The 2025-26 Premier League season has seen an unexpected surge in the use of free kicks, long throws and corners. Below you will see information about is news which has been summarized The Football Insight.
What was once viewed as a sign of limited creativity has now become a dominant strategy across all 20 clubs. Teams are leaning heavily on rehearsed routines, physical battles and aerial strength to gain an advantage, making set pieces one of the defining themes of the campaign. This shift has split fans across the country.
Some believe the trend brings excitement and unpredictability, while others feel it has made matches more mechanical and less enjoyable. Critics argue that excessive reliance on dead-ball situations has taken away from open-play creativity and the traditional “flow” of football. Former Arsenal defender Gael Clichy is firmly in the latter camp. He believes the sport has drifted away from expressive, attacking football and he now has a plan to encourage teams to change course.
Clichy’s Radical Solution to Revive Attacking Football
Clichy, who spent eight seasons at Arsenal, says the Premier League is losing its identity. In an interview with The Athletic, he proposed a bold points-based system designed to reward attacking intent. His idea: teams should earn an extra 0.5 points for scoring a third goal, even in defeat. This, he argues, would push managers to keep attacking instead of sitting back.
He believes such a rule would reduce negative tactics and inspire matches with more open, expressive play. Clichy also floated ideas like converting throw-ins into kick-ins suggestions he knows may sound strange today but could spark meaningful change.
He compared his proposal to the once-radical rule that banned goalkeepers from picking up back-passes, a move that reshaped modern football. For Clichy, innovation is necessary. The game evolves, and rules must evolve with it if football is to remain exciting and true to its spirit.
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No Criticism for Arteta Despite Arsenal’s Set-Piece Strength
Although Clichy dislikes the league-wide set-piece obsession, he refuses to criticise Mikel Arteta or Arsenal for embracing it. The Gunners now lead the Premier League in corner efficiency, using the aerial dominance of players like Gabriel Magalhães to their advantage. Clichy says Arteta has simply adapted to the demands of modern football and done what is necessary to compete.
He notes that Arsenal under Arsène Wenger played a very different style, but that era cannot be used as a benchmark forever. Football has changed, and comparing today’s players and tactics to those from 20 years ago is unrealistic. What matters, Clichy argues, is winning and Arteta’s team is doing exactly that. For him, the “Arsenal way” is not about style; it’s about success. If a set-piece goal earns three points, it still counts as good football in the modern game.
Derby Day Ahead as Arsenal Push to Stay Top
With the international break over, Arsenal now shift focus to one of their biggest fixtures of the season: the north London derby against Tottenham. Arteta’s side sit top of the table with 26 points, while Spurs trail by eight but remain firmly in the hunt for a Champions League spot. The match at the Emirates promises intensity, rivalry and high stakes. Arsenal will hope their set-piece efficiency continues, especially in a derby where fine margins often decide the outcome.
Spurs, managed by Thomas Frank, will be looking to disrupt the league leaders and close the gap in the standings. The clash offers a perfect stage for Arteta’s men to prove that their blend of physicality and precision can keep them ahead in the title race. As both sides prepare, Clichy’s debate over football’s direction adds another layer to the conversation but for Arsenal, the only goal this weekend is victory. Follow footballcoasters.co.uk for weekly deep dives into football’s biggest story.