On the training ground, Arsenal's players were in the middle of a practice match.
From the overall flow of the game, both attack and defense looked extremely smooth. However, upon closer observation, it was not difficult to notice a slight disconnect in Arsenal's attacking play.
The problem came from sudden tempo changes.
More specifically, it came from the cooperation between Wilshere and Aubameyang.
The two had already developed some understanding. They could recognize each other's movements and intentions, but their playing styles were still too different.
Wilshere preferred controlling the rhythm, slowing the game down, and gradually building attacks.
Aubameyang, on the other hand, relied on explosive movement, quick transitions, and attacking open space.
The two could work together, but they were still far from being perfectly integrated.
Of course, if someone ignored those small details, Arsenal's overall performance was still impressive.
Kai and Pat Rice stood on the sidelines, watching the practice match.
Kai crossed his arms and said, "This is probably their current limit. They've already developed some basic coordination and even some signals between them, but that's as far as they can go for now. To truly blend, they need more time."
Pat Rice nodded.
"I never expected them to immediately replace what you provide. I just need them to contribute enough and take over some responsibility when opponents completely restrict you."
Kai nodded.
After a moment of silence, Pat Rice suddenly sighed.
"It would be much easier if Cazorla were still here."
Hearing this, Kai could only smile helplessly.
If Cazorla were still at Arsenal, the combination between him and Le Kai would have been enough to completely change the team's situation.
Even while Kai was still developing his core abilities, their partnership could have maintained Arsenal's stability.
They would not have been forced into so many difficult battles where every match felt like a narrow fight.
But this was also the situation most Premier League teams faced.
Last season, Arsenal's smooth performances came from two factors.
One was their improvement in strength. The other was that many opponents still lacked enough understanding of this new Arsenal team.
However, after the beginning of this season, Arsenal suffered setbacks one after another. Their poor start exposed many weaknesses, causing their form to fluctuate.
Pat Rice wanted to solve these problems more than anyone else.
But he also understood his own limitations. As an interim coach, he did not have the tactical experience of a world-class manager.
Yet, at this moment, there was no one more suitable for Arsenal than him.
The players trusted him.
He had worked at Arsenal for many years as Wenger's assistant, and with Le Kai supporting him as captain, his authority in the dressing room was unquestioned.
Replacing him with a completely new head coach would bring enormous risks.
There were only two possible outcomes. Either the new manager would immediately control the situation, guide Arsenal back to their peak, and continue their success.
Or the conflict between the players and the manager would erupt, causing Arsenal's internal structure to collapse.
The second possibility was far more dangerous.
Under these circumstances, Pat Rice was undoubtedly the safest choice.
"Next match, we're playing Astana."
The Kazakhstan side was making its first appearance in the Champions League group stage, which was already a historic achievement for them.
Many people considered them the weakest team in Group C.
But Arsenal could not afford to underestimate anyone.
Their current form was still unstable.
More importantly, the methods to deal with Arsenal had already spread throughout European football.
Every team now understood that if Le Kai was successfully restricted, Arsenal's attacking system would become much less threatening.
Astana would certainly target this weakness.
Pat Rice looked at Le Kai.
"Can you break through their restrictions in the next match?"
Le Kai thought carefully before shaking his head.
"I don't know. I can't promise that."
He paused.
"But I'll do everything I can."
Improvement was never something that happened overnight.
Through consecutive matches, Le Kai had experienced both the rewards of his training and the pressure of facing the highest level of defensive attention.
Now, his biggest challenge was figuring out how to escape those restrictions.
Naturally, he felt some frustration.
He had only just started showing improvement when opponents immediately changed their approach to stop him.
But that was understandable. No club in the world wanted to see Arsenal return to their dominant form from last season.
So their analysis of Arsenal became faster, and their defensive plans against Le Kai became more detailed.
As a defensive midfielder, Le Kai was still comfortable.
But when he moved higher up the pitch as an attacking midfielder, opponents immediately surrounded him.
However, when he dropped deeper, his attacking influence was reduced.
It was a difficult balance.
And it also exposed one of his biggest technical limitations.
"I wish I could play like Cazorla."
Le Kai shook his head. He admired players who could control matches through technique and creativity. He wanted to be the kind of player who could glide past opponents with elegant movements.
But his physical qualities determined his style.
There were many things Cazorla could do naturally that Le Kai simply could not replicate.
If Kai possessed Cazorla's technical ability while maintaining his own physical attributes, he would truly become the complete midfielder Wenger once imagined.
The reality was that Le Kai was Arsenal's captain and one of their most important players.
With Arsenal struggling, it was natural for him to feel responsible.
After all, if he were truly a player without weaknesses, would Arsenal still be facing these problems?
"Don't trap yourself with those thoughts."
Pat Rice placed a hand on Kai's shoulder.
"Everyone is different. Cazorla has his own style, and you have yours."
"The perfect core player is just an ideal. In reality, every midfielder has weaknesses."
He smiled.
"Look at players like Yaya Toure and Modric. Both are considered complete midfielders, but are they the same type of player?"
Pat Rice continued.
"So don't try to become someone else. Some things cannot be changed through endless training. Instead, you need to learn how to hide your weaknesses and find solutions."
Le Kai scratched his head.
"I still don't completely understand."
Pat Rice shrugged.
"You will eventually."
"Play more matches. Gain more experience. The person who understands yourself best is always you."
"I can give you advice, but I cannot solve every problem for you."
Le Kai nodded thoughtfully.
Pat Rice smiled, clapped his hands, and called the players together.
"Lads, meet at the training ground tomorrow at 10 AM. We're heading to Kazakhstan."
The players immediately became serious.
They knew exactly what this meant.
A Champions League match was coming.
As the defending champions, Arsenal could not afford another disappointing performance in Europe.
The good news was that their first opponent was not considered one of the strongest teams in the group.
Perhaps this match could help them recover their rhythm.
. . .
The following day, Arsenal flew to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
For Astana Football Club, this was a historic moment. It was their first time reaching the Champions League group stage.
When they successfully passed through the qualifiers, the entire country celebrated. Kazakhstan had never experienced a club reaching this level of European competition before.
For many local fans, this was their first chance to witness world-class players on their own pitch.
Astana Arena could hold around 30,000 spectators.
Normally, due to the limited football market in Kazakhstan, only a few thousand fans attended matches, and many sections of the stadium remained closed.
But this time was different.
Every stand was opened.
Every ticket was sold.
The reason was simple.
Arsenal had arrived. The defending Champions League winners. A Premier League giant with players like Suarez, Kai, and Aubameyang. For Kazakh fans, this was an opportunity they could not miss.
Even those who did not regularly follow football wanted to witness the arrival of one of Europe's strongest teams.
The Astana players felt the same excitement.
Facing Arsenal naturally brought pressure.
But deeper than that pressure was anticipation.
For them, this was the highest point of their careers so far.
Their first Champions League group-stage match.
And their opponent was the mighty Arsenal.
. . .
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