What's Happening?
Arsenal has engaged Thomas Gronnemark, a renowned throw-in coach, to improve their long-throw capabilities. Gronnemark, who previously worked with Liverpool from 2018 to 2023 and currently consults for Brentford, is known for transforming teams' throw-in strategies. Under his guidance, Brentford has become the Premier League's leading team in scoring from long throws, achieving nine goals since last season. Arsenal, in contrast, has not scored from a long throw during the same period. The move to hire Gronnemark is part of Arsenal's broader strategy to enhance their set-piece effectiveness, following the hiring of other former Brentford coaches. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta aims to make the team proficient in all aspects of play, including long throws, to gain
marginal advantages in matches.
Why It's Important?
The hiring of Thomas Gronnemark by Arsenal signifies a strategic shift towards maximizing set-piece opportunities, which can be crucial in tight matches. By improving their long-throw technique, Arsenal hopes to create more scoring opportunities and enhance their overall competitiveness in the Premier League. This move could potentially influence other teams to invest in specialized coaching to exploit similar marginal gains. For Arsenal, success in this area could translate into better performance in domestic and international competitions, potentially leading to more victories and trophies. The decision also reflects a growing trend in football where clubs seek to optimize every aspect of play to achieve success.
What's Next?
With Gronnemark's expertise, Arsenal will likely focus on training sessions to develop players' long-throw skills. Key players like Declan Rice may be targeted for specialized training to become proficient in executing effective long throws. The impact of this coaching could be observed in upcoming matches, where Arsenal might employ new throw-in strategies. Additionally, if successful, this approach could influence other clubs to adopt similar tactics, potentially leading to a broader evolution in how set-pieces are utilized in football. Arsenal's progress in this area will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
