Arsenal’s Genius Penalty Tactic Revealed by Sports Psychologist
In a stunning victory, Arsenal emerged as the winners of the Community Shield after defeating Manchester City on penalties. The Gunners put an end to City’s reign of dominance at Wembley, thanks to a genius penalty tactic that caught the attention of a sports psychologist.
During the penalty shootout, every Arsenal player exhibited remarkable composure by waiting for over five seconds before taking their shots. Sports psychologist Geir Jordet noticed this deliberate approach and took to Twitter to express his admiration for the team’s controlled and composed performance under pressure.
Jordet tweeted, “Rare to see a team approach penalties so deliberately, controlled and composed as Arsenal did in the Community Shield today. Every player paused >5 seconds after the whistle. This never guarantees success, but it suggests a collective plan to ACTIVELY control oneself under stress.”
The match itself was filled with drama, as City took the lead with a goal from Cole Palmer in the 77th minute. However, Arsenal managed to level the score in the 11th minute of stoppage time with a goal from Leandro Trossard.
The game ultimately went to penalties, where Mikel Arteta’s men displayed faultless execution. Matin Odegaard, Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Fabio Vieira all found the back of the net, securing Arsenal’s victory.
It comes as no surprise that Arteta had prepared his team for penalty shootouts during pre-season. The Spanish tactician wanted his players to be fully prepared for any potential outcome in their clash with City.
“We’ve done it [taken part in a shootout] three times in pre-season. It was part of the plan to get ready just in case we had to do it today, that it wasn’t the first time to do that, and I think that it paid off,” Arteta revealed after the match.
This triumph marks Arsenal’s first trophy since 2020, following a season where they narrowly missed out on the Premier League title. The Gunners’ victory in the Community Shield highlights their determination and strategic approach, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
