The 2025/2026 Premier League season has witnessed a notable increase in goalless draws, with the Arsenal-Liverpool match contributing to this trend. A clash that on paper promised excitement and attacking football ultimately highlighted a more concerning aspect of the modern game: tactical stalemate and an over-reliance on defensive solidity.

Both Arsenal and Liverpool, known for their attacking prowess, have seemingly contributed to a league-wide trend toward more cautious approaches. The recent match between the two teams showcased this perfectly, with a tightly contested affair that ultimately lacked the spark many fans anticipated.

Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, has often been characterized by a patient build-up play, aiming to control possession and exploit spaces in the opposition's defense. However, this season has seen them become more pragmatic, prioritizing defensive stability and tactical discipline. In the match against Liverpool, Arsenal's compact 4-4-2 formation stifled many of Liverpool's attacks, limiting them to few shots on target and touches in the box. While this defensive solidity is commendable, it has sometimes come at the expense of attacking flair, leading to frustratingly dull games for supporters.

Liverpool, who won their 20th league title last season, and under Arne Slot, have also shown a shift in approach. While they still aim to control matches through possession, averaging a league-high 61.6%, there's been an increased emphasis on a direct, counter-attacking style. This adaptation could be a response to the increasing prevalence of high-pressing tactics employed by other teams in the league. Slot himself noted how teams are increasingly using long-ball strategies to bypass Liverpool's press. In the match against Arsenal, Liverpool struggled to break down Arsenal's defensive shape, often resorting to long balls and passes to the wings. While they were much better in the second half, this ultimately meant that Liverpool often got the ball forward into good positions, only to have no one to put the finishing touch to the move.

One tactical trend emerging this season is the resurgence of the long ball. After years of possession-based football, teams are now more willing to bypass the midfield and play direct passes to their forwards. This could be a strategy to exploit the high defensive lines employed by many teams, or simply a more efficient way to transition from defense to attack. Goal kicks into the opposition's half have also increased, with teams seemingly prioritizing territory over possession.

Another contributing factor to the increase in dull matches is the emphasis on not losing. With the stakes higher than ever, teams are often more concerned with securing a point than risking defeat. This leads to more cautious tactics, defensive lineups, and a general reluctance to take risks in the final third. As Gerard Piqué pointed out, fans are paying significant amounts of money to watch these games, and a 0-0 draw simply isn't good enough. He suggested that teams should receive zero points for a goalless draw to encourage more attacking play.

The Arsenal and Liverpool game, while tactically intriguing, ultimately highlighted the increasing trend of defensive solidity taking precedence over attacking ambition. While a strong defense is crucial for any successful team, the balance must be struck between defensive stability and attacking flair. Otherwise, the Premier League risks becoming a league of predictable, low-scoring matches that fail to capture the imagination of fans.