The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast Pressing 101: Why Arsenal and PSG are so good
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Sep 15, 2025 
Mark Carey, a data expert at The Athletic, and Liam Tharme, a tactical analyst, delve into the evolution of pressing in football. They explore how teams like Arsenal and PSG excel in sophisticated pressing techniques that focus on collective defense. The duo discusses the strategic shift from simple ‘closing down’ to complex tactics, highlighting metrics for measuring effectiveness and the impact of high pressing on player fitness. They also touch on the importance of adaptability and the role of young coaches in modern football strategies.
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What Modern Pressing Actually Is
- Pressing is a coordinated attempt by two or more players to reduce time, space and options and force a turnover.
- The aim is usually to recover the ball closer to the opponent's goal.
Measuring Pressure Goes Beyond Counts
- PPDA and possessions won in the attacking third act as common proxies to measure pressing.
- Newer tracking metrics add angle, speed and lane closures to refine what a press means.
Set Principles, Not Fixed Shapes
- Pick pressing principles, not rigid shapes; balance bodies and overloads depending on opponent.
- Choose where to be man-for-man, where to create 2v1s, and what risks you're willing to accept.