Arsenal’s rise to prominence in the Premier League has been fueled by a number of factors, but perhaps none has been more influential than the improvement in their pressing game....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
This style of play, which involves the aggressive pursuit of the ball by multiple players, has been a key aspect of their success and has helped to transform the team into a formidable opponent. In this article, we will take a closer look at the ways in which Arsenal have improved their pressing game and how they have basically become a pressing machine.
The arrival of Gabriel Jesus at the club was a major catalyst for this change. Arteta brought in the talented forward not only to provide a greater goal-scoring threat, but also to serve as a link to the midfield runners and to provide an improved counter-pressing center-forward. The impact of this acquisition is evident in the team’s performance in terms of the intensity of their press.
The metric of PPDA (passes per defensive action) measures the number of passes allowed by the opposing team before a defensive action is taken. In the 2021/22 season, Arsenal ranked 13th in this metric, indicating that they were in the lower mid-table for the intensity of their press. However, in the current 2022/23 season, they have moved to the top of the rankings, demonstrating the significant improvement in this aspect of their game.
The improved pressing style has had a profound effect on the team’s overall performance. It has not only made them more defensively solid, but it has also allowed them to score more goals through high turnovers from their pressing game. Jesus, in particular, has been a standout performer in this aspect of the game, especially before his injury.
He presses back towards his own goal with aggression and intensity, using his positioning and physicality to recover the ball. He is able to get his body between his opponent and the ball, which not only delays the attack and allows his teammates to recover, but also often forces his opponent into a crowded area where a midfielder can regain possession before play progresses past the halfway line.
In higher pressing situations, Jesus is equally effective. He positions himself strategically and curves his run to cut off any switch between the center-backs. He then picks the right moment to move out and press the center-back in possession, pushing them towards the touchline, and screening passes to the closest pivot player.
This allows one of Arsenal’s central midfielders to move into a half-and-half position between two opponents, which has been crucial in stopping opponents from playing out successfully. This style of play has become a hallmark of Arsenal’s game, helping to disrupt the opposing team’s rhythm and create opportunities for their own attacking play.
The Gunnars’ improvement in their pressing game has been a critical factor in their rise to prominence in the Premier League.
The arrival of Gabriel Jesus and the coaching of Arteta have played a significant role in this transformation, helping the team to become a pressing machine that is capable of disrupting opponents and creating opportunities for their own attacking play.
The results speak for themselves, and it is clear that the improvement in their pressing style has been a key aspect of their success.
