Set-Piece: Why Open-Play Goals Are Fading
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Season of the Set-Piece: Why Open-Play Goals Are Losing Their Spark
The Rise of the Set-Piece Era
After nine intense rounds of Premier League action, a new tactical wave has taken over — the set-piece revolution. Corners, free-kicks, and long throws are no longer a backup plan; they’re a blueprint for victory. Arsenal, who top the league despite scoring only a handful from open play, are leading this renaissance with precision-drilled routines that would make Pep Guardiola jealous.
It’s a shift that shows how elite football has evolved — where marginal gains, tactical discipline, and data-driven strategies matter more than sheer flair. Welcome to the Season of the Set-Piece.
Cornering the Market: From Rainy Stoke to Modern Masterclass
Once mocked as the domain of “weaker” teams looking to nick a goal on a wet Tuesday night, set-piece mastery is now a hallmark of tactical excellence. The Premier League has seen a record 19% of goals coming from corners this season — the highest in its history. Overall, 27.8% of all goals (excluding penalties) have originated from set-plays, a staggering leap compared with past seasons.
Leading this charge are Arsenal, who, under Mikel Arteta and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, have scored an unrivalled number of goals from corners. Since 2023-24, they’ve netted 37 times from these situations — the most in any of Europe’s top five leagues. What was once functional has become fashionable again, only this time, it’s being executed by title contenders.
Why Open-Play Goals Are Harder Than Ever
Arteta admits it’s not just creativity — it’s a necessity. “The physicality of modern football makes space harder to find,” he explained after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, where Eberechi Eze struck from a free-kick. “When games are tighter, you must find other ways to score.”
Teams are now investing in specialist coaches, analytics departments, and even biomechanics experts to refine their delivery and positioning. The result? Corners are no longer hopeful crosses but pre-scripted plays as intricate as basketball set-ups. Every run, block, and flick is measured and rehearsed — proof that football’s margins are slimmer than ever.
Europe Joins the Set-Piece Revolution
The trend isn’t limited to England. Across Europe, leagues from Serie A to La Liga are seeing similar spikes in corner goals. Yet, the Premier League leads the way in both frequency and sophistication of set-play success. Tottenham’s recent 3-0 demolition of Everton saw Micky van de Ven score twice from corners — a testament to how top-tier clubs now see dead-ball dominance as essential to title ambitions.
Spurs boss Thomas Frank summed it up bluntly: “Set-pieces win titles. Arsenal are proof of that.”
The Return of the Long Throw
In an ironic twist, another blast from the past has resurfaced — the long throw-in. Once immortalised by Rory Delap at Stoke City, the weapon is back. Brentford, under former set-piece specialist Keith Andrews, have rediscovered the value of distance throws through defender Michael Kayode. His laser-accurate deliveries have directly led to eight goals in just over a season, including Dango Ouattara’s opener in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Liverpool.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged the challenge: “They’re excellent at duels and second balls. It’s tough when the set-piece balance tilts against you.” Even Manchester City’s Erling Haaland compared Brentford’s intensity to “classic Stoke under Rory Delap” after a narrow win at Gtech Community Stadium.
Numbers Don’t Lie: Set-Pieces Decide Titles
Arsenal and Tottenham rank first and third, respectively, for set-piece goals, reflecting their standing in the Premier League table. By contrast, Liverpool — one of only three sides without a goal from a corner or indirect free-kick — has struggled both to score and to defend them. They’ve conceded six goals from dead-ball situations, matching relegation-threatened clubs like Nottingham Forest and West Ham.
As Slot admitted after another late setback: “You can’t lose games because of set-pieces when others are winning them that way.” His words ring true across the division — set-pieces have become the currency of consistency.
Are Set-Pieces Here to Stay?
With more clubs hiring dedicated set-piece coaches and using AI-driven analytics to map opponent weaknesses, it’s unlikely this trend will fade. In an era of ultra-fit defenders and data-heavy tactical prep, unlocking goals from structured chaos is the new art of football.
For neutrals, it might lack the fluid poetry of a sweeping counterattack, but for managers and analysts, it’s the modern equivalent of chess — controlled, repeatable, and ruthlessly efficient.
Final Whistle: A New Football Identity
Love them or hate them, set-pieces are redefining football’s DNA. In a sport where margins shrink and analytics dominate, the future of scoring may lie not in open-play brilliance but in perfectly rehearsed precision. From Arsenal’s corner routines to Brentford’s bullet throws, one thing is certain — the next champion may rise not from artistry but from geometry.
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