There is nothing quite similar to Premier League matches in the world of football. This top-tier English competition has remained at the top of the charts for a couple of decades in terms of excitement and entertainment. One of the main reasons is the unique football style, which keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
Despite the fast-paced attacks and strong defences, there’s been a resurgence of long throw-ins this season. What was once reserved for lower-table teams looking to cause chaos and force an upset has been adopted across the table. This approach looks to have become a new meta in the league; a far cry from the days of Rory Delap at Stoke. It’s been effective for the likes of Sunderland and league leaders Arsenal, but will this tactic spread to the continent?
The Comeback of Long Throws
Older Premier League fans are well aware of teams using long throws to their advantage. Many clubs used to attempt long throws on a regular basis, especially smaller teams.
Not so long ago, Tony Pulis’ Stoke were using almost every throw-in to launch the ball into the box. The master throw-in taker at that time was the one and only Rory Delap.
He had a very hard and fast throw that looked like a cross. But we must also acknowledge the strong winds that circulated around Britannia Stadium.
Now, after years of short and safe throw-ins, more and more clubs have returned to the good old long throws. The current average final third long throws per game in the Premier League is 3.99. Just as a comparison, in the last 5 seasons, the numbers went between 0.89 and 1.52.
This trend also affects numerous punters who started placing bets on long throws. Bookmakers such as made sure to go in their favour and include such betting options on Premier League matches.
England’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, was one of a few managers who acknowledged the long throw trend. He noted that this football play matters and that they’ll talk about it once England arrives at the 2026 World Cup. Tuchel also mentioned long goal kicks during his statement.
Long Throws in European Competitions
Top English teams may have started, or returned, to this trend, but they aren’t the only ones involved in it. Many other European clubs included long throws in their match tactics as a way of getting an advantage.
Long throw-ins attracted the clubs’ attention due to their effectiveness. Among them are mostly clubs from Italy and France. But we also see Bundesliga and Eredivisie teams using them more and more.
The majority of Spanish teams still recommend safe short throws that ensure ball possession. But things may change even in their competition, LaLiga, in the coming years.
It’s worth noting that English clubs managed to bring the long throws trend in all 3 UEFA club competitions. Many opposition teams have noticed the effectiveness of this set-piece weapon and decided to acquire and use it.
Interestingly, though, it’s not only the smaller teams that have been able to weaponise this tactic in UEFA competitions. Perhaps the best example is Arsenal, who currently top the Champions League group phase table and are favourites to win the competition according to the Champions League odds from NetBet Sport.
Arsenal developed a reputation for scoring from corners in recent seasons, and their emphasis on long throws seems the next natural development of this. By overloading the box with imposing players like Gabriel Magalhães, they have managed to create chaos, giving them high quality chances to convert.
Whether or not this trend is adopted by the European super clubs remains to be seen. However, if Arsenal are successful in their quest for Champions League glory, it’ll be tough for other clubs to deny their effectiveness. In such an event, it wouldn’t be surprising to see other clubs implementing the strategy next year.
Long Throws Stats in the Premier League
This Premier League season marked the return of the highly appreciated long throws. The stats indicate that every single top-flight team attempted at least 3 long throws in the first 9 matches. These throws went at least 20 meters beyond the opposition’s penalty field.
Brentford is the team with the most such throws into the penalty area, with 47 in total. Next up are Crystal Palace with 38, Sunderland with 33, and Bournemouth with 30.
The best at taking long throw-ins are Crystal Palace. Its players managed to attempt 18 shots from this form of set piece. They successfully found their teammates 34% of the time. Their expected goal parameter from this football play is 2.03.
Palace and Brentford lead the way in terms of scoring goals from long throws. Both sides put the ball in the net on 2 separate occasions. Just as a comparison, Premier League teams scored once every 27 matches from a long throw in 2024/25. This season, clubs score one such goal every 11.25 matches.
We must mention that this rising trend also reduced the in-play time in the league. As a result, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) held a meeting about limiting the time needed to take a throw-in.
A similar rule is currently in effect for goal-kicks. If the keeper fails to release the ball within 8 seconds, the opposite team will get a corner kick. Let’s wait and see how the IFAB deals with this issue.
