In a remarkable twist of footballing fate, Arsenal's current identity as set-piece specialists stands in stark contrast to their historical opposition to one particular aerial tactic. Former Stoke City star Rory Delap has revealed the Gunners once attempted to have long throws banned from the Premier League, a practice they now actively employ.
Wenger's Rugby Jibe and Arsenal's Ban Campaign
During the peak of Tony Pulis's Stoke City era, Arsenal's legendary manager Arsène Wenger launched a vehement critique against the Potters' direct style. "You cannot say it is football anymore," Wenger famously declared. "It is more rugby on the goalkeepers than football."
Delap, whose prodigious throw-ins became a feared weapon, has now disclosed that Arsenal's discontent went far beyond verbal complaints. Speaking to Ladbrokes, the former Ireland international stated that the North London club's objections escalated to a formal proposition. "With them it went as far as them wanting to ban throw-ins and replace them with kick-ins!" Delap revealed.
The Full Circle: Arsenal's Set-Piece Revolution
The irony of Arsenal's modern-day approach is not lost on Delap. Under manager Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have become one of the Premier League's most effective teams from dead-ball situations. Arsenal lead the league in set-piece goals this season, though they are yet to score directly from a long throw.
This represents a complete philosophical U-turn from the club that once derided such methods. Delap noted the broader trend, explaining, "This thing around the set-piece coach has been around for a couple of years now... the only thing different about it is that it's now one person's dedicated job."
Long Throws in the Modern Game
The tactic has seen a significant resurgence in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign. While Arsenal are experimenting with long throws, other clubs are finding more immediate success. Brentford and Crystal Palace have each scored three times from long throws this term, demonstrating the strategy's continued potency.
However, not all experts are convinced by the trend. Former Liverpool throwing coach Thomas Gronnemark commented in September that many teams are executing "low-quality long throw-ins" that lack the necessary distance or strategic nuance to be genuinely dangerous.
Delap defended the emphasis on set-plays, highlighting a fundamental statistic. "The ball is out of play a lot in 90 minutes," he argued, "so if you don't work on what you do from set-plays, then you're going to get punished." He concluded that seasons can be defined by success or failure in these moments, making dedicated analysis essential for any serious club.
The journey from Arsenal's attempts to outlaw Delap's signature tactic to their current embrace of set-piece expertise marks one of the Premier League's most intriguing evolutions, proving that in football, pragmatism often triumphs over principle.
