EXPLAINED: REASON WHY MALO GUSTO MISSED HEADER AGAINST ARSENAL

In a recent episode of The Rest is Football podcast, Gary Lineker shared his thoughts on a key moment in Chelsea’s game against Arsenal: Malo Gusto’s missed header. The missed chance could have helped Chelsea stay in control, but instead, it gave Arsenal a chance to build confidence. Lineker explained why these kinds of misses are actually common and shared some advice he learned early in his career that could help players avoid them.

According to Lineker, one main reason players often miss headers like Gusto’s is a natural tendency to close their eyes as they go to hit the ball. “You see so many players missing headers like that,” Lineker said. “When the ball comes over, you’re about to head it, and then you naturally close your eyes. When you do that, your head dips, and it causes you to hit the ball with the top part of your forehead instead of the center.”

Lineker added that a former coach of his, George Dewis—a former Leicester City goal scorer—taught him to keep his eyes open when heading the ball. “He always said, ‘Keep your eyes open, keep your eyes open,’” Lineker recalled. “If you do that, you’ll see the ball onto your forehead and get a clean, controlled hit instead of sending it off in the wrong direction.”

Lineker explained that the instinct to close your eyes when the ball is flying toward your face is understandable. It’s a reflex for many players. But the key to accurate headers is keeping your eyes on the ball until the very last second, even though it can be hard. By keeping your eyes open, you’re more likely to hit the ball with the center of your forehead, which helps you aim and control it better.

In Gusto’s case, he may have been in the right position, but he didn’t keep his eyes open until impact, causing him to make a weaker connection. This missed detail shows how important it is for players to pay attention to even the smallest aspects of their technique, especially in high-pressure moments.

Gusto’s miss is a good reminder of how important it is to focus on small habits like keeping your eyes open. Lineker’s advice might seem simple, but it’s something that can make a big difference in how well a player can control their headers. As Chelsea moves forward this season, players can use moments like these as learning opportunities to improve their game and make sure they’re ready to take advantage of key chances when they come.