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Arsenal’s Style Draws Criticism Despite Winning Record
Arsenal’s playing style has become a focal point of criticism this season, with rival fans and media figures labeling the Gunners as “boring” and suggesting they would be “the worst champions ever” should they claim the Premier League title.
These criticisms come despite Mikel Arteta’s impressive record this season, having guided his team to 35 wins from 46 matches across all competitions, with just three defeats while scoring 101 goals in the process.
The debate intensified following Arsenal’s recent 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium—their third win against the Seagulls this season. Brighton’s 33-year-old manager Fabian Hürzeler didn’t mince words after the match, stating: “Only one team tried to play football… they are doing their own rules. I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way.”
When these comments were relayed to Arteta, the Spaniard responded with a dismissive “what a surprise,” suggesting tensions between the two managers won’t be cooling anytime soon.
Hürzeler’s primary complaint centered on what he perceived as time-wasting tactics, particularly highlighting moments when Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya received treatment, stopping play on multiple occasions. But do the statistics support these allegations?
According to data from Opta’s The Analyst, Arsenal spent an average of 31.4 seconds to get the ball back into play from restarts during the Brighton match. While this might seem excessive at first glance, context is crucial—there have been 195 instances this season where Premier League teams have taken longer than Arsenal did during their 291 matches played so far.
The total delay time for Arsenal in the Brighton match amounted to 1,851 seconds—just over half an hour. However, Opta notes that 21 teams have already wasted more time in Premier League fixtures this season, suggesting Arsenal’s approach was not particularly unusual.
Looking at season-long averages, Arsenal ranks 15th in the Premier League for restart delay time, with an average of 30.2 seconds per restart. This places them firmly in the middle of the pack—far from the worst offenders in the league. Brentford (32.3 seconds) and Sunderland (33.1 seconds) take significantly longer to restart play, while Liverpool (25.8 seconds) and Brighton (26.5 seconds) are among the quickest.
In fairness to Hürzeler, Brighton does rank second in the league for quick restarts, but the difference between teams across the board is minimal. Arsenal’s corner kicks do take the longest in the league to deliver at 44.5 seconds, though they only had three corners at the Amex, limiting the impact on overall game time.
This corner-kick strategy appears deliberate. Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s set-piece coach, reportedly believes that extending the delay before delivery increases psychological pressure on opponents and can cause defenders to lose concentration—a tactical approach rather than simple time-wasting.
Context is also important when considering Arsenal’s approach to game management. They’ve been in the lead for 45% of their Premier League minutes this season—second only to Manchester City—while trailing for just 9% of the time. This commanding position naturally leads to a more measured approach to protect their advantage.
The statistics paint a clear picture: the accusations that Arsenal are “playing by their own rules” lack factual basis. The quadruple-chasing Premier League leaders employ tactical approaches within normal parameters for the league, and perhaps deserve more respect rather than criticism from what some might characterize as jealous observers.
As the title race enters its final stages, Arsenal’s focus remains on results rather than the opinions of rivals. With their impressive winning record and goal tally, the numbers speak far louder than the noise surrounding their playing style.
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5 Comments
I can understand Hürzeler’s perspective, but Arsenal have been dominant this season and their tactics have clearly been working for them. As long as they’re playing within the rules, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with employing time-wasting tactics if it helps them secure vital wins.
It’s an interesting debate, but ultimately Arsenal’s results speak for themselves. While Hürzeler may prefer a more attacking style, there’s nothing wrong with Arsenal’s pragmatic approach if it’s helping them win games. Arteta seems unfazed by the criticism, which suggests he’s confident in his team’s approach.
It’s interesting to see the debate around Arsenal’s playing style this season. While some may find it ‘boring’, their impressive results and goal-scoring record suggest they’re getting the job done effectively. Hürzeler’s criticism seems a bit strong – every manager has their own approach to winning.
Arteta’s dismissive response to Hürzeler’s comments suggests there’s some underlying tension between the two managers. While I respect Hürzeler’s preference for a more attacking, entertaining style, Arsenal’s pragmatic approach has delivered results. At the end of the day, winning is what matters most in professional football.
Arsenal’s style may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but their ability to grind out results is undeniable. Hürzeler’s criticism seems a bit harsh – every team has their own way of playing, and as long as Arsenal are following the rules, they should be free to employ the tactics that work best for them.