vs Wolverhampton (2)
League Matchday 31: Arsenal versus Wolverhampton.
With Korean players on both sides, plenty of people called it the Korean Derby—but whether any of them would even crack the starting lineup was still anyone’s guess.
Shin Gihyeon and Hong Seoin had just dragged themselves back from grueling A-match duty, and Baek Yujin, for all his brilliance, still had far less experience than the rest. Nobody was treating them as irreplaceable yet.
Yujin had started five of the recent league games, but until the team sheet dropped, nothing was certain.
Even if he’s cooking, irreplaceable in the EPL? Are you people insane?
Hype him all you want, but don’t cross the line.
While people were still brawling over whether he’d play, whether he’d start, whether he was good or not, the starting lineup dropped.
When Shin Gihyeon, Hong Seoin, and Baek Yujin all appeared in the XI, Korean football fans’ anticipation for the match skyrocketed.
Fr if you miss this you’ll regret it for life. I’d literally end it.
(A selection of the countless hate comments that used to trash Baek Yujin)
Same France, same flood of hate comments, and he still put up that performance.
Taking three chances out of three after eating that much abuse is genuinely insane.
Honestly Korea’s in a bit of a dark age right now—better to just let the prospects rack up experience.
They’re the ones who’ll lead the national team someday.
Away dressing room at Molineux Stadium, minutes before kickoff.
With the match almost upon them, everyone sat in their spots unwinding in their own way.
Routines, they called them—and the variety was endless.
Captain Wright sat ramrod straight, controlling his breathing. Next to him Davis was on his feet, dancing with ridiculous energy. Further down the line, Padraig beside me had his arms folded and his eyes closed.
Ah. Is he actually asleep?
I blinked a couple of times, realized it, and shook Padraig’s shoulder.
“Padraig. Don’t sleep before the match.”
“Mm. Yujin.”
“Stay awake.”
“Must be because you’re young. The baby of the team’s pretty sharp.”
“You’re young too, Padraig.”
“Older than you.”
Padraig was twenty-four right now.
Thinking about that made me feel genuinely small.
Well, I am young. Technically.
The fact that I’d come back from the future still felt fresh. I sat there turning over all the changes that had followed my return, and before I knew it match time had arrived.
“To Simon’s retirement ceremony!”
“To Simon!”
“…I’m actually retiring, you know?”
“Obviously we’re joking.”
After the usual playful ribbing aimed at Simon—who muttered about retiring every single day—we headed for the tunnel.
The opposing players came into view; Shin Gihyeon was among them.
It was our first meeting, so I settled for a brief nod and kept walking.
As the pitch drew closer the roar of the crowd swelled.
“Arsenal!”
“….”
Yet somehow those three syllables—Arsenal—rang louder in my ears than anything else.
Weird. Our fans’ voices always seem to cut through clearer.
Proof, maybe, that I was falling deeper for this club by the day.
Let’s go.
Something in my chest settled a little more maturely.
Matchday 31 was a big one for Arsenal.
Truthfully, none of them were small.
To finish first, Arsenal had to win every single game.
In theory, if they kept winning all the way to Matchday 38 they could still take the title. Draws were not allowed either, which made the whole thing nearly impossible.
Yet the current Arsenal side seemed determined to turn theory into practice. Their winning streak rolled on, and that momentum showed no sign of dying even at Molineux.
Arsenal lined up in a 3-4-2-1 and immediately pressed high, winning the ball back.
Simon steals it! Perfect timing on the press! Straight out to the flank! Padraig’s off and running!
The second Simon won possession he threaded a through-ball into the space he’d already spotted, where Padraig was bursting forward.
Padraig wasn’t slow. The moment he took the ball—
Whoosh!
—Shin Gihyeon exploded in from the side and produced a perfectly clean sliding tackle that took only the ball.
Shin Gihyeon’s clean tackle!! Where did this guy come from!! He’s going to have to cover both attack and defense all day with this tactical setup and he’s already looking massive!!
Arsenal took the throw-in and immediately pressed again at high speed.
Hong Seoin received the ball, used his arms and long legs to shield it against two men, then laid it off to Baek Yujin who was offering support.
Wolverhampton were no pushovers, though.
Thwack!
“…Huh?”
The center-back timed his jump perfectly and cleared the ball before Yujin could even take it.
Callias with the perfect cut-out!! He deals with it before Baek Yujin can receive!! Ball flying toward Shin Gihyeon!!
Shin Gihyeon’s driving forward! He’s quick!! So quick!! Padraig lost him!
Wright covering immediately!! Before he can close, Shin Gihyeon shooooots!!
The moment Shin Gihyeon shaped to shoot, Wright bought it completely and stuck a leg out.
Ahhh! He cuts inside!! He cut!! A boy who once idolized someone just nutmegged one of the world’s best center-backs!!
The cut that looked exactly like a shot left Wright off-balance, and Shin Gihyeon found himself one-on-one with Adrian.
Perfect one-on-one chance!! Waaaaah!! Adrian’s punch!! Looks like a god’s possessing him again today!!
??? : (cut clip) Like this
Arsenal’s first real scare of the night sent the Wolverhampton fans’ volume soaring.
“Wolverhampton!!”
“Score!!”
The momentum has completely shifted!! Arsenal’s next attack will probably decide the entire first-half flow!!
Wolves’ corner sailed out of play and Arsenal were awarded a goal kick.
They worked it patiently back to Wright and began the build-up.
Arsenal continuing the build-up. They’ll be careful. The first half isn’t over, but they’ve lost a bit of their earlier swagger.
Wright, back on the ball, launched a long diagonal toward Davis on the left flank.
The clean, no-nonsense pass stirred the crowd; the next pass found a midfielder and then headed straight for Baek Yujin.
Baek Yujin receives and turns in one motion!! Links with Simon. Hong Seoin switches it the other way!!
The tempo suddenly exploded.
Wolverhampton couldn’t keep up; Arsenal’s players were dragging them all over the pitch.
Uh… uh?
Among them, the young midfielder Hern—still green at this level—looked especially lost.
Back into the middle!! Just like that earlier spell never happened, they’ve seized the momentum again!!
Hong Seoin to Baek Yujin! Hern closes!! Full sprint into the tackle!!!
Hern, with no idea what else to do, charged the moment his man-marking target Baek Yujin received the ball and threw his body in.
The result: Yujin went flying without even being able to use his strength.
That’s a foul!! Baek Yujin, are you okay?
Is he badly hurt? Please let him be all right.
The whistle had barely blown when Yujin stayed down for a long moment. Arsenal players immediately swarmed the referee and the Wolves players.
Whoa! Arsenal players charging over to protest!!
They look furious that Baek Yujin took such a rough challenge!!
While the players are being held back, Baek Yujin gets up! Ah, he’s spreading both arms and smiling—looks like he’s fine!
Hern should apologize at least once!
Yujin calmed his teammates down and it looked like the whole thing was about to settle—
until he walked straight up to Hern and locked him in a headlock.
Baek Yujin puts Hern in a headlock! Hern completely helpless!!
Whoa! Hern freed from the headlock is shrinking back like he’s terrified!
What on earth was said? We need the post-match interview for this! We want to know too!