Set pieces are having a moment of resurgence in the Premier League, with teams like Mikel Arteta's Arsenal using them to great effect. The Spaniard has brought in specialist set-piece coach Nicolas Jover and is reaping the rewards from his team's newfound ability to score goals from corners and free kicks.
When I was managing at Stoke City, we were seen as old-fashioned for our emphasis on dead-ball situations and long throws. But I always knew that they were an important part of the game, particularly in tight matches where every point counted. We worked tirelessly to perfect our set-plays, and it paid off when we got promoted to the Premier League.
Arteta has taken a similar approach at Arsenal, and his team is now benefiting from their ability to score goals from set-pieces. The Spanish manager's commitment to winning is evident in his team's tactics, and he has brought in Jover to help him implement his strategy.
Fashions change quickly in football, but what matters most is the result on the pitch. Arteta knows that if his team can get results, then they will be celebrated by their fans, regardless of how they achieve them. The fact that Arsenal are using set-plays and long throws is not something to be mocked or ridiculed.
In fact, many managers are now embracing the same tactics that were once seen as old-fashioned. Pep Guardiola, for example, has expressed admiration for teams like Stoke City, who were willing to use set-plays to great effect. Thomas Frank at Brentford and Tottenham have also adopted similar tactics, with great success.
The key difference between then and now is that Arsenal are doing it in the Premier League, one of the most competitive leagues in the world. The expectation and pressure on Arteta's team are immense, but they are rising to the challenge by using set-plays and long throws to devastating effect.
For managers like Sean Dyche and myself, winning is what matters most. We may have started out as trend-setters, but we didn't do it for the sake of being different - we did it because it worked. And now, it seems that many other managers are following in our footsteps.
When I was managing at Stoke City, we were seen as old-fashioned for our emphasis on dead-ball situations and long throws. But I always knew that they were an important part of the game, particularly in tight matches where every point counted. We worked tirelessly to perfect our set-plays, and it paid off when we got promoted to the Premier League.
Arteta has taken a similar approach at Arsenal, and his team is now benefiting from their ability to score goals from set-pieces. The Spanish manager's commitment to winning is evident in his team's tactics, and he has brought in Jover to help him implement his strategy.
Fashions change quickly in football, but what matters most is the result on the pitch. Arteta knows that if his team can get results, then they will be celebrated by their fans, regardless of how they achieve them. The fact that Arsenal are using set-plays and long throws is not something to be mocked or ridiculed.
In fact, many managers are now embracing the same tactics that were once seen as old-fashioned. Pep Guardiola, for example, has expressed admiration for teams like Stoke City, who were willing to use set-plays to great effect. Thomas Frank at Brentford and Tottenham have also adopted similar tactics, with great success.
The key difference between then and now is that Arsenal are doing it in the Premier League, one of the most competitive leagues in the world. The expectation and pressure on Arteta's team are immense, but they are rising to the challenge by using set-plays and long throws to devastating effect.
For managers like Sean Dyche and myself, winning is what matters most. We may have started out as trend-setters, but we didn't do it for the sake of being different - we did it because it worked. And now, it seems that many other managers are following in our footsteps.