{"id":525,"date":"2026-04-03T20:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T20:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=525"},"modified":"2026-04-03T20:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T20:54:13","slug":"legendary-arsenal-coach-responds-to-theory-of-where-set-piece-craze-really-began","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=525","title":{"rendered":"Legendary Arsenal coach responds to theory of where set-piece craze REALLY began"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_68255d\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">The Premier League has been taken over by a set-piece revolution, with champions in waiting Arsenal the expert exponents &#8211; with the recent trend sourced back to women&#8217;s football<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36795073\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gabriel of Arsenal is held by Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United for an oncoming corner \" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36795073.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2258169900.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36795073.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2258169900.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36795073.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2258169900.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36795073.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2258169900.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Arsenal have had great success from corners this season\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Arsenal have had great success from corners this season<cite aria-label=\"Image: Alex Pantling\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Alex Pantling\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Football has had inverted full backs, sweeper keepers and playing out from the back. Now the Premier League is dominated by set-pieces. Corners, long-throws, grappling at corners, blocking and free kicks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There might be a whole generation who have no idea about the sweeper system and the only time they have heard the word libero is because an excellent football podcast goes by that name.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If history tells us anything, it is that football is cyclical. Playing styles, formations and even teams come and go. Liverpool&#8217;s success in the 1980s felt like it would last forever. Manchester United the same in the 90s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers of all time, must take credit for inverted full backs and the risk and reward with playing out from the back.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_de167e\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Thomas Tuchel to use not-so-secret weapon to give England major World Cup 2026 edge<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_de167e\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Your World Cup glossary of football tactics, data and stats buzzwords<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But who takes credit for the set-piece fad? And it is a fad. It will soon become less important. Teams will find other ways. And defenders will combat it. Referees will clamp down on the grappling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That is why football\u2019s authorities are talking about it. From UEFA to FIFA to law makers IFAB. They are all looking, observing and discussing it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And the popular theory &#8211; and it is just a theory &#8211; is that actually it began in the women\u2019s game. Senior execs at those organisations have looked into it and traced the history.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The women\u2019s game &#8211; as it has done in so many other ways &#8211; was, according to several of football\u2019s deep thinkers, the start of the craze of corners. And it grew from there.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36806225\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36806225\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Premier League\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36806225.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2264244008.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36806225.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2264244008.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36806225.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2264244008.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36806225.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2264244008.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Premier League teams have identified set pieces as an easy marginal gain\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Premier League teams have identified set pieces as an easy marginal gain<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Men\u2019s football can learn a lot from the WSL when it comes to crowds, atmospheres and also England\u2019s success under Sarina Wiegman.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But forward thinking managers like Mikel Arteta, Eddie Howe and Arne Slot must have got the ideas from somewhere. In the women\u2019s game, it was not about the grappling. It was about crowding the keeper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Most clubs now employ set-piece coaches &#8211; Arsenal\u2019s Nico Jover even has a Banksy-style portrait under a bridge next to the Emirates &#8211; and they are always looking for ideas, a fresh edge and inspiration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal\u2019s former women\u2019s boss Vic Akers, who changed the face of the women\u2019s game and enjoyed unprecedented success during his 22 years as manager, does recognise the similarities. Akers\u2019 team won a historic quadruple in 2007 and remembers that surrounding the keeper had come in to the game at that time.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-35279445\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"35279445\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.43\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Arsenal captain Jayne Ludlow celebrates victory with team manager Vic Akers and the FA Cup trophy\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35279445.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Soccer-FA-Womens-Cup-Final-Arsenal-v-Charlton-Athletic-City-Ground.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35279445.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Soccer-FA-Womens-Cup-Final-Arsenal-v-Charlton-Athletic-City-Ground.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35279445.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Soccer-FA-Womens-Cup-Final-Arsenal-v-Charlton-Athletic-City-Ground.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35279445.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Soccer-FA-Womens-Cup-Final-Arsenal-v-Charlton-Athletic-City-Ground.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Former Arsenal Women boss Vic Akers noticed the trend almost 20 years ago\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Former Arsenal Women boss Vic Akers noticed the trend almost 20 years ago<cite aria-label=\"Image: PA\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: PA)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI think it came from teams in Sweden, Denmark and Norway,\u201d said Akers who was also the club\u2019s legendary kitman. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t something that we did but you could see some teams surrounding the goalkeeper at corners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cTeams used it and it came into the game around that time. I remember it just before we won all four. But there was one very clear difference: it was surrounding the goalkeeper and there was not the same pushing and pulling. There\u2019s no way that happened.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cYou would see the goalkeeper being surrounded in a ring of players. And I would tell our keeper and players: \u2018keep away from the ring &#8211; don\u2019t get fouled.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe risk is greater for defenders and the goalkeeper because if they foul it\u2019s a penalty. If the forwards foul it\u2019s a free kick.<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Get 70% off Premier League kits and merch<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. 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Fans can find discounts on products from Premier League clubs including Man United, Man City, Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Spurs and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s interesting to watch it now in the Premier League because it\u2019s been like this for 12 months and is getting more common but it feels like the refs and Howard Webb will intervene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cBack in our time, the ref would come into the dressing room and talk to the players before the game with a warning about what they were looking for. Maybe that\u2019s what is needed now to make sure everyone knows.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Even now, we are talking less about set-pieces and maybe that is a sign we are moving on until the next trend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Join our new WhatsApp community<\/em><\/a>  and receive your daily dose of <em>Mirror<\/em> <em>Football<\/em> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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