Chapter 25: A More Versatile Center, a Champions League Debut.

Chapter 25: A More Comprehensive Center-Forward, Champions League Debut

After a dream debut, Li Mo no longer needed to worry about making the eighteen-man squad. Although he was well aware that he might not start in this Champions League match, his place in the squad was secure. The media remained highly focused on him; the narrative of a seventeen-year-old scoring a brace on his debut was still a hit with fans.

However, Li Mo cared little for the media's coverage. He was a burgeoning star, and while the media attention generated traffic, he could not monetize it yet—his commercial value was still in the development stage. Moreover, he simply didn't have the time to pay attention.

He was currently focused on training his "Basic Passing Module" and "Walcott Explosive Start Module." If he could raise his fundamental passing skills to an A-grade level while integrating the "Walcott Explosive Start" and "Balotelli Physicality Module," his tactical utility would increase significantly. Currently, Li Mo was an opportunist; he could barely function as a target man or a bridge in the attack.

Li Mo understood that the modern center-forward was trending toward total versatility—capable of scoring goals and spearheading attacks, while also being able to drop deep to organize and support play. His physical attributes were actually quite excellent. At 191 centimeters, he was quite tall for a footballer. If he could regain his former speed and improve his physical confrontation, he would be the perfect template for a modern, powerful center-forward.

Therefore, he was not content with being merely an opportunist. An Inzaghi-style striker was increasingly ill-suited for modern football, which was characterized by rapid transitions, fluid positioning, and tactical team play. In the modern game, strikers were tasked with more than just scoring; they were expected to participate in high pressing, drop back to receive the ball, and sometimes even cover defensive duties. Twenty years ago, "specialized players"—like the target man who could only head the ball or the classical number ten who required heavy possession—were becoming increasingly marginalized. A "one-trick pony" could no longer guarantee success in modern professional leagues.

Consequently, after the fourth round of the league against Manchester City, even though Arsène Wenger gave the team time off, Li Mo stayed at the training base. This began to worry Wenger—would his physical condition hold up under such intensity?

To ensure Li Mo got enough rest, Wenger specifically arranged for a coach to supervise him, mandating that his daily training hours not be excessive. He had to rest when the time came. The team’s masseur, Viera, was actually quite pleased; because Li Mo was putting in extra hours every day, Viera was getting plenty of overtime pay. After Li Mo finished training, Viera would massage his muscles to minimize lactic acid buildup.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Viera," Li Mo said as he entered the massage room after training.

Viera stood up hurriedly, grinning, "It’s no trouble at all, no trouble at all." Of course it wasn't. Viera, a bachelor, didn't have many dates, and his overtime pay during this period was exceeding his base salary.

On September 19, the Champions League group stage officially kicked off. Arsenal was to play away against French side Montpellier. Montpellier were the reigning Ligue 1 champions, having managed to edge out the newly minted nouveau riche, Paris Saint-Germain, to claim the title. Their strength could not be underestimated, though they had lost nearly half of their core players after their championship season—including their main striker, Olivier Giroud, whom Arsenal had purchased.

Although the media in both China and France liked to refer to the "Big Five Leagues," in Europe, there was no such concept—at least not at that time. While France was a major European power, the gap between Ligue 1 and the four major leagues—Serie A, the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the Premier League—was quite significant, and it lacked the same level of attention. In terms of UEFA coefficient rankings, the status of the top four was unshakeable. From fifth place downward, however, the hierarchy was constantly shifting; one year it was Ligue 1, the next it might be the Eredivisie, and the year after that, the Primeira Liga. If Ligue 1 were considered one of the "Big Five," the media in the Netherlands and Portugal would be the first to object.

Moreover, because France had spent centuries exploiting North Africa, they were now paying a small price for the colonial era—the first destination for many black immigrants from the Francophone region of North Africa was often France. As a result, the French national identity had become a blend of cultures, which was reflected in football: Ligue 1 had become a stepping stone for young African players entering the top European leagues. Many well-known African players started their careers in Ligue 1.

For instance, in today's match, Arsenal's opponent, Montpellier, had many black players from countries like Senegal, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, the standout center-back of the match, was one such player—and thanks to France's policies, he also held French citizenship. As a twenty-three-year-old who had made the league's best XI the previous season, Mbiwa was fast, aggressive in his tackles, and a highly intrusive defender. He had already unceremoniously tackled Giroud—who had been his teammate just last season—several times during the match.

Under these circumstances, the Champions League game felt fragmented. Playing at home, Montpellier knew that Arsenal’s strength lay in midfield control, so they chose to disrupt the flow of the game entirely. They succeeded—in stoppage time of the first half, Montpellier’s Senegalese forward, Camara, blasted a shot from outside the box into the Arsenal goal. The defending Ligue 1 champions returned to the locker room with a one-goal lead.

After the second half began, Li Mo remained on the bench. In the sixty-third minute, a cross from Cazorla hit a defender's arm, and Arsenal were lucky enough to be awarded a penalty. Cazorla converted the spot-kick, leveling the score. However, after that, Arsenal struggled to create any clear-cut chances.

In the seventieth minute, Wenger finally prepared to make a substitution. He looked at Li Mo. "Li, go warm up!"

Li Mo, who had been waiting impatiently, leapt from the bench, pulled on his training bib, and began to warm up.

"Li Mo is warming up! He’s about to be subbed on!"

"Li Mo is making his Champions League debut!"

The commentators were energized, and Arsenal fans in front of their televisions suddenly perked up. Arsenal was finally making an adjustment to their attacking line!