Luis Enrique might have one or two tricks up his sleeve when Paris Saint-Germain take on Arsenal in the Champions League final.
The adage of the immovable object meets the unstoppable force springs to mind when the two collide in Budapest on Saturday. Arsenal’s disciplined pragmatism had paid off and for the first time in 22 years they are Premier League champions with their often unbreachable defence and dead ball wizardry the foundations of their success.
PSG remain the most exhilarating side to watch in Europe, leaving us all spellbound again in their semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich. After that breathless 5-4 thriller where Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue delighted purists everywhere, it was the work of Willian Pacho and Marquinhos at the back that got them over the line in the second-leg.
Dembele’s early goal in Munich that night extended PSG’s aggregate lead and was ultimately enough to see them safely on their way to the Puskas Arena this weekend but it was performances all across the pitch that got them there.
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Enrique has preached the importance of tactical evolution throughout his time in the French capital. In recent seasons, there has been a trend of PSG starting games by immediately launching the ball into touch deep in the final third from kick-off. It allows them to push up and press the life out of the opposition with the goal of wearing them out from minute one.
It’s been a clear pattern this season – PSG have sent the ball straight out of play 28 times in Ligue 1 and 15 times in the Champions League.
In the second-leg against Bayern there was another tweak. Matvey Safonov sent seven of his 11 goal kicks straight out of play that evening. But there was no hand raised in apology from the goalkeeper, no frustration from Enrique and his staff on the touchline or any stern words from his teammates on the pitch. It appeared to be a tactic designed for the night.
His pass accuracy that night stood at 29 per cent having completed just 10 of 35. In comparison, Manuel Neuer had a pass completion rate of 74 per cent, unsuccessful in just 11 of his 42 attempts.
Kicking the ball into touch allowed PSG players to close down the space from the resulting throw-in with the press beginning right in front of the touchline, denying Bayern space to quickly move the ball back up the field.
It also removed the threat of losing headers from goal kicks and potentially being caught out of position. The tactic ensured every member if Enrique’s team was right where he wanted them to be.
Can PSG can shackle Saka like they did with Olise?
The ploy limited the impact of Michael Olise. The former Crystal Palace star takes up his position on the right of Bayern’s attack, doing damage in that wild first leg in Paris.
The second time around, the goal kick routine ensured his side of the pitch was locked down and swarming with PSG shirts. Olise could not find the space he thrives in on the counter-attack and was forced into congested midfield areas – exactly what PSG would have preferred him to be.
‘What is important, is that all the supporters want to see PSG win,’ Enrique said after the game, not in the mood to discuss trade secrets. ‘They do not want to know how you play. They like the manner in which we play and, after each match, we talk about the details. But I have no intention of giving information to the opponent.’
Logic would suggest PSG can use the exact same tactic to thwart Bukayo Saka. After missing five games with a troublesome Achilles injury, the England international looked fresher and back to his usual dangerous self in the box with two crucial goals and two assists since returning to the team.
While they will be unable to stop the goal kick routine if Enrique does indeed deploy it again, Arsenal will feel they are equipped to better handle the PSG press than most. Myles Lewis-Skelly has forced his way into Arteta’s thinking at the crucial juncture of the season, starting key games in midfield against Fulham and Burnley ahead of Martin Zubimendi and in the second-leg victory over Atletico Madrid.
His introduction in midfield has paid off and his press resistance is among the best in the Arsenal squad. Against Atletico, his metrics underlined that, completing 79 per cent of his passes and completing 100 per cent of his dribbles.
While he has replaced the Spaniard in the team as of late, Zubimendi’s ability to beat the press could also be vital. The Spain international started every one of Arsenal’s 34 Premier League matches before being dropped for the game against Fulham at the beginning of May with the draining season taking its toll. The former Real Sociedad star started at right-back in the dead rubber against Crystal Palace on Sunday and insisted this week he has ‘returned to normal’.
Arsenal can punish Safonov in goal
While the PSG goalkeeper could have a central role to play, Arsenal will have their own plans for Safonov. Arsenal’s set-piece strength has been the most discussed story of the season – why change the habit now? 25 set piece goals, 19 from corners, were both new Premier League records and the PSG shot stopper has shown he can be vulnerable on crosses and corners.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack believes the Russian is the clear weak link in an otherwise fearsome PSG side, urging Arsenal to put him under pressure as they have done so effectively with other goalkeepers this season.
‘There were moments over the two-legs against Bayern where he showed signs of vulnerability, certainly when balls were coming in the box,’ Stack told Metro.
I think he has got a mistake in him. From what I’ve seen, I think he’s one of the weakest links in that group. If I was Arsenal, I would be putting him under severe pressure, certainly from set plays, which Arsenal are very, very good at.
‘So balls in the box, when he’s put under pressure, from what I’ve seen, he looks very, very vulnerable.
‘Physically, he doesn’t have a great presence either. When I look at him, he looks quite slim, and a bit lanky, and a bit feeble. And it doesn’t look like he’s got a great presence in the goal.
‘So I would definitely try and isolate him and put him under pressure from set plays, and get the ball in the box as much as possible.’