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The pros and cons of a stuttering penalty run-up are under debate after two crucial penalty misses in the Carabao Cup last 16. Chelsea midfielder Valentin Barco and Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes both failed with the stop-start technique during their respective cup exits.
The Costly Misses at Anfield and Beyond
Barco missed Chelsea’s fourth penalty in their shootout defeat by Liverpool when he hit the post after a stuttered run-up. Xabi Alonso’s side would have advanced to the EFL Cup quarter-finals had he scored, but they crashed out as defender Wesley Fofana sent his sudden-death attempt high into the Kop at Anfield.
Barco’s miss followed Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes having his spot-kick saved after a similar stuttering run-up as the Gunners exited against League Two Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night. Both players were shown how to execute a penalty by Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, who had never scored a senior goal in 319 professional appearances before rifling the winning penalty into the top corner using a simple run-up.
Players opt for the stuttering approach to trick the goalkeeper into revealing which way they will dive. However, the strategy can backfire spectacularly if the goalkeeper holds their nerve or if the taker fails to hit the target.
Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta told ITV that every player chooses the style where they feel confident, noting that it was likely not Barco’s first time using the method.
Rules and Divided Opinions
The stutter penalty previously became a prominent theme at the summer’s World Cup, where 26 were taken and 11 were missed. While the stop-start technique lacks a strict definition, Fifa rules permit players to stop or feint during the run-up as long as they do not do so directly before kicking the ball.
Even England’s Harry Kane attempted the technique, leading to Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saving his penalty in a 4-2 win. Because Livakovic came off his line early, Kane secured a retake and scored with a straightforward approach. Arsenal’s Guimaraes was among the 11 players to miss using the method at the World Cup, yet he maintained his approach against Fleetwood.
Historical users of the style include Brazil icon Pele, while Cristiano Ronaldo has experienced both success and failure with it. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho, and Wolves striker Raul Jimenez also frequently employ the stutter style.
Critics, including former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, voiced strong opposition to the method on TalkSport after Arsenal’s defeat, calling it ridiculous, self-indulgence, and naive. Conversely, former Liverpool and Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson defended the technique on ITV, pointing out that Barco missed by mere inches after already beating the goalkeeper.
Joe Gomez Ends Wait for a Goal
While Joe Gomez’s penalty shootout strike will not count as an official goal in the record books, the 29-year-old defender experienced the feeling of finding the back of the net for the first time in his senior career. Across 319 games for Charlton Athletic, Liverpool, and England, the defender has never scored in regular play.
Gomez executed a veteran finish by powering his penalty into the top corner in front of the Kop, serving as the penultimate kick of the shootout before Fofana’s miss. Gomez told ITV that everyone was on edge wanting to win, adding that the moment was something he anticipated and that it felt nice when it went in.
