went to ground with a sliding tackle, and Shevchenko was brought down in the penalty area after being kicked in the shin. Ignoring the pain, he turned to look at the referee, who had already blown his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot before pulling out a yellow card for Keown.

"Penalty! Millwall has been awarded a penalty, and it came so unexpectedly that the cameras seemed to struggle to keep up. Millwall's attacks are just too fast. Andy, did you see that?"

"I didn't catch it clearly either. Capdevila and Southgate executed a brilliant joint defense. Capdevila forced Bergkamp to try and dribble past him, but as he did, Southgate came in from behind to intercept the ball. Then, Capdevila moved wide to receive the ball for a counterattack. Following a diagonal pass from Pirlo, the ball found its way to the right, where Schneider delivered a precise long ball. Trezeguet's header laid it off for Shevchenko, who sprinted past Keown's defense, forcing Keown to go for the tackle. He lost position and, unfortunately, didn't get to the ball. It was a clear penalty."

"How quick was that attack? We're used to seeing Millwall exploit their opponents' vulnerabilities on the counter, but this time it seemed even faster with all the ball movement. I'd guess the entire transition from defense pivoting to Shevchenko being fouled took less than 10 seconds. The cameras should show a sweeping panoramic shot so we can properly see how Millwall broke through Arsenal's defense."

No longer able to suppress his dissatisfaction, Keown angrily shouted at Shevchenko on the ground, claiming he was too soft. How could he go down with just a touch?

Shevchenko, enraged, rolled his eyes and quickly got up to argue with Keown.

Players from both sides gathered around, and ultimately, the two captains stepped in to separate everyone. Adams and Southgate exchanged a few words before parting, and just before they did, Adams playfully pushed Southgate's head.

Southgate took it in stride and turned to sprint back to his half.

For players of this era, especially English players, conflicts on the field were commonplace, and Adams' lighthearted shove at Southgate was akin to a friendly nudge between buddies, with no malicious intent. The referee wouldn't intervene; after all, they were still national teammates and defensive partners.

As such, fans from this era were not particularly fond of the theatrical eye-covering and falling actions they'd witness in future matches.

Larsson effortlessly scored the penalty, putting Millwall ahead 1-0 in the 40th minute of the first half.

Wenger, wearing glasses and a club track jacket, sighed in frustration.

Both Wenger and Aldrich were pioneers of tactical style in the Premier League, and their coaching methods were viewed as Europeanized by the English. Just as the English saw two types of players—English and European—Beckham and Giggs fell into the latter category, while Keane and Nedved were considered more like English players in their style. European players delivered a shrewder or smarter approach to the game, emphasizing ground passing and fluid movement.

However, constrained by Arsenal's prior tactical routines, Wenger could only work with what he had. Forcing his central defenders forward as often as they did was not his intention, but it was necessary given the presence of three absolute mainstay center-backs.

In terms of tactical flexibility, Millwall performed better than Arsenal. It was akin to the workings of a spring: the defense compressed the whole team, and during attack, they would unleash their potential. Compared to a static positional style of attack, pushing forward as a cohesive unit was better for slicing through the opponent's defense in a seamless manner. Millwall wasn't compressing enough—they showed dominance, and Arsenal's attacks couldn't suppress them, forcing them into a reactive position. Arsenal's weakness was their imbalanced attack; both wings weren't functioning properly, leaving them at a disadvantage.

Wherever Bergkamp went, the focus generally stayed on that side, and sometimes, the center-backs would push forward, even carrying the ball down the flank, all to stretch the opponent's defense. Clearly, this wasn't a sustainable strategy, especially as Bould was nearing 35. By next season, Wenger could finally reshape the formation into a more balanced setup.

Aldrich had noticed Arsenal's shortcomings while studying their opponents. Even though Wenger's Arsenal was still based on counterattacks in the Premier League at this moment, Aldrich didn't fear them executing counterattacks. In terms of pure speed, they didn't have the upper hand. Upfront, there were only a few men; unless they could pull off some incredible teamwork, relying solely on Bergkamp to thread through would not be enough to break through Millwall's defense.

Moreover, Arsenal's double pivot configuration was imperfect, as Pratt's declining mobility was clearly a flaw. While occupying space, he wasn't effectively defending, essentially being a liability on the backline.

With a one-goal lead at halftime, both teams retreated to the dressing room for a break.

Aldrich laid out the tactics for the second half. While the overall strategy wouldn't change much, there would be an emphasis on details.

For instance, pushing aggressively through the middle targeting Keown's area—especially with a yellow card against him—would make him more cautious in his defensive actions.

Nedved would be moving around Pratt more often...