Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has identified a change in Arsenal.
Arsenal were well organised and disciplined during their 2-0 win over PSG on Tuesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s side were positive in the first half, playing on the front foot. The Gunners made a breakthrough in the 20th minute, as the combination between Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz paid off.
Trossard picked out the German’s run with an arcing cross. Havertz maintained his impressive home form in front of goal by nodding home.
The North London outfit doubled their advantage before the break as Bukayo Saka’s free kick snuck through a crowd of bodies and nestled in the back of the net. Saka impressed Arsenal fans as he was able to make a telling impact in a big game yet again.
The hosts were more reserved in the second half. Arsenal soaked up pressure and protected their lead effectively.
Tim Sherwood highlights Mikel Arteta impact at Arsenal
Tim Sherwood was impressed by Arsenal’s ability to shut down the game and protect their advantage with a minimum of fuss.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Special, he said: “Arsenal are more pragmatic than I have ever seen.”
When Sherwood was in charge of Arsenal’s bitter local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, he came up against the Gunners whilst Arsene Wenger was at the helm.
Whilst the iconic French coach oversaw the most successful period in the club’s history, the latter years of his reign saw him produce sides that were largely incapable of this kind of pragmatism.
Arteta, meanwhile, has built a squad that have proven their ability to close out games on multiple occasions.
Arteta’s tactics have been criticised, but they are undeniably effective and the Spanish coach has made Arsenal genuine contenders for the biggest prizes in the game.
How Arsenal outmanoeuvred PSG
The Gunners were able to negotiate this encounter with the Ligue 1 outfit by adapting to the momentum of the match as it fluctuated.
In the first half, when they were on top and being roared on by an energised Emirates Stadium atmosphere, Arsenal took advantage and grabbed their goals.
As PSG grew into the game after the break, Arteta made changes, adding physicality with the introduction of Mikel Merino for his debut, and the team sought to remain compact.
This ability to adjust to the demands of the game before damage is done allows Arsenal to remain in control of matches even when their opponents might feel that they are enjoying a positive spell.
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