Arsenal and Manchester City now use direct tactics, signing players like Gyokeres, Madueke, Donnarumma, and Haaland.
Both sides push forward quickly with long goal-kicks, sharp passing, or strong dribbling to bypass defensive presses.
Guardiola’s Shift Sparks New Trends
Pep Guardiola once built teams on short passes and keeper involvement to limit risk and cover less space.
That model dominated Europe, reducing errors and inspiring others to copy his possession-first philosophy.
Now, high pressing forces managers to rethink, making long kicks safer and harder to punish.
Teams pressing with coordinated, athletic players disrupt short build-ups and often create chances near goal.
Arsenal Redefine Goal-Kick Tactics
Mikel Arteta instructs David Raya to launch 42.1% of his passes long, often toward the right flank.
Last season, Kai Havertz frequently moved wide to compete for Raya’s accurate long kicks.
Arteta reduces risk by avoiding central areas, instead exploiting wide zones where turnovers are less dangerous.
Even if Arsenal lose possession, they regain territory by pressing high from throw-ins after long passes.
