On Sunday, Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-1. Although Arsenal created good chances, it was telling that all three goals in the game were the result of corner routines.
It has been common for fans to feel like football has lost some of its magic with star players having less freedom and space to express themselves in open play.
Current professionals however talk about how the quality of players, tactics and coaching staff are better than ever.
Both of these things can be true and looking at how football has become a more structured and choreographed game, resembling American football, can help explain this.
In this article, we analyse tactical ideas Premier League teams are using that resemble the trends seen in the NFL.
‘American football is if every football play was a set-piece’
In a recent interview Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was asked to compare football and the NFL, saying: ”The closest thing to what American football is is if every [football] play was a set-piece. Every play represents a set-piece for us.”
Set-pieces are becoming increasingly important and, if we accept McVay’s expert opinion, the Premier League is resembling the NFL more closely. Corners, free-kicks, throw-ins and even kick-off situations are being prioritised more than in past seasons.
This season, 28.4% of Premier League goals scored have come from set-pieces, the highest of any of the past 10 seasons.
And 3.2% of goals have come from throw-ins, the highest percentage of the past decade too.
It is interesting that McVay was the one to make these observations given his friendship with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Both men are young coaches at the forefront of shaping what their sport looks like tactically and have shared ideas.
In recent seasons, Arsenal have become masters of scoring from set-pieces.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, they have scored 36 goals from corners in the Premier League, 15 more than any other side in this period.
It is plausible that Arteta’s men, and others, have taken inspiration from teams like the LA Rams to inform their set-piece success.