Manchester City, Arsenal lead Premier League in tactical fouls despite Guardiola's claims

Earlier last season, Pep Guardiola vehemently opposed any suggestions that his Manchester City side resorted to tactical fouls to break up play. “I never prepare a game in 10 seasons as a manager thinking about se kind of things, never.” Guardiola said to media. “I prepare to do our own game, that is what I want, knowing of course opponent, but I never said I’m going to do that to punish m or cancel m (by) making fouls. Never.” Stats from Opta, however, tell a different story altoger.

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Arsenal, Manchester City serial offenders in Premier League tactical fouls

As we he into business end of season, numbers from statistics experts Opta paint an interesting story when it comes to Premier League tactical fouls section. With Pep Guardiola at helm, Manchester City are currently second in list of highest foul rates in Premier League. Coming in at first, is a team managed by a Pep Guardiola disciple - Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. With a foul rate of 8.2%, Arsenal are leing pack when it comes to Premier League tactical fouls section. Manchester City come in at second with a tactical foul rate of 7.6%. Interestingly, this number is strikingly close to ir tactical foul rate in ir 'centurions' season (6.96%). 

Numbers experts Opta have been garing data on tactical fouls since Man City's 'centurions' season. Since n, Manchester City have been responsible for second and third-highest foul rates Opta have on record. According to Athletic, Manchester City have committed 117 fouls so far this season at a rate of 7.6%. In 2017-18, Manchester City committed 180 fouls at rate of 6.96 per cent. Only one club managed to rack up a higher tactical foul rate, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

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se numbers, refore, offer a startling insight into Pep Guardiola's approach to games. With Arsenal being coached by a former assistant coach of Manchester City, a pattern has emerged regarding similarities between two. Mikel Arteta has brought a more measured approach to Arsenal, with Gunners displaying some eye-catching possession football in his first game in charge.

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What are tactical fouls? 

idea of committing a tactical foul is to break up play to halt a counter-attack. Tactical fouls are usually committed by teams committing large numbers in attack that are subsequently caught out on a counter-attack. A tactical foul, refore, halts play, giving defending team a few seconds to regroup in order to avoid conceding. A tactical foul is rarely of a serious nature, more likely being a small tug or a trip usually avoiding a booking. numbers given by Opta measure  number of opposition turnovers each team faces every season and number of those turnovers that end in a foul. relationship between two is n expressed as a percentage and termed as a tactical fouling rate.

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