If you had arrived at the Campus Du Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday morning, it would have been easy to think you were at the wrong venue. Looking down at the sun-drenched pitches, a training session was in full swing. Players were being pushed around the turf by coaches and teammates wielding rugby tackling pads on their arms. You might have assumed you had stumbled upon the training ground of rugby side Stade Français, not that of Champions League holders PSG. It certainly did not resemble a typical football training session.
But it was indeed PSG. The club's goalkeeping contingent, including first-choice shot-stopper Matvey Safonov, were practicing set-pieces as they prepare to defend their European crown against Premier League side Arsenal in Budapest later this month. A leaked clip published by French media outlet RMC Sport showed the goalkeepers using rugby tackling pads to disrupt one another, simulating the intense physical pressure they will face when collecting corners against the Gunners at the Puskas Arena on 31 May.
Corners have become a hot topic following the last-minute drama that unfolded during Arsenal's 1-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday. In one of the most dramatic VAR moments in Premier League history, Callum Wilson thought he had secured a point for the Hammers in stoppage time after Leandro Trossard had put the Gunners ahead in the 83rd minute. However, Wilson's goal was disallowed after a lengthy delay, as his teammate Pablo was judged to have fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya in the buildup. VAR official Darren England spent several minutes reviewing replays before instructing referee Chris Kavanagh to consult the pitchside monitor. Kavanagh ruled that Pablo had held Raya's arm, preventing him from catching or parrying the ball, allowing Arsenal to see out the game and extend their lead at the top of the table to five points over Manchester City.
This incident has sparked a widespread debate about the rules governing corners in the Premier League. Set-pieces have increasingly resembled a battlefield, with players from both sides grappling for position. Arsenal are widely regarded as one of the best teams at winning these physical duels, having scored 17 goals from corners this Premier League season – a record tally in the top flight. Mikel Arteta's side has been accused by Premier League legends such as Peter Schmeichel of initiating the trend of blocking and holding in the area during corners, although the issue appears to be league-wide.
Retired Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann has voiced his frustration with the chaos at set-pieces. Speaking on Sunday night's Match of the Day, he called for a law change: 'I feel the time has come now for a law change, whereby no attackers are allowed in the six-yard box before a corner is taken. At goal-kicks, forwards are not allowed in the penalty area; at corners, they shouldn't be allowed in the six-yard box until the ball is in play. Lots of teams grapple at corners, sometimes before the ball has come into play, and then obviously the referee can't give a penalty or an indirect free kick if the ball is not in play. This would create natural separation and eradicate these kinds of situations.'
Nevertheless, PSG appear to be taking no chances. They have started preparing for Arsenal's aerial threat more than two weeks before the final, using innovative training methods to ensure their goalkeepers are ready for the physical challenge that awaits in Budapest.
