Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has highlighted the role of set pieces in the Premier League following their use by Arsenal and Chelsea in recent matches.
Arsenal have relied heavily on set pieces this season, often turning to them to create opportunities when struggling to break down opponents. They are not alone in this approach; other clubs, such as Brentford, have also exploited set pieces effectively, with Michael Kayode’s long throws causing significant disruption in games. The Gunners are expected to continue using strategies that work within the rules, maintaining their competitive edge as they pursue the title.
Hurzeler Calls for Rule Clarity
Ahead of Brighton’s upcoming fixture against Arsenal, Hurzeler has advocated for clearer regulations regarding time wasting and fouls during set pieces. He has suggested that referees should establish limits on how long players can take for corners, throw-ins and free-kicks, ensuring decisions are easier to understand and consistent across matches.
According to Independent Sport, Hurzeler said: “For me the main topic is (to) make a clear rule how much time you can waste for a corner, for a throw-in, for a free-kick. When Arsenal has a corner and they are leading, sometimes they spend over one minute just to take a corner.”
Preparing for Arsenal
Hurzeler’s comments underline Brighton’s focus on managing the finer details of the game, particularly against top teams such as Arsenal. The manager wants to clamp down on time wasting while ensuring clarity in foul decisions during set pieces, which can often influence crucial moments in matches. As the Gunners prepare to face the Seagulls, both teams will need to adapt their approaches to set pieces, balancing tactical advantage with adherence to the rules.
Brighton’s proactive stance highlights the importance of small margins in the Premier League, where effective management of set pieces can determine outcomes. Hurzeler’s proposals aim to create a fairer and more transparent system, ensuring that both teams are held to the same standard when executing and defending corners, throw-ins and free-kicks.
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Funny how they’re all asking for “rule changes” because Arsenal are winning .
Sounds like the New York Yacht Club, which used to change the rules retrospectively when the Aussies beat them.
The Brighton manager seems to be stressed by Arsenal’s set-piece prowess.
In actual fact, though, set-peice mastery is kinda forced by the low blocks that many teams employ. How else would you break down an ultra low block?
I agree with classy gunner, when you deep dive tactics and stats. Arsenal play the most football in the final 3rd in the prem. Saka and Gyokeres are given the least amount of space to operate, whilst also being marked by the highest number of players often being double or even treble marked.
In football you have to find solutions to the problems that prevent you from winning, Arsenal have done that and it pees everyone off because its not the media darlings LFC Spurs United or City. The hope would be that teams would realise that there’s no point in sitting back, but it does not happen with teams opting to try and draw against us. We more than often find teams playing a 5 in midfield or 5 at the back leaving 1 up top and sitting with sometimes 7 players on the edge of their own box.
Even though I do agree there should be a certain time allowed to get the game going again like there are for keepers. How easy would that be to manage and do we trust our referees of the PGMOL to manage it fairly and consistently, and from historical evidence of referee performance against us, they would probably use it to max effect against Arsenal and not for everyone else.
I think a blanket ban on towels to dry the ball should be brought in too. Against brentford it was taking almost a minute for throws, waiting for the long throw player to get to the ball, dry it, wait for the players to get into position in the box, then the thrower taking the maximum number of steps he can to wind up for the throw.
Against Brentford it took longer for them to take a throw than it did for us to take corners. But noone seems to find this a problem, but Arsenal are not allowed to take any time for anything. On the apparent time wasting, nobody had a problem with City and more recently Newcastle doing this over the last 10 years. But when Arsenal use the same tactics its a problem and shouldn’t be allowed.
There is a media agenda against us and another stick they are starting to beat us with again is celebrations for winning, we’re not allowed to do it. City celebrated winning by 1 goal and I heared comments like “City’s celebrations are effective mind games directed at Arsenal”. On the other hand after Arsenal smash their biggest derby rivals 4-1 ” Arsenals celebrations are too much, there is too much emotion on display”
If Arsenal are winning noone is happy and it makes the victories all the bit sweeter
Absolutely.. it guts them that Arsenal are winning using the same tactics allowable by d law. Bile will eat them up. They would continue to have insomnia till May. COYG
I think some clubs call undue attention to Arsenal’s deadball situations. Yes, they have scored more goals.from it but that represents only 38% of the 58 goals they have scored in d EPL. In fact, they are 5th in d order of clubs who have a higher % ratio of goals scored from set-pieces. Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Leeds and Chelsea are above Arsenal in d % ratio of goals scored. From open play, ManC is ahead of Arsenal, who are 2nd with 36 goals. There are set rules for all these set pieces and clubs should focus on trying to do their own part and leave Arsenal alone. I guess d pressure is getting on all of them. COYG
If opponents don’t want arsenal having set pieces then stop playing them with low blocks . Grow some b!!!s and come out and play them. I DONT THINK SO.
True!!!
Absolutely 💯. They do what they have to do to stay in games when playing against top sides and in particular, Arsenal, so let Arsenal do what they have to do to win d matches. Set pieces – corners, free kicks and throw-ins are part of the game and corners in particular is a reflection of the pressure on one hand and PARKING D BUS, with their low blocks. They should also play expansive football so that all the fans can be entertained and not call out only Arsenal. Moreover, Arsenal is 5th in row or line of highest scoring deadballs per goal ratio at 38%.. Crystal Palace is 1st. In open play, Arsenal is 2nd behind ManC with 36 goals of their 58 goals scored. It showed dat, Arsenal is a high scoring side having scored the highest number of goals in d EPL.They should deal with this and leave Arsenal alone… its distracting..
Let’s see how quickly his team take corners and throw-ins, or will he waste time as well?
For me this is a bug bear of mine. It’s true to say we take an age over every set-piece, especially when winning.
For me all this time wasting is shot changing the paying fan. I’m sure they come to be entertained by their team, and want to watch a game of football. Not watch said player taking an age over every set-piece.
And lets face it with the prices that clubs charge, the least they can do is actually play the game the way its meant to be played.
Which is?
Joshua Bamigboye,
What do mean which is?. If there’s a fan out there that goes to watch a game where their player takes an age over every set-piece and think that’s value for money, then quite honestly I question their mentality.
But each to their own, as they say. 🤷♂️
@Derek, I hear u. However, are we to say that this is an Arsenal issue? Also, haven’t we seen Refs give Arsenal yellow card for time wasting in taking a throw-in? I am not sure that any other club has been penalised with a yellow card to an outfield player… D Refs are there to ensure the rules are followed with the time taken to deliver d balls.. we didn’t have dis problem until Arsenal started effectively utilising dem. Anyways, so many games to play. Fans should also call out their teams who are fun of playing low blocks and parking d bus. Maybe some clubs wouldn’t waste time anymore.
BTW, have u noticed how d low block, bus parking teams come out wen they are chasing d game? Even top teams only play low blocks wen they want to protect protect their leads. ManC did it with Arsenal at d Emirates, etc.
There is a very simple solution to the time wasting issues.Its about time we replicated the time keeping system used in Rugby Union where the clock is operated by an independant official and immediately stopped in the event of injuries , substitutions and set pieces which would include throw ins , corners and free kicks.Referees have enough on their plate without taking responsibility for time keeping and i am sure a large majority of football fans would welcome a change which would eliminate the current indeterminate “extra time” period.
That’s majorly what d 4th referee is meant to.do in consultation with the center referee. We have seen wia the on-field Assistant Refs and d 4th ref or official has called d attention of the center referee to an incident he or she missed. Arsenal has become a pain in d butt of other clubs and officials just bcos they r finding a way to work within d rules. Anyways, d EPL refs are about the most inconsistent referees in d world.. since Sir Fergie retired, we haven’t heard of Fergie time again..
Grandad,
I’ve mentioned this on more than one occasion over time. It’s a no brainer as far as I’m concerned. The clock stops when the ball is not in play for whatever reason, and the clock only restarts once the ball is back in play.
Then these players can waste as much time as they like, only they won’t be wasting time will they. A simple solution.
MLS has been trialing a couple of new rules to eliminate some time wasting, which IFAB is expected to approve for implementation nationally, maybe at the World Cup. 1) A player being subbed off must leave the field within ten seconds, or the team has to play a man down for one minute, and 2) again, a team will play one down for a minute if an injured player remains on the ground for more than fifteen seconds following an injury. I’ve watched some MLS this last week on Apple TV, which has been added free to my subscription, and noticed there is so little time wasted of any kind.
Neither of these rules applies to keepers.
Jax,
All these tests to stop time wasting. Just stop the clock when the ball is dead. Clock starts again when ball is back in play. Simple solution, problem solved.👍
Derek, as I remember it, the issues with stopping the clock was that it could add 30 minutes plus to a game, which might cause travelling fans to miss transport connections etc.
Jax,
Have kick-offs 30 minutes earlier then. 😂🤣👍
Derek, Yeah, that might work if trains, coaches etc waited for later than scheduled finishes, especially in situations where extra time and penalties add maybe 45 minutes to a game plus added time for stopped clocks could take it well past an hour added. I’m not looking for reasons not to have this system, as it doesn’t affect me, but it must have been studied comprehensively over the years and rugby seems to get by OK with it, but I definitely remember the FA or the Football League using that as a major factor for not implementing it, way back in the sixties.
Jax,
That would be a first, the FA considering fans.🤷♂️
Jax, what happens if a player has a serious injury, like concussion, an ACL or has broken his leg or ankle ? Would his team still have to play with 10 men for 1 minute once the game restarts ?
Herr Drier, I assume they mean after the injury has been treated, but I did think the same as you. Not seen any bad injuries in MLS so far. If you Google football new rule changes etc, you’ll probably get the Guardian’s article from a few days back on it.
👍
Huzeler’s call for changes on set pieces just hours to Brighton vs Arsenal kick-off sounds to me like intimidating the match officials. Why didn’t he register his observation and suggestions at earlier days other than today. I suppose he should also call on officials to do something about low blocks by teams..trans that park the bus. Set pieces and bus parking are all match strategies by teams employed by teams to win games.