The current discussion in England, owner of the hottest football league of this century (the Premier League), is set pieces. Largely due to the continuous and fruitful use by Arsenal, the championship leader, of this component of the game, with an emphasis on corners.
Any corner in favor of the London team that wears red and white, nicknamed the Gunners because it was founded by cannon manufacturers, is a reason for opponents to feel vulnerable.
Led by Spanish coach Mikel Arteta, the team, which last won the English Championship in 2004, is famous for having found a way to make corner shots much more dangerous than they already are.
As? With a lot of training. Positioning and congestion. With each corner, the team fills the small rival area with “little reds” (or “little blues”, when the alternative uniform is used by Arsenal) and the taker places the ball, from the top, in the agreed spot.
Whoever is there has a high chance of getting the header because their teammates strategically make blocks that prevent the markers from properly disturbing whoever is there.
With the small area filled with 12, 14, 16 outfield players, the goalkeeper has limited space to move and his vision is largely impaired. Once master of that territory, he became a cornered man.
You can see the fight between rivals. Sometimes the referee draws attention, and that’s it. The rule doesn’t allow it, but, “as everyone does”, the game continues. If there is no “ippon”, nothing is marked.
Conclusion: header towards the goal or, if not, so that the ball is in a favorable position to enter the goal, either due to a touch from a teammate or an opponent, who, being so close to the end line, makes a counter attempt when trying to save.
Statistics show that, and with Arsenal leading, clubs are resorting more to dead ball plays in which the ball is thrown “in the crowd” – not only in corners, but in free kicks and, much more than before, in throw-ins – and having more success with them.
A survey by Michael Caley on the Expecting Goals website shows that the Premier League 25/26 records a marked increase in goals originating from dead balls (0.77 per match) and a drop in those coming from rolling balls (1.79 per match) compared to other editions of this decade.
Thus, three out of every ten goals are from prepared plays. It seems little, but looking back it’s a lot. And, in the case of Arsenal, even more so: 24 of the 59 goals scored by the team in 30 games, or 41%, came this way.
Questions: Is this a temporary change or is it here to stay? Will teams around the world dedicate extra training time to set pieces, putting into practice what they have trained in matches?
There are people within the Premier League itself who hope not. “My football heart hates it,” said Arne Slot, coach of Liverpool, the current English champion, exposing his aversion to the physical battle in the area that attracts supporters and flirts with protagonism.
The Dutchman cites “Barcelona 10, 15 years ago” as an example of attractive football. Messi, Xavi, Suárez, Iniesta, Neymar. Technique, dribbling, creativity, tables, touching the ball. Pellet in motion, not static.
I’m with Slot. I sympathize. And I surrender, somewhat regretfully, to the new trend.
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