PSG is briefed on the number 1 danger for their match at Arsenal this Tuesday evening. The referees too.
Drop of sweat down the necks of PSG supporters at every corner, this Tuesday evening at the Emirates? In recent weeks, Arsenal’s effectiveness in set-piece exercises has been highlighted. Recently, this has paid off in big matches played by the Gunners, and the London club has an incredible recipe which allows it to score 23% of its goals from this type of set situations. Much more than the big European clubs, which oscillate between 10 and 15%, especially with penalties. But on a corner or free kick, the tactics put in place work, even if it may not last. The last goals scored by Arsenal are singled out, because a player is responsible for “blocking” the goalkeeper to prevent him from intervening, which allows Bukayo Saka to send the ball into the 6 meters without blinking.
Football is not basketball
In the Premier League, VAR has not really intervened against this type of “block” inspired by basketball, but it will not be the same music in Europe. According to L’Equipe, the referees have been briefed for several years on this problem, and if it is difficult to see these faults at real speed in the scrum of the players, the VAR will not hesitate to intervene and cancel a possible goal if never Gianluigi Donnarumma was blocked in his run or his momentum by a player who simply does not play the ball at all. A regulation obviously also valid in England, but not always applied.
It is better for PSG not to count on a possible intervention from video refereeing and to be able to defend better on set pieces than last season in the Champions League, where Dortmund enjoyed themselves, for example. A mission for Gianluigi Donnarumma, who despite his large size remains very uncomfortable on aerial balls in these phases of the game. But PSG risks needing their goalkeeper to take his full stature for this meeting, under penalty of to be the next victim of the Gunners’ magical corners.
