Why PSG Struggled To Break Down Arsenal's Low Block

Anybody would've struggled, Arsenal packed the universe not just the bus

Im a Barca fan and PSG deserved to win but i think that Arteta and ARS did the most reasonable thing in this final. ARS are considered to be the weaker side, their attack is shit, they're slower but they got a gift from Marquinhos in the first goal; of course they are gonna park the bus to play to their defensive strength. If it was you, i dont think you would push the line forward and then get hit in the transition by Dembele or Khvaratkhelia right ?

watching arsenal that game made getafe look like angels that play tiki taka football

Kompany explained it perfectly. Either all out attack or all out defence against psg, no in between. And Arsenal don’t have the firepower to match psg, defending was their only chance. Arteta did the best he could, the shootout is completely based on individual talent and PSG has more talented players, everyone knows this. If it was not Arsenal, it would be a great underdog story, but instead people will act like the game plan was not perfect

At the end of the day , no one will remember how arsenal played defensively, people will remember that psg won back to back UCL .

this is the best low block ive seen in my life its similar to what man u were doing in the final vs man city

Going toe to toe with Paris Saint-Germain is what Bayern did and they shipped 6 goals. PSG beat Liverpool by 4 goals in two legs. They smashed Inter 5-0 in the final last year. Why repeat a formula that plays to Enrique's strengths? That Arsenal basically shut them out from open play is an extraordinary achievement. Morocco shut out Enrique's Spain in a similar way at the last World Cup, winning on penalties. PSG rightly deserved to win the tournament overall - and as an Arsenal fan had little expectation that we would win it - but not enough credit is given to the how disciplined, structured and focused Arteta's team is, and we nearly caused a huge upset. We do need a better Plan B though next season.

I wonder if Arteta had a long long phone call with Bordalas before the game?!

This is exactly how Luis Enrique got knocked out in the 2022 World Cup with Spain against Morocco

Arsenal had to resort to Haram Ball because the quality of the PSG attack. As a matter of fact, after PSG tied the game with the PK, Arsenal opened up a bit more and almost lost to a Barcola breakaway (in regulation time). It wasn't an aesthetically pleasing style of play, but Arsenal did what they had to and almost stole the win. Not a great watch and ultimately, the better team won, but there can be no complaints about the Arsenal tactics, Arteta gave his team it's best chance to win.

...and honestly, they never did. They had no answer for Arsenal, and it took a mistake by a defender to get the tying goal.

Dribblers can break down a low block, it's not only passing. But it seems like nowadays there aren't many good dribblers who can attack the 18 yd box from the middle. The thing is, when you start to dribble the defenders have no choice but to commit, which open passing lanes for the other attackers. Look at what Cherki did to Gabriel, plus Messi, Maradona, Neymar, even though these are some of the all time greats but, it's their dribbling more often than not that breaks down defenses.

Arsenal were so hard that Kvara, Dembele, Neves all drained/cramps/injured and more like Fabian Ruiz too

I don't like arsenal but the hate they're getting for doing something reasonable especially in a final is funny lmao. It's called being smart. Like I'd understand the hate for playing haramball in a casual game with not much at stake but in a final it's understandable. I don't even blame Eze or Gabriel for the penalty miss I blame Mosquera for making that unnecessary challenge on Kvara. As a Madrid fan I kind of wanted Arsenal to win as now our three-peat record in the modern era might be in trouble lol

Usually teams that play that low block kind of style, have very fast and quick wingers with a good free roaming ball carrier who transitions the ball very quickly forward in between the lines. It's what Arsenal lacked otherwise defensively they were very good but on the attack when the ball has been stolen from the opponent, they lacked someone that could quickly transition it forward in between the lines plus good lethal wingers.

If Arsenal had won, their performance would have been dub a tactical masterclass, but it was simply antifootball with the sole intention of shutting the opposition down. They can only play like this when they score first, which why they struggled in the second half of the season. Let's see if Arteta evolves again or if he's found his preferred coaching identity

Playing against low block team if executed effectively is usually a nightmare

The irresistible force met the best immovable object.

This game reminded me of Arsenal vs City game where arsenal were down to 10 man they formed low block and it was a late late city Equalizer in that game

Better than football made Simple’s title lmao