Chapter 216: Hellish Christmas Fixture List! Wenger's Fatal Weakness! Ferguson, Come at Me If You Dare!
After a blizzard swept through, Christmas arrived in full swing with all its festive spirit.
But for Yang Cheng and Bayswater China, what came next was the most brutal and congested holiday fixture schedule in club history—four matches in ten days.
December 26: Away at EvertonDecember 28: Home vs. Manchester UnitedJanuary 1: Home vs. ArsenalJanuary 4: Away at Blackpool
While the rest of Europe entered winter break, the Premier League would play four matches in just ten days.
It was, frankly, absurd.
But there was no avoiding it—the rules of the game were what they were.
When the entire world stops, the Premier League alone dominates the global football calendar.
Yes, the entire world.
And in the UK, Boxing Day fixtures have been a cherished tradition for decades.
For Bayswater China, the two middle fixtures were the biggest challenges.
And let's not forget:
Matchday 24 (January 22) — away to Manchester United at Old Trafford
Matchday 25 — home vs. Manchester City
So for Yang Cheng, January was shaping up to be one of the most demanding months of his managerial career.
Even with years of experience in the Premier League, he still felt the weight of the pressure.
Every rival club was watching—waiting for Bayswater China to slip up.
This was the trial by fire.
If they survived it, the title was almost guaranteed.
If they faltered? Everything was back up for grabs.
...
Boxing Day morning.
While the rest of the world was still lost in holiday dreams, Bayswater China was already fully assembled and hard at work.
Everyone was on duty.
Once the players returned on time, did a quick prep, the team immediately headed north—to Liverpool.
This was a match being broadcast live worldwide.
Kickoff was scheduled for noon.
From London to Liverpool was over 300 kilometers—minimum four hours by road.
So Bayswater China had already arranged a private flight, provided by sponsor Qatar Airways.
They flew directly from Heathrow to Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.
After a brief rest, they went straight to Goodison Park for pre-match warm-ups.
Yang Cheng heavily rotated the squad.
The starting front three? None of them even made the trip.
The midfield trio? Left in London.
Even the back line had only Thiago Silva and Kompany as starters.
Right-back: Kyle Walker
Left-back: Ryan Bertrand
Goalkeeper: Begović
This had all been carefully planned.
Before Christmas, the new media team had worked with major outlets to prepare fans—this match would not feature the first team.
The club would field a rotated squad. Whatever result they got—they'd take it.
And let's not forget—it was December 26 at noon.
A killer time slot.
Right from kickoff, Yang Cheng's team came out fast and aggressive.
That was the strategy: score early, then sit back and counter.
They had to conserve energy. The next two matches were direct title showdowns.
17th minute:
Aaron Ramsey passed centrally to Pogba, who held off Dutch midfielder Heitinga on the left, then chipped it to Hazard.
Hazard took a touch, cut inside from the left, beat Jagielka, and rifled a low shot into the near corner.
1–0!
But just two minutes later, during a midfield battle, Aaron Ramsey and Arteta collided hard—both players went down and didn't get up.
Yang Cheng and Moyes could only shake their heads.
In this freezing weather, a collision like that could be anything from a knock to a nightmare.
No choice but to substitute.
Harry Kane replaced Ramsey.
Bayswater China switched to a 4-4-2 formation.
Midfield: Hazard, Pogba, Javi Martínez, De Bruyne
Forwards: Giroud and Kane
From there, they shifted into defensive mode.
By the second half, Yang Cheng subbed off Thiago Silva in the 60th minute, bringing on José Fonte.
He wanted the Brazilian to be fresh for the clash against Manchester United in two days.
But in the 75th minute, Everton earned a free kick.
Heitinga rose and headed the ball home.
1–1.
The rest of the match played out without incident—both sides eased off.
Everton didn't push for a winner.
They had an away game in two days too.
Moyes had fielded his strongest lineup, while Bayswater China had played reserves.
Final score: 1–1.
Yang Cheng smiled post-match and declared himself satisfied.
"In 08/09, our unbeaten run ended at 18 games. This year, we've made it to 19."
"And against Everton, no less."
Truthfully, the team didn't play well.
Apart from the opening burst and the goal, they were on the back foot for most of the game.
But thanks to effective pre-match messaging, fans understood.
During a schedule this brutal, playing your full XI is a recipe for disaster.
Then again, some clubs handled it better than others.
Manchester City played that afternoon and won 3–1 away at Newcastle.
Ancelotti had the experience—and the squad depth—to rotate without fear.
Ferguson, the wily old fox, pulled his usual tricks.
United scored within five minutes against Sunderland, then coasted.
Final: 2–0 at Old Trafford.
But not everyone had it figured out.
Mancini, experiencing his first Christmas fixture run, struggled—despite advice from seasoned British coaches.
City tried to score early and then defend.
It started well—Torres scored in the 3rd minute.
But in the 12th, Blackpool equalized.
Then in the 69th, they struck again on the counter.
City lost 1–2 away at Blackpool.
Who could Mancini blame?
The logic was sound—but execution is another story.
Plus, opponents weren't idiots.
Wenger's Arsenal had it easier, beating Chelsea 3–1 at home on the 27th.
That match was fascinating.
Both sides went full-strength—but both were cautious, unable to play freely.
Yang Cheng's impression was that neither side wanted to spend too much energy—both were looking for the easiest way to win.
Arsenal had better possession. Hiddink leaned on counterattacks.
The match wasn't pretty. Possession was close.
But most of the action took place in Chelsea's half.
Wenger's trick?
He turned up the pressure in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
They had the ball—they controlled the rhythm.
Chelsea cracked.
Just before the break, Wilshere and Fàbregas combined to assist Arshavin, who scored from the left side of the box.
In the second half, Hiddink wasn't having it.
What happened to the "let's share the points" unspoken agreement?
Now this was personal.
At halftime, Chelsea made substitutions, trying to strengthen the midfield and attack.
But unexpectedly, Wenger hit them with a gut punch right out of the gate.
51st and 53rd minutes—two quick goals.
Wenger stood grinning on the sideline—like a smug old frog.
Hiddink looked like he was going to explode.
Aside from the postponed Matchday 18 fixture against United, Chelsea hadn't won in five consecutive league matches.
Counting this one? Make it six.
Chelsea finally mustered a response, pulling one back in the 57th minute.
After that, the match returned to a stalemate—like the first half.
Wenger was probably dying to say:
"Old Ding, you don't want to get burgled at Stamford Bridge by Bolton next week, do you?"
Final score: Arsenal 3–1 Chelsea.
Yang Cheng could see it now—these old managers? One trickier than the next.
Especially in these key moments.
...
Afternoon of December 28, Wembley Stadium, London.
Premier League Matchday 20: Bayswater China vs. Manchester United.
Despite playing at home, Yang Cheng did not go all-out.
Between Thiago Silva and José Fonte, he opted for the latter—better rested.
Starting XI – Bayswater China
Goalkeeper: Courtois
Defenders: Marcelo, José Fonte, Pepe, Piszczek
Midfield: Matić (holding), Toni Kroos, Rakitić
Forwards: Di María, Lewandowski, Walcott
Modrić and Gareth Bale were rested.
Manchester United, on the other hand, fielded a full-strength squad.
Ferguson's team was falling behind in the title race and needed to use the Christmas fixtures to catch up.
This period was Ferguson's specialty.
Starting XI – Manchester United
Goalkeeper: Van der Sar
Defenders: Evra, Vidić, Ferdinand, Rafael
Midfield: Carrick, De Rossi (double pivot), Ashley Young, Scholes, Rooney
Striker: Berbatov
From the lineup alone, it was clear: Ferguson came to win.
But away at Wembley, United were cautious, sticking to a counterattacking setup.
From the opening whistle, Bayswater China launched wave after wave of attacks—spurred on by over 90,000 screaming fans.
18th minute:
Walcott crossed from the right.
Lewandowski's header hit the right post.
Rakitić followed up with a shot from the edge of the box—off the left post.
Di María recovered the ball and played it back to Marcelo.
United's defense tried to push up and reset.
But Marcelo fed Kroos, who, in the open, turned and lofted a diagonal ball over the top toward the right side of the box.
Walcott burst forward like lightning, sprinting past Ferdinand, and poked the ball past Van der Sar.
1–0!
The stadium erupted.
Up a goal, Bayswater China shifted to a more cautious approach.
29th minute: Di María beat two defenders on the left and fired a shot—Van der Sar saved it cleanly.
Halftime: 1–0 to Bayswater China.
After the restart, just three minutes in, Kroos created another golden chance.
From deep in his own half, he sent a long diagonal ball forward.
Lewandowski controlled it on the right and squared it across.
Walcott darted inside and shot—off the left post again!
Three posts in one match!
And then came the punishment.
61st minute: Yang Cheng signaled the team to slow down, control possession, and prepare to defend.
But inside the box, Berbatov backheeled a slick pass.
Rooney smashed it from close range.
Courtois had no chance.
1–1.
Game on.
United followed up with a furious 10-minute spell.
From minutes 65 to 75, United held 73% possession.
For those 10 minutes, they had Bayswater China pinned in their own half.
...
The atmosphere at Wembley kept heating up.
Bayswater China fans only grew louder.
That wasn't a secret anymore in England—but experiencing it firsthand was something else.
Ferguson found it unbearable.
"We've been pummeling them for ten minutes straight—what the hell are these fans so excited about?"
He glanced up at the scoreboard.
78 minutes.
Still 1–1.
It left him uncertain.
As he walked back toward the bench, he couldn't help glancing over at the opposing technical area.
Yang Cheng stood there as always, barking instructions from the touchline.
Young guys had that luxury—he could stand for all 90 minutes without pause.
Ferguson? He couldn't anymore.
His gaze shifted to Bayswater China's bench.
Players were up, jogging, staying warm—but there was no telling who'd come on.
"Maybe they're fine with a draw," said assistant Mike Phelan.
Since equalizing, United had looked dominant.
A draw wouldn't be the worst outcome.
Especially with Arsenal up next.
"Lewandowski hasn't pushed himself much tonight. Either he's off-form, or Yang Cheng told him to hold back."
"And Kroos—after that surge early in the second half, he hasn't been moving much."
"Di María looks sharp, but Rafael's doing well defensively."
"Marcelo hasn't been pushing up much either."
Ferguson had already made one substitution.
75th minute: Hernández (Chicharito) on for Scholes.
That said a lot.
Not Giggs. Chicharito. He wanted the win.
He still had two subs left.
But something didn't sit right.
"Yang Cheng, that little bastard—he's crafty. No less cunning than Wenger."
"There's no way he's not going to make changes."
"He's just waiting to spring the trap!"
Ferguson was certain.
At the very least, you make a change to keep up appearances.
You're at home—you don't just settle!
No way.
With that, Ferguson stood up and quickly made his way to the touchline.
At that exact moment, he saw movement on the home side.
Gareth Bale and Modrić stepped out together—no warm-up—and walked straight to Yang Cheng.
The three huddled on the sideline, whispering like they were plotting a heist.
Ferguson's heart skipped.
Bad feeling intensified.
He rushed to the sideline, gesturing wildly to his players—DEFEND!
"Hold the line! HOLD THE LINE!!" Ferguson shouted.
At the same time, he signaled Fletcher to get ready.
Suddenly, time felt like it sped up.
In the 81st minute, Gareth Bale and Luka Modrić were brought on.
Bale replaced Walcott.
Modrić replaced Toni Kroos.
With that, Bayswater China's new front line became Bale, Lewandowski, and Di María.
The midfield shifted to Rakitić, Matić, and Modrić.
...
Since the 65th minute, Manchester United had been enjoying plenty of possession.
But the problem was—United had to push up.
They weren't Barcelona. They didn't like sitting in the back and knocking the ball around.
In fact, they didn't even have the ability to play calm, composed possession football under pressure in their own half.
So every time United got the ball, they'd push forward to attack.
Even after Yang Cheng made his double substitution, Ferguson only told his players to stay alert defensively.
But United stayed in a high-pressing setup.
And then came the 84th minute—just three minutes after Bale came on.
Matić, defending just outside his own box, executed a perfect tackle to strip the ball from Rooney.
With those long legs of his, the Serbian immediately poked the ball forward to Modrić.
The Croatian, back facing goal, calmly collected the ball.
He had been in this situation countless times.
Trap, turn, and carry diagonally—then, suddenly, a brilliant outside-foot through ball.
The pass split the midfielders and slid perfectly into the path of Gareth Bale on the left.
Bale received it near the halfway line, took a heavy touch to push the ball forward, and exploded down the wing—leaving Rafael for dead.
The young Brazilian full-back had spent the whole match locked in a duel with Di María and was running on fumes.
He couldn't even keep up.
Bale flew.
The Welshman, wearing red, tore across the Wembley turf like a bolt of lightning.
His ball control was smooth, effortless.
He stormed into United's final third.
On the sideline, Ferguson was practically leaping with rage, pointing and screaming:
"STOP HIM! SOMEBODY STOP HIM!"
Ferdinand was the last man back.
He became the final line of defense.
They met just outside the box.
Bale slowed down slightly, feinting like he would cut inside.
That's when having trained his right foot really paid off.
Ferdinand couldn't tell if Bale would cut or go—so he slowed too.
And that was the trap.
Bale suddenly pushed the ball forward and accelerated explosively.
He might not be the tallest, but compared to the aging, physically declining Ferdinand?
Bale blew past him.
One sprint—gone.
Ferdinand didn't even have time to foul him.
Bale burst into the left side of the box, caught up with his own ball, and drilled a left-footed shot toward the far post.
The ball skimmed past the inside of the right post and slammed into the net.
Van der Sar could do nothing.
2–1!
Bale turned and sprinted off the pitch.
The entire crowd roared.
Fans were screaming his name.
He ran straight to the sideline, fists clenched, roaring at the stands.
"Just three minutes after coming on, Gareth Bale tears United's defense apart with one of his trademark lightning counters!"
"Two substitutions by Yang Cheng, one goal—no way that's a coincidence!"
"Based on my years of commentary experience, I'm convinced: since the 65th minute, Bayswater China had intentionally ceded possession, baiting United to push up!"
"Yang Cheng knew what Ferguson wanted. He showed him the open door, even handed him the knife—and all but dared him to stab!"
"And Ferguson walked right into it."
"United pressed too high in search of three points—Bale and Modrić made them pay the price."
"If Scholes had still been at the No.10 instead of Hernández, maybe Modrić wouldn't have found that pass so easily."
"What a masterclass—two elite managers, playing 4D chess!"
"Yang Cheng's in-game adjustments are simply unbelievable. He's only 31!"
...
Ferguson responded.
He brought on Robben for Ashley Young, pushing hard for an equalizer.
But Yang Cheng reacted swiftly.
Harry Kane came on for Lewandowski.
Ryan Bertrand replaced Marcelo.
Kane made an immediate impact.
86th minute: The young English striker dropped deep to receive the ball, then sent a perfect through pass.
Bale sprinted onto it, entering the box.
Rafael chased desperately, and both players tumbled in the box.
Bayswater China's bench immediately called for a penalty.
They believed Rafael had fouled Bale.
Bale lay on the ground clutching his leg, but when he saw the ref hesitating, he sprang up, pointing to his shirt—"He was tugging me!"
"Replay shows it clearly—Rafael fouled him. This was a penalty. Should've been a card—maybe even red!"
"But the referee saw it differently—gave the ball to United."
"A pity. That attack was orchestrated by 17-year-old Harry Kane!"
"This kid's journey is incredible. Once rejected by Arsenal's academy for being overweight, he bounced around before earning Yang Cheng's favor at Bayswater China."
"Fans will remember—he was the inspiration behind that globally praised promotional video about persistence."
"Now he's grown up, and he's finally playing for the first team."
"That through ball just now? Very impressive."
"Fans are already dreaming about a front three of Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, and Walcott."
"That combo could make Bayswater China even more beloved among homegrown supporters."
Even with the penalty shout waved off, Bayswater China weren't done.
In the dying moments, Kane, back to goal, received a sharp pass from Modrić just inside the box.
Feeling pressure from behind—Vidić closing in—Kane couldn't hold the ball.
But he managed to turn and lay it off to the left edge of the box.
Rakitić arrived and let fly with a thunderous strike from range.
Van der Sar was forced to make another full-stretch save, diving with one hand to push the ball out for a corner.
By now, it was the 92nd minute.
The corner ended with José Fonte heading over the bar.
Bayswater China defeated Manchester United 2–1, thanks to goals from Walcott and Gareth Bale!
...
"That was a very tough match," Ferguson said at the post-match press conference.
"We played quite well for stretches—I even thought we could have taken all three points."
"But unfortunately, our opponents were just too cunning. Their substitutions were decisive."
Ferguson expressed his disappointment with the result—but still offered congratulations to Yang Cheng.
"They showed everyone today just how strong they are."
"At this stage, they might just be the best team in the Premier League—or even in Europe."
The journalists in the Wembley press room were caught off guard.
Ferguson… praising an opponent?
But soon, they all realized what he was doing.
Old foxes, playing the media game.
If United lost, and he didn't praise Bayswater China as the best team in Europe, what would that say about United?
When asked about the controversial non-call for a penalty, Ferguson admitted it should have been given.
"That was the referee's mistake. But the play happened so fast—making the right decision was incredibly difficult in that moment."
He added that he had initially thought Rafael got the ball first, then Bale.
"After reviewing the replay, I can only say—Bayswater China were unlucky not to get the call."
Yang Cheng, following Ferguson at the presser, brushed off the penalty discussion.
"Penalty or not, it didn't affect the result. We got the three points at home."
"We've never relied on penalties. They're just icing on the cake."
"What I actually mentioned to the players most in the dressing room? The goalposts."
"We should've scored more than two. With the way we played, five goals wouldn't have been unfair. But today, Wembley's posts just weren't on our side."
"Honestly, Ferguson was lucky—it ended 2–1."
Yang Cheng explained that with the freezing temperatures, the intense schedule, and the physical and mental stress, it was natural for players to misfire slightly under pressure.
"But regardless—we won. That's what matters."
As Bayswater China celebrated a hard-fought victory over United, the rest of Matchday 20 played out.
Manchester City beat Aston Villa 4–0, with Zlatan Ibrahimović netting a hat-trick.
Liverpool beat Wolves 4–1 at home—Balotelli also bagged a hat-trick.
Chelsea edged Bolton 1–0.
But Yang Cheng had his eye on Arsenal, who stumbled in a 2–2 draw away to Wigan.
Wenger had rotated heavily, changing almost his entire starting XI.
He was clearly resting players for the New Year's Day clash with Bayswater China.
But things backfired.
Even worse? The key moment came from a horrific own goal by Squillaci—a player Wenger had insisted on signing.
Wenger later explained that the match came just 48 hours after their previous game against Chelsea, which made it impossible to field the same squad.
"I can't play the same eleven in two intense matches 48 hours apart."
He said rotating nine players was a necessary choice.
As for the title race?
"I'm not thinking about that right now," Wenger replied.
"I'm just focused on winning every match we play. We'll see where we are at the end."
Clearly, this draw was not part of the plan.
...
January 1, afternoon, Wembley Stadium, London.
Premier League Matchday 21: Bayswater China vs. Arsenal.
Yang Cheng once again rotated his squad—but now returned to a more familiar starting eleven.
Bayswater China Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Courtois
Defense: Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Kompany, Kyle Walker
Midfield: Javi Martínez (holding), Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić
Attack: Gareth Bale, Lewandowski, Walcott
For the first time in several rounds, Kroos, Modrić, and the front three were reunited.
Aside from using Kyle Walker at right-back, this was essentially the club's full-strength lineup.
Wenger, too, fielded a near-full-strength squad—he had clearly been planning for this.
Arsenal Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Lloris
Defense: Clichy, Chygrynskiy, Koscielny, Sagna
Midfield: Song and Toulalan (double pivot), Arshavin, Fàbregas, van Persie
Striker: Benzema
In some ways, Wenger's squad was even stronger on paper.
But it came at a cost—the draw at Wigan.
Wenger went all-in here, hoping to reclaim momentum against a direct rival.
Arsenal came out firing on all cylinders, launching a flurry of attacks and pressing high from kickoff.
It was clear they wanted to regain control of the title race by taking down Bayswater China.
Wenger's original plan?
Win at Wigan.
Then fight for a result—win or draw—at Wembley.
Then, three days later, go all out at home vs. Manchester City.
But Squillaci's own goal ruined it.
A 2–1 lead turned into a 2–2 draw.
Now, Wenger had to win this match, or fall further behind.
So from the first whistle, Arsenal pressed hard and looked dangerous.
Fàbregas sent a killer pass to van Persie, who broke into the right side of the box and fired—just wide.
Arshavin then slipped a pass to Toulalan, whose shot from outside the box deflected off Javi Martínez.
The rebound fell to Benzema on the left—he volleyed it, but straight at Courtois.
By the 7th minute, Kompany picked up a yellow for fouling Fàbregas.
Referee Peter Walton was calling the match tightly.
Arsenal were aggressive—they wanted blood.
But then, just two minutes later, Bayswater China bared its fangs.
9th minute: A successful midfield press near the halfway line.
Modrić played it to Kroos.
Kroos laid it off—a quick one-two.
With the return pass at his feet, Modrić was met by Toulalan and Song.
Instead of trying to dribble forward, he clipped a delicate lobbed pass over both midfielders.
The ball sailed over Arsenal's double pivot—and dropped perfectly into space on the left side of Arsenal's back line...
Gareth Bale sprinted forward, beating Sagna to the ball. Instead of jumping, he leaned forward and nodded Modrić's lofted pass straight into the space ahead—right behind Arsenal's defensive line.
Then the Welshman exploded.
He powered between Sagna and Koscielny with sheer pace.
To be fair, Laurent Koscielny's reaction speed and recovery pace were excellent. Having played for Bayswater China in the past, he knew better than anyone how fast Bale could be—and he was quick to react.
But it still wasn't enough.
Bale reached his own touch first and pushed the ball into the left side of the penalty area.
It was his favorite zone.
Shielding Koscielny with his body, he stared down Hugo Lloris, who was already rushing off his line.
Then—cool as ever—Bale chipped the ball past Lloris into the near post.
1–0!
"Who said Gareth Bale only scores from the left side into the far corner?"
"Look at this brilliant, deceptive finish!"
"Oh my—Lloris must've been fooled by Bale's stats. He fully expected a shot to the far post—but the Welshman read his mind and went near post instead!"
"And what a finish it was!"
"1–0! Bayswater China take the lead!"
...
On the touchline, Wenger shook his head.
Only 9 minutes in—and they were already trailing.
This match was going to be brutal.
But what choice did he have? No matter how tough it was, he had to win.
Otherwise, Arsenal might as well kiss the Premier League title goodbye.
So after conceding, Wenger gestured for his team to keep pressing.
Arsenal launched wave after wave of attacks.
Yang Cheng's team shifted into a defensive counterattack posture.
28th minute: A quick break down the left.
Marcelo and Bale couldn't execute the first wave, so they recycled the ball back to Toni Kroos.
The German turned and switched the play with a diagonal pass from the left channel to the right edge of Arsenal's box.
Walcott burst forward and met it with a thunderous strike.
The ball screamed toward the goal—only for Lloris to dive and parry it away.
An outstanding save from the French keeper.
But the ball wasn't cleared.
Koscielny rushed in to deal with it—but Lewandowski was faster.
The Polish striker twisted his body and hooked the ball into the net.
2–0!
Wembley exploded.
Two massive games in three days—two victories: Manchester United and Arsenal.
What could be more exhilarating?
Was this the moment Bayswater China took control of the Premier League?
But on the pitch, Arsenal still pushed forward with everything they had.
At this point, they weren't thinking about what a loss would mean.
They just needed to win.
Otherwise, how could they compete with Bayswater China for the title?
Yang Cheng's side remained steady—defending deep and waiting for chances to strike.
38th minute: A shot from Arshavin struck Kompany's hand.
Arsenal players swarmed the referee, demanding a penalty.
But the official ruled that Kompany's hand was close to his body and not a deliberate action—no penalty.
Arsenal dominated possession in the first half, with 61%, and had more shots than Bayswater China.
But the more dangerous chances? They all belonged to Yang Cheng's side.
...
After the break, Arsenal eased off the tempo slightly.
Even with squad rotation, they were feeling it.
And they still had Manchester City at home in just a few days.
But offensively, they kept up the pressure.
Yang Cheng was happy to sit back and defend, waiting for the right counter.
67th minute: Walcott earned a free kick on the right side.
Too wide for a direct shot.
Modrić stepped up to take it.
A perfectly weighted ball to the near post.
Kompany rose high, outjumping Chygrynskiy, and flicked the ball on.
Chaos ensued in the Arsenal penalty area.
And then—Lewandowski pounced, swinging his body and catching the ball with the inside of his right foot.
The ball slipped through the crowd and into the back of the net.
Lewandowski fell as he shot—collapsing in the box.
Lloris had no chance.
3–0!
The 90,000-strong Wembley crowd erupted again.
Fans chanted Lewandowski's name with unbridled joy.
The Polish striker rose from the turf, visibly emotional, and sprinted toward the corner flag in celebration.
Three goals up—game over.
Wenger responded immediately with a flurry of substitutions.
He'd clearly decided to give up the match and start preparing for City.
This was the unique trait of the Premier League's Christmas schedule.
So many high-stakes matches packed into a few weeks.
Every round featured heavyweight clashes—a dream for fans, not just in the UK, but around the world.
TV ratings soared higher than ever.
After all, only the Premier League kept playing through the holidays.
It was unmatched.
A trademark of the league—and a true test of any title-chasing side.
But Arsenal were running out of gas.
They blew a late lead to Wigan last round.
Now, against Bayswater China, they looked dominant on paper—but conceded three goals.
What else was there to say?
Yang Cheng had exploited Wenger's fatal weakness—and left Arsenal reeling.
Final score: Bayswater China 3–0 Arsenal.
Despite trailing in possession and total shots, Yang Cheng's team crushed Arsenal with clinical finishing and precision attacks.
At first glance, it looked like Wenger's side had been too eager to win, and got caught on the break.
But anyone paying attention knew—Wenger's desperation came from that 2–2 draw at Wigan.
He needed to make up ground.
Elsewhere in the league:
Manchester United narrowly beat West Brom 2–1 away.Liverpool came from behind to beat Bolton 2–1 at home.Manchester City edged Blackpool 1–0.Chelsea, however, drew 3–3 at home to Aston Villa.
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