Mikel Merino and Gabriel both scored from corners as Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-1 on Sunday
Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory over Newcastle on Sunday, with goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel. Notably, all three goals in the match stemmed from well-executed corner routines, underscoring the increasing importance of set-pieces in modern football.
While some fans lament the perceived decline in on-field magic due to reduced player freedom, professionals argue that the overall quality of players, tactics, and coaching is at an all-time high.
Both perspectives hold merit, and the evolution of football into a more structured and choreographed game, akin to American football, offers a compelling explanation.
This article explores the tactical parallels between Premier League teams and trends observed in the NFL, highlighting the growing significance of set-piece strategies.
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, in a recent interview, drew a direct comparison between football and the NFL, stating, “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.”
As set-pieces gain prominence, the Premier League increasingly mirrors the NFL, with corners, free-kicks, throw-ins, and even kick-off situations receiving unprecedented attention.
This season, set-pieces account for 28.4% of Premier League goals, marking the highest percentage in the past decade.
Throw-ins, too, have contributed to 3.2% of goals, also representing a ten-year high.
McVay’s insights are particularly noteworthy given his rapport with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, both of whom are influential figures shaping tactical approaches in their respective sports through shared ideas.
Arsenal has emerged as a formidable force in set-piece execution in recent seasons.
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.
Mikel Arteta, left, and Sean McVay have formed a working relationship, sharing cross-sport insights
Teams are prioritising set-pieces and to good success but what are they doing within their routines that resemble the NFL?
Generally, teams are asking their players to run pre-determined routes on set-pieces aiming to make space for a free target. This is a change from the less choreographed routines which were often centred around crossing it to certain zones in the box, relying on your best players to win headers through their physicality and duelling.
A closer examination of set-plays reveals striking similarities in player movement across both sports.
In the NFL, “rub routes” involve attacking players executing maneuvers that indirectly impede the path of opposing players. These routes, run in close proximity, aim to create space for teammates by obstructing defenders, particularly in man-to-man coverage.
Gabriel’s decisive goal against Newcastle exemplified this concept, with William Saliba’s off-the-ball positioning subtly hindering goalkeeper Nick Pope’s ability to intercept the cross.
The France centre-back made a forward movement that indirectly blocked Pope’s path to the ball meaning the English keeper was unable to claim the cross. It was not direct blocking but rather indirect crowding of where the opponent may want to go by running a pre-determined path like the NFL’s rub routes.
Wiliam Saliba runs towards the ball but indirectly prevents Nick Pope from being able to clear the cross by crowding his path
More deliberate blocking is being used frequently in the Premier League too. Teams are placing players in front of goalkeepers tasked with stopping their movement and ability to defend set-plays.
Chelsea’s three corner goals against West Ham earlier in the season, facilitated by Liam Delap’s strategic blocking of Hammers keeper Mads Hermansen, further illustrate the influence of NFL-style off-ball tactics.
Crystal Palace’s goal against West Ham also showcased the use of deliberate blocking in a way that resembled another more choreographed American sport – basketball.
At the far post, Adam Wharton stood still, putting his body between between Marc Guehi and his marker, blocking the West Ham defender’s path deliberately (unlike the indirect way rub routes impede movement). This meant Palace’s captain was able to break free unmarked.
As a tactic, this looks identical to ‘screening’ in basketball, a move in which a player stands still to block a nearby defender, allowing space for their team-mates to move freely around them.
Adam Wharton sets a ‘screen’ allowing Marc Guehi to run around his marker while Jean-Phillipe Mateta is acting as a blocker on the West Ham keeper.
The complexity of football lies in the multitude of dynamic variables, making comprehensive preparation challenging. Unlike sports like tennis or the NFL, which consist of distinct “mini-games,” football in open play involves 22 players with freedom of movement across a vast pitch.
The fluid nature of the game necessitates player decision-making and spontaneous reactions. Preparing for all of these scenarios is difficult. In football, there is an element of having to let the players make decisions and react to what happens on the spot.
McVay acknowledges the variance in control between the sports, saying: “What I think is so impressive about what [Arteta] does is he’s translating a vision of how we [coaches] want to be able to see the game and you’re giving players ownership and autonomy just based on the flow of [the game].”
This variance makes football enjoyable for fans but poses uncertainties that some managers may want to reduce. Coaches like Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta generally fall into this bracket.
Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca embracing
Both Maresca and Arteta prioritize ball possession, enabling their teams to exert control from a distance. Arteta’s approach has previously been characterized as pragmatic, emphasizing minimal risk-taking in attack despite dominating possession.
By playing more safely in open play, teams are able to reduce the uncertainties before capitalising on the safer, more structured parts of the game like set-pieces.
The structured nature of these scenarios allows for more reliable preparation in the days leading up to a match, with insights into opponent formations and vulnerabilities.
This season Arsenal have begun to introduce more risky and incisive passing particularly through the middle of the pitch which deserves credit but the challenge of balancing risk with control is one managers across the league have to contend with.
Across the league however, it does appear that by making the most of these structured game situations, managers are having a greater influence on the game like their NFL counterparts.
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