Who is tired of scrum football?
In English football today, when there’s a corner kick, you see players grappling and pushing each other inside the six-yard box, an area that used to be reserved for protecting the goalkeeper's role. It’s like a rugby scrum triggered by minor fouls, isn’t it?
And don’t blame Arsenal — everyone plays like this nowadays.
It depends on the tactic: some players get involved with the goalkeeper from the start, sometimes one, sometimes more, or they approach the keeper just before the corner is taken. They pretend to watch the ball but block the attacker’s path. Referees on the field and VAR officials have been fooled many times.
Throughout the season, set pieces have gained importance. Whenever there’s a free kick or corner, you see each team’s set-piece coach signaling. The most notable is Nicholas Jover of the Premier League leaders. (He started coaching set pieces at Brentford before Mikel Arteta recommended him to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City).
But this coach thinks it’s become much more intense lately. Many games show players crowding and pushing inside the six-yard box, sometimes colliding with the goalkeeper until he staggers or is pushed over the goal line before the corner is taken.
And this is without even mentioning Arsenal.
Ruud Gullit (nicknamed 'The Snake' since childhood, now 63) said he stopped watching football because it’s no longer fun. Watching Arsenal vs. Chelsea, he saw players trying to create something from corners and throw-ins, saw the ball boy ready with a towel for players. He hopes this isn’t the direction football is heading. He’s waiting to see players dribbling past defenders again, like Lamine Jamal, instead of just passing, passing, passing.
Does anyone feel the same as the former Dutch star? Do you feel the fun is missing?
His compatriot Arne Slot also opened up, saying when people ask him about football, he thinks of Barcelona from 10 to 15 years ago. Every Sunday night, he hoped to watch Barcelona play. But nowadays, most Premier League games Arne watches aren’t fun at all.
Recently, Fabian Huesler, the handsome Brighton coach (any ladies calling him 'gym teacher,' confess now), expressed dissatisfaction with Arsenal’s style. He accused them of time-wasting, taking too long to take corners, free kicks, throw-ins, with an average of 31.4 seconds per set piece.
Again, don’t blame Arsenal alone. It depends on the match. Brighton themselves have wasted more time in other games they won comfortably.
Regarding slow play and lack of effort, believe me, Arsenal is unlikely to be the first team accused.
But near the end of the season, if it becomes 'boring Arsenal' in many games, ending like the seagulls’ nest results, Mikel Arteta, his squad, and the Gunners probably don’t mind.
I’m not sure if Premier League officials or referees are concerned about this boredom and want to change direction as Gullit and Slot suggest. Most stadiums, especially famous teams’, are packed. Season tickets sell out quickly, sometimes impossible to get in for ten years. The domestic TV rights deal worth £6.7 billion just started its first season of a four-year contract.
Still, I secretly hope for some rule changes. Pushing and crowding the goalkeeper should be a foul. This scrum football we see has gone too far.
Football trends often shift based on success.
But it’s strange that by 2026, we see such emphasis on long throw-ins into the penalty area and highly complex, planned corner kicks.
Little Joe