McArthur enjoying Crystal Palace’s pressing football

The pressing style of football exhibited by Crystal Palace may put a lot of pressure on their midfield but engine-roomer James McArthur is adamant it’s a challenge he is relishing.

The Scotsman has produced a series of tireless performances already this season – the latest of which came in Palace’s 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough.

New signing Christian Benteke and winger Wilfried Zaha got the goals as the Eagles notched a first Premier League win of the campaign but McArthur’s harrying of the opposition when out of possession was also impressive.

“The manager wants that – me and Jason [Puncheon] will try to press the opposition as much as we possibly can,” said McArthur.

“At times you’re going to need to sit in and make it hard for teams, but a lot of the game we were on the front foot and it was really enjoyable.”

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Palace spent a club-record £32million to bring in Benteke from Liverpool over the summer and that signing paid instant dividends as he rose highest to nod in Zaha’s cross at the Riverside Stadium.

While that move featured an aerial ball, the Eagles also demonstrated some slick, passing play on the deck and McArthur believes it was a complete performance by his side.

“I think it had everything – we passed the ball really well at times, we mixed it up with Christian and obviously we had the resilience to hold on and ensure they didn’t score another one,” said McArthur.

“It was a pretty good performance.”