The soft lights around Wembley Stadium spilled onto every blade of grass, creating a magnificent stage as the players from both teams ran out under the glow.
Nearly 90,000 fans roared in unison — the second half was about to kick off!
Adam and Matt stood by the touchline, waiting for their cue. One stood at a towering 198 cm, while the other, although having grown to 170 cm, still looked diminutive in comparison.
Both had their weaknesses, but their strengths were just as striking.
That's exactly why Ethan had chosen them as regular substitutes — players with unique qualities could often change the course of a match more effectively than those with average all-around skills.
Just like now: Ethan wanted to add more individual flair to the attack, so he was sending Adam on. And to bolster their aerial presence, Matt was being brought in as well.
Seizing the minute before play resumed, Ethan pulled Matt close, speaking urgently over the crowd noise.
"Arsenal's going to whip in a lot of crosses this half. I need you to dominate the air in our box on defense — and when we're attacking, get into their penalty area and contest every ball! Just like you did against Manchester City! Got it, Matt?"
Matt bent awkwardly to better hear his shorter coach. When Ethan finished, he straightened and nodded sharply.
"Got it, boss!"
Ethan patted him hard on the back.
"Stay focused!! Concentration, Matt, every second you're out there!!"
By now, the fourth official was already raising the substitution board.
"Before the second half begins, Luton Town are making a double change! Number 11, Adam White, coming on for number 7, Lewis Emanuel! And number 19, Matt Schmidt, replacing number 32, Hassan Ali!"
Emanuel and Ali were already seated on the bench, so as the numbers flashed up, Adam and Matt quickly got the referee's signal and sprinted onto the pitch.
On the Arsenal bench, Arsène Wenger remained seated, calm and composed. He had anticipated Luton's changes even before halftime.
A tall striker up front? Extra physicality in the box?
Wenger allowed himself a faint smile. The impulsiveness of youth...
If Luton pushed too high, their shape would stretch, and Arsenal's lightning-quick forwards could feast on the space behind.
The result, as far as Wenger was concerned, was only a matter of time.
He looked over at Ethan, a twinge of regret in his heart.
He genuinely admired the refreshing tactical system Ethan had crafted at Luton: a compact, cohesive unit that attacked and defended as a team, pressing as one and overwhelming opponents in key areas through sheer numbers and coordination.
If the gap in player quality weren't so wide, Arsenal would have struggled mightily against such a well-drilled side.
But it's a shame… Wenger thought.
I need that FA Cup final ticket — no matter what.
Arsenal hadn't lifted a major trophy in four years. If they failed again this season, the pressure on Wenger would reach a boiling point.
This year — against Luton — was his best chance.
His eyes steeled with determination.
As the second half kicked off, things unfolded just as Wenger had expected.
Luton immediately pressed forward, seeking a breakthrough.
But rather than lumping hopeful long balls forward, they stayed true to their identity: quick passing combinations to work the ball upfield, pulling defenders out of position and creating openings.
Danny Drinkwater and Jamie Vardy linked up sharply, progressing the ball into the final third.
Drinkwater then slid a perfectly weighted pass to Adam White on the wing.
This was exactly what Luton had planned: set up Adam for a one-on-one!
Now, Adam faced Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboué in a direct duel.
Adam slowed the ball, shifting it to his favored foot, sizing up his man.
Ethan, standing on the sideline, clenched his fists.
He had meticulously built Adam's game — developing his footwork, his acceleration, his one-on-one ability — believing that when the moment came, Adam could beat any fullback in the league.
Adam feinted sharply, sending Eboué momentarily off balance, then exploded past him with a sudden outside cut!
Eboué, realizing he was beaten, panicked — and reached out, clattering into Adam to prevent him from reaching the box.
Beep!
The referee's whistle shrilled through the stadium.
Foul!
Ethan rushed to the edge of his technical area, ready to protest for a card — but before he could shout, the referee had already pulled out a yellow.
Seeing this, Ethan clapped loudly and gave a vigorous thumbs-up to the referee, earning a few chuckles from the nearby fans.
Now it was Wenger's turn to show his frustration. He rushed to the edge of the technical area, arms spread wide.
"How is that not a yellow card?!" Wenger shouted at the fourth official.
"It is a yellow card! How could it not be?!"
Ethan snapped back immediately from the Luton technical area.
"Mind your own business, kid!" Wenger retorted.
"Hey, hey!"
The two managers were now inches apart, the tension palpable. It looked like they might clash physically if not stopped.
The fourth official sprinted over and quickly wedged himself between them.
"Stay in your technical areas, gentlemen!" he warned sternly.
Both managers, still fuming, finally backed away.
Wenger turned his focus back to the match.
Should they push for individual breakthroughs to open up Luton's defense?
But there was a bigger worry: if Eboué was isolated again and Adam forced another foul out of him, it could easily lead to a second yellow card — and Arsenal would be down to ten men.
"Alex! Help Eboué out!" Wenger barked at Alex Song.
Song understood immediately. Luton had just brought on a fast, aggressive winger to overload the right flank, and Eboué was struggling in one-on-one situations. Song needed to drift wider to provide cover.
Meanwhile, Adam had already made an impact, winning a free kick on the left-hand side near Arsenal's penalty area.
The two Luton centre-backs jogged up for the set piece.
Vardy and Matt Schmidt were also positioned inside the box, ready to attack the delivery.
Kevin Keane stood over the ball.
He whipped in a dangerous cross — the trajectory was perfect!
Matt Schmidt climbed highest!
Arsenal's lack of height at centre-back was brutally exposed. Matt Schmidt easily outjumped both Kolo Touré and Silvestre, who simply couldn't compete in the air.
Schmidt's header flashed just over the crossbar — close enough to draw gasps from both sets of supporters.
The Arsenal fans sighed in relief after their scare, while the Luton fans erupted, sensing their team was getting closer to an equalizer.
Wenger's heart skipped a beat.
He knew better than anyone how vulnerable they were at set pieces, especially with an injury-hit backline.
With no other options, Wenger had been forced to pair Kolo Touré — naturally a right-back and not particularly tall — with Mikaël Silvestre, who was clearly past his physical prime.
If Arsenal didn't find a second goal soon, the match could slip away.
The scare seemed to wake Arsenal up.
They immediately ramped up their tempo, launching a series of quick, direct attacks.
But Wenger noticed something unusual:
Luton's big striker, Matt Schmidt, had dropped deep — back into his own penalty area — to defend!
A centre-forward playing as an auxiliary centre-back?
When Schmidt leapt high to head an Arshavin cross clear — sending the ball out for a throw-in — Wenger grimaced from the sidelines.
His face twisted in frustration.