Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 180

Midway through the 2022/23 season, as the team’s performance nosedived, Arsenal’s management finally decided to dismiss manager Mikel Arteta, who had previously enjoyed their unwavering support.

After a prolonged search that extended to the end of the season under an interim manager, they appointed Eddie Howe as the new manager. Howe had also been dismissed from Newcastle in the 2022/23 season due to poor performance.

Critics and fans alike were baffled by the decision to replace a manager sacked for poor performance with another who had suffered the same fate. However, Arsenal’s managing director, Vinai Venkatesham, and technical director, Edu Gaspar, had their own compelling reasons.

Ultimately, it seemed reasonable to give a chance to a young British manager who had guided Bournemouth from League Two [the fourth tier of English football] to the Premier League and was known for developing young talent.

Moreover, he was currently unemployed, eliminating the need to pay compensation to another club.

Thus, he was selected as the new manager because the perceived benefits outweighed the risks. However, he failed to bring about any significant improvement in performance, even into the 2023/24 season.

After 11 Premier League matches, they had only managed 2 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses, accumulating a mere 9 points.

Languishing in a shocking 17th place in the standings, Eddie Howe’s position was naturally considered precarious.

Of course, Hyungmin also faced a similar situation at the beginning of the season.

However, the situation was evolving rapidly for Burnley, who, after losing their first 5 games, had won their most recent match against Manchester United and embarked on a 6-game winning streak in the Premier League.

People tend to remember only recent successes.

In this context, Arsenal and Burnley, both experiencing contrasting trajectories, faced each other in the 12th round of the Premier League.

***

“As I’ve said repeatedly, Arsenal has primarily been using a 4-4-2 formation recently.”

Before the match began.

Amidst the subdued roar of the fans filling Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, which could be heard through the thick walls, Burnley’s players, gathered in the away team’s locker room, focused intently on the manager’s voice in front of the tactical board.

“Recently, Bukayo Saka’s form has been poor, so the mainstays of the attack will likely be Amine Gouiri and Gabriel Jesus as a two-striker partnership.”

Amine Gouiri, formerly the star player for OGC Nice, transferred to Arsenal in the summer transfer window for a fee of £43.5 million.

Burnley’s players, recalling the opponent who had displayed outstanding skills in the Europa League last season, nodded in acknowledgment.

“The wingers are Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson, but they frequently switch positions, making it difficult to predict their location. The fullbacks should be careful not to be drawn out of position by their movements.”

Left fullback Luca Pellegrini and right fullback Gu-ga nodded simultaneously.

“The midfield consists of Martin Ødegaard and Thomas Partey. Ødegaard pushes forward, while Partey drops back, effectively transforming the midfield into a diamond shape.”

The previously displayed 4-4-2 formation shifted into a 4-1-2-1-2 formation.

“In addition, the center backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães are both excellent in passing and defending, and they are aggressive in moving forward. Kieran Tierney, who will play as the left fullback, also tends to push forward frequently. Therefore, Ben White, who will play as the right fullback, will be required to play a relatively defensive role.”

Arsenal’s formation was skewed to the left, with a greater emphasis on attacking down that side.

“So, we just need to exploit the space behind them. Easy, right?”

Burnley’s right back, Gu-ga, who would be attacking Arsenal’s left flank, smiled broadly and held out his palm. Emmanuel Vignato, the right winger sitting next to him, grinned and slapped his hand.

“Now, remember that Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, is also quite good at distributing the ball, so he can always exploit our space with long passes.”

As center backs Anel Ahmedhodžić and Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty nodded, Nicolas Seiwald casually put his arm around his teammate’s shoulder.

“They’ll have to get past us first, though. Right, Patrick?”

“Right.”

Burnley’s midfield duo, a seemingly impenetrable force.

That was the assessment of Patrick de Paula, who, along with Nicolas Seiwald, had contributed to dominating the opposing team’s midfield in the last 9 games, resulting in 8 wins and 1 draw.

Even that one draw was in the Champions League against Club Brugge, where Hyungmin rested both Nicolas Seiwald and Patrick de Paula, opting to use mainly rotation players.

Burnley had won every game in which the two had played together.

The duo, who had recently stifled Manchester United’s midfield trio of Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, and Casemiro, grinned confidently.

In the friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere, Hyungmin forced a smile.

This feels like a death flag is constantly being raised…

Will it be okay?

***

“Hahaha!!”

“Nice!”

“Great goal!!”

3 minutes into the first half.

Patrick de Paula proudly raised both arms towards the sky in front of the penalty circle.

As Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, looking dejected, retrieved the ball from the net, Burnley’s players flocked around their teammate who had scored his first Premier League goal.

He had already scored his first goal for Burnley against AS Roma, but scoring his first goal in the Premier League still held special significance.

The game had just started, and the teams were still feeling each other out.

Benjamin Šeško, who had penetrated into the opponent’s penalty box, couldn’t find an angle to shoot, so he unhesitatingly passed Dwight McNeil’s cross, which was flying towards him, backwards.

Patrick de Paula received it, having looked for an opportunity to join the attack from outside the penalty box.

The Brazilian midfielder, receiving the ball slightly beyond the edge of the penalty box, saw an open path to the goal and shot.

If it went in, great, and even if it didn’t, it would serve as a warning that the opposing team’s defense shouldn’t be neglecting the space outside the penalty box.

However, even he, who had taken the shot, didn’t expect it to go straight into the net.

“Yes, that’s exactly it!”

Captain and midfield partner Nicolas Seiwald shouted with the brightest smile.

As Patrick de Paula smiled broadly amidst the congratulations of his teammates and looked towards the bench, the manager, looking relieved, waved and congratulated him.

After that, Arsenal’s game continued to unravel.

This time, in the 8th minute of the first half.

In a routine situation, a routine offensive play was in progress when the ball went out of play over the goal line due to a routine defensive action.

Burnley’s corner kick.

Benjamin Šeško, Anel Ahmedhodžić, Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty, and even the midfielders, all of Burnley’s players crowded into the penalty box, and Dwight McNeil, who was in charge of the corner kick, calmly approached the ball placed under the corner flag.

Since his debut, he has consistently been ranked in the top 10 in the Premier League for the number and accuracy of his crosses.

Since Hyungmin took over as manager, the number of penetrations into the penalty box through short and concise passing plays has also increased, but Dwight McNeil’s crosses from the left are still one of Burnley’s primary attacking options.

Recently, Jamal Lewis has been emerging as a goal scorer, intensifying the competition, but Dwight McNeil didn’t mind as long as his teammate’s performance contributed to the team’s success.

Many thoughts, both long and short, raced through his mind, and Dwight McNeil swung his left foot powerfully, striking the bottom of the ball.

“It’s coming!”

“Block it!”

“Don’t lose your marker!”

As Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and defenders shouted, the ball, flying low and fast towards the center of the penalty box, suddenly began to curve sharply towards the goal with a strong spin.

“Cut it off!!”

Arsenal’s center backs and goalkeeper jumped into the air simultaneously.

If the ball continued on that trajectory and speed, it would head straight into the goal without anyone touching it, and if someone accidentally touched it, it would almost certainly result in a goal.

Under the goalkeeper’s instructions, who judged that it was better to intercept the ball than to wait for it to arrive, the players guarding both sides of Arsenal’s goal leaped up with the goalkeeper, but unfortunately, there was already a player positioned to meet the ball.

“Hmph!”

With a sharp intake of breath, Burnley’s center back Anel Ahmedhodžić jumped into the air ahead of Arsenal’s players.

The Bosnian-Swedish defender, who had effectively become a mainstay in Burnley’s starting lineup since the middle of last season and anchored Burnley’s defense alongside captain James Tarkowski.

Born and raised in Sweden, but also holding Bosnian citizenship due to his parents who immigrated from Bosnia, the young defender is contemplating whether to wait for a call-up from the Swedish national team, known for its solid defense, or to accept the invitation from his parents’ homeland, Bosnia, which is eagerly seeking his commitment.

Slightly lacking in pace, but possessing excellent positioning, defensive awareness, and passing skills, Anel Ahmedhodžić is trusted by his teammates due to his calm and composed demeanor.

As if to momentarily set aside his many considerations, the mainstay of Burnley’s defense accurately directed his forehead towards the incoming ball, altering its trajectory.

“Uh oh?!”

As Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and center back duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães floundered in the air, the accurately directed ball nestled itself into the upper left corner of Arsenal’s goal.

“Uwaaa!!!”

As the crimson crowd filling one side of the Emirates Stadium erupted in cheers, Anel Ahmedhodžić clenched his fist towards the sky.

Should I just commit to the Bosnian national team?

Having scored 2 goals against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in just 8 minutes of the first half, Burnley’s players, brimming with confidence, gathered together and celebrated, surrounding the towering defender.