The sight of Joe Gomez launching long throw-ins into the box in the dying minutes of Liverpool's eventual 1-0 victory away at Nottingham Forest was as refreshing as it was indicative of the state of the game - both this individual match, a turgid display that Liverpool did not deserve to win; and the English game at large.

The 2025/26 Premier League season has seen fans and pundits alike lament the increasing importance of set pieces and physicality over technical ingenuity, with accusations thrown on what feels like a weekly basis that the English top flight has become boring.

No longer the sole remit of bottom-half strugglers, league leaders Arsenal have led the charge towards a more conservative approach, with 18 of their 56 league goals this season coming from set pieces (excluding penalties).

Arsenal fans have embraced this shift - understandably, considering the strong position it has put them in - celebrating their team winning corners as other teams would direct free...