Fans are shocked by the new freekick tactics by Arsenal which they used against PSG and also yielded a goal from it.
Arsenal took on PSG in one of the most watched tie in matchday 2 of UCL league phase. The Gunners hoping to secure their first win at home against the French champions who are on a perfect run so far this season. And they did. Arsenal bagged maximum points with a comfortable victory thanks to their brilliant defence. There is one more person they have to be thankful to. That is Nicolas Jover, their set piece coach who formulated a new freekick tactic which helped them score a goal in this match. And it will be something that future opponents of the Arsenal have to critically look into.
ARSENAL VS PSG MATCH REVIEW
Arsenal bagged all three points against French champions PSG in a crunch match at the Emirates on Tuesday. After drawing their first match against Italian oppositions Atalanta it was mandatory for Arteta’s side to pick up a home victory. Considering the form Arsenal were on it was almost sure that they had the bet on their side.
The Gunners were brimming with confidence from the start and also had a fruitful start when Kai Havertz scored the opener in the 20th minute. The German international met with a beautiful cross from Leandro Trossard and put it past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Parisian goal. Like every Luis Enrique side PSG had the majority of the ball but it yielded nothing in the final third. Just after 15 minutes from opening the scoring Arsenal were presented with a freekick from the right end. It was great opportunity for the home side to build and lead which they did. The freekick taken by Bukayo Saka somehow crept past Donnarumma to back of the net making it 2-0 for the home side.
PSG were on a hot streak this season with a perfect run over all competitions. However, they had to struggle for a win against Girona on matchday 1. The Parisians boasted a challenge for an Odegaard less Arsenal but they couped with it successfully thanks to their brilliant defensive line. Gabriel and Saliba along with the others were brilliant denying PSG many opportunities in the final third. The visitors had struck the post twice during the match but couldn’t find the back of the net. The victory took Arsenal to the top eight of the 32-member table of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
THE FREEKICK TACTICS
Arsenal have one of the best set piece tactics in the world right now. Since then, set pieces had been one of the strong points of the Arsenal team. Arsenal had been the best set piece team in the Premier League since Nicolas Jover joined the team in 2021. According to sportstar.com Arsenal have scored around 45 goals in that period. And last season they scored 16 set piece goals which is joint top in the history of the league.
The Bullish tactics where they get into the positions before the kick is taken. The tactics in which they get all over the goalkeeper which they used to score against Man City and Tottenham. This time against PSG they used a different one and we also saw some glimpses during the Leicester match also. All the players started deep from the far post and ran towards different positions just before the kick is taken.
Against PSG they scored the second goal by using this trick. The kick was taken by Bukayo Saka from the right end of the pitch by the throw line parallel to the base line of the penalty box. Anyway the Arsenal players crowded up at the far post. The players ran forward just before the kick was taken confusing the PSG defence. Saka took the kick curling towards the center of the goal post going through some of the Arsenal and PSG players before ending up in the back of the net.
Reacting to the free kick on social media platform X, one fan wrote: “Saka’s set piece quality has been unreal.”
Another agreed: “That is an unreal delivery from Saka. You could see Gabriel telling him to go flat. Another set-piece goal, and I love it.”
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