Arsenal fans handed “value for money” dilemma by rival Premier League coach

Nobody ever said the Premier League could only be won by playing “well.” After all, what exactly does “playing well” mean? Increasingly, rival coaches and fanbases seem to think it means doing the exact opposite of what Mikel Arteta’s team does. Ironically, that same approach is precisely what has Arsenal sitting comfortably atop the Premier League standings. For some time now, the title race has begun to feel like everyone against Arsenal.

Their latest win over Brighton (1–0), which put them seven points clear of Manchester City, only intensified the debate. Arteta’s side took all three points thanks to a glaring mistake from the home goalkeeper despite managing just two shots on target, holding 40% possession and producing only 0.4 expected goals compared with Brighton’s 0.83. The numbers – and the style – left many at the Amex Stadium furious.

“Arsenal are making their own rules. I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way. The limit should be set by the Premier League – they can do whatever they want,” Brighton coach Fabian Hürzeler said bluntly after the game.

“Did anyone enjoy this game of soccer? Not at all. If you asked everyone in this room if they liked it, maybe one person would raise their hand – because he’s a big Arsenal fan.” He also questioned the value of money for the fans as you can listen to in the above clip. The German manager had already voiced similar concerns before kickoff.

Hürzeler was not alone inside Brighton. Midfielder Pascal Gross argued that “only one team tried to play football.”

His criticism was even sharper than his manager’s. “There are no words to describe what happened with Arsenal,” he said. “I’ve already given my opinion. I’m very proud of our fans for the way they supported us. Everyone can make their own judgment, but I’m sure nobody likes watching games like that. Football fans want to see football, not time-wasting.”

The Brighton player also accused Arsenal of manipulating set pieces. “On corners they block us – they don’t even look at the ball,” he said. “That’s how it works, but it’s also why they keep clean sheets. They defend aggressively and right at the limit. It breaks the rhythm. If you watch their games, you’ll see they’re very good at it. They take their time preparing everything, and that benefits them.” Gross may have a point – at least statistically.

According to Opta, Arsenal take longer than any other team in the Premier League to deliver corners this season. Across the campaign they have spent more than two hours in total preparing them – an average of 4 minutes and 18 seconds per game. Each corner takes an average of 44 seconds to be taken, the longest delay of any side in the competition. With 16 goals from corners in 29 games, the London club is one away from the all-time Premier League record for goals scored from corners in a single season.

From “Boring Boring Arsenal” to “Set Piece FC”

Still, the criticism is nothing new. Arsenal’s style has been called “boring” for some time, and online the team is often nicknamed “Set Piece FC.” Some even joke that the Gunners play more like a rugby team than a soccer side. Arteta’s response to Hürzeler’s comments was pure sarcasm: “What a surprise.”

The debate intensified after Arsenal’s previous win – a 2–1 victory over Chelsea in a London derby decided by three goals from corners. That match prompted another pointed reaction from a Premier League manager, Arne Slot. “Most of the Premier League games I watch right now, I don’t like,” he said. “They’re always interesting because they’re very competitive, but when I watch other leagues I don’t think set pieces are this important. Do I like it? My soccer heart doesn’t like it. When I think about soccer, I think about Barcelona 10 or 15 years ago. Now it’s not as pleasant to watch, but it’s always competitive.”

Pep Guardiola was more cautious. The Manchester City manager admitted he “completely understood why Arne Slot said that, and in some ways I agree,” but he also stressed that complaining solves nothing. “You can complain,” he said, “but you also have to adapt.” Despite Arteta once serving as Guardiola’s assistant, the tactical approach of the San Sebastián native now looks very different from the possession-heavy philosophy still associated with City.

According to The Telegraph, before the Brighton game 58.6% of Arsenal’s goals had come from open play, with the remaining 41.4% produced from set pieces. Those numbers contrast sharply with Manchester City’s distribution: just 15.8% of their goals have come from set plays, while 84.2% have been scored in open play. The statistical divide highlights two very different ways of chasing the same prize.

The criticism has not been limited to coaches. Former players have also weighed in. After the Arsenal–Chelsea game, Yaya Touré told Sky Sports he was disappointed by the spectacle. “We want to see fluid games with passing, attacking moves, chances to score,” he said. “Instead we saw three goals from set pieces. Winning was obviously very important for Arsenal, but as a fan I want to see more.”

John Obi Mikel offered an even harsher verdict on The Obi One Podcast. “It was difficult to watch. It hurt me to watch that game,” he said. “Not much happened. You expected more from the teams. Arsenal won, yes, but they played badly. It was horrible to watch. There was no creativity. They’re cheating. Are you telling me those corners are legal? When I saw the corners and free kicks, what was happening in the box was chaos – and that’s exactly what Arsenal want. They want the pushing, the grappling, the holding. It’s a nightmare. It’s illegal. The referees cannot allow this to continue.”

Years ago Arsenal were criticized for being too soft. Now they are accused of being too physical. This modern version of “Boring Boring Arsenal” – the nickname used before Arsène Wenger’s arrival in 1996 – clearly divides opinion across England.

Yet while rivals complain, Arsenal keep winning. And winning. And winning again. That’s why they lead the Premier League, remain contenders in the Champions League, and have reached the Carabao Cup final. Arteta knows exactly what headline he wants to read: “I love my players and the way we compete.”

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