I was labelled a dinosaur for focusing on dead-ball situations and long throws when I managed Stoke City during our promotion to the Premier League in 2008. But, as it happens, my pragmatic approach was always going to be vindicated because, let's face it, set pieces are still one of the most effective ways to score goals.
It's no coincidence that so many top teams now have specialist coaches dedicated to this area. Arteta has brought in Nicolas Jover to work with his players on corners and free-kicks, and they're enjoying huge success. Mikel Arteta is one of the most influential coaches in the Premier League today, and his willingness to adapt and learn from other successful managers is a testament to his humility.
The fact that big clubs like Arsenal are now using set pieces as a key part of their game plan is no surprise. For years, it was seen as old-fashioned or even laughable - but that's changed now. Attacking set-plays and defensive ones both offer huge advantages on the pitch. Arteta has acknowledged that clean sheets are crucial to winning games, which means he's also learned how important it is to prevent opponents from scoring.
Set pieces have become more prevalent in the Premier League over the past decade or so. They're now a key part of many teams' strategies, and their importance should be celebrated rather than ridiculed. When Stoke were at the Britannia Stadium, our throw-ins often became events - fans would cheer as Rory Delap launched the ball into the box.
Today, it's Arsenal who are creating excitement around set pieces with their own long throws. Arteta has brought a new level of sophistication to this area, and his players are enjoying huge success. What matters most is winning, not what other teams think about your approach - as Sean Dyche so eloquently pointed out on my podcast with Mick McCarthy.
The fashion of football may change all the time, but that's no reason to doubt its core principles. Set pieces will always be an effective way to score goals, and those who understand their value will continue to thrive in the game.
It's no coincidence that so many top teams now have specialist coaches dedicated to this area. Arteta has brought in Nicolas Jover to work with his players on corners and free-kicks, and they're enjoying huge success. Mikel Arteta is one of the most influential coaches in the Premier League today, and his willingness to adapt and learn from other successful managers is a testament to his humility.
The fact that big clubs like Arsenal are now using set pieces as a key part of their game plan is no surprise. For years, it was seen as old-fashioned or even laughable - but that's changed now. Attacking set-plays and defensive ones both offer huge advantages on the pitch. Arteta has acknowledged that clean sheets are crucial to winning games, which means he's also learned how important it is to prevent opponents from scoring.
Set pieces have become more prevalent in the Premier League over the past decade or so. They're now a key part of many teams' strategies, and their importance should be celebrated rather than ridiculed. When Stoke were at the Britannia Stadium, our throw-ins often became events - fans would cheer as Rory Delap launched the ball into the box.
Today, it's Arsenal who are creating excitement around set pieces with their own long throws. Arteta has brought a new level of sophistication to this area, and his players are enjoying huge success. What matters most is winning, not what other teams think about your approach - as Sean Dyche so eloquently pointed out on my podcast with Mick McCarthy.
The fashion of football may change all the time, but that's no reason to doubt its core principles. Set pieces will always be an effective way to score goals, and those who understand their value will continue to thrive in the game.
arsenal & arteta are proof of that. it's not like ppl used to think long throws were old fashioned but now stoke fans still get nostalgic about Rory Delap's throw ins 
and yeah clean sheets are key so if ur coach is gonna focus on preventing goals u gotta expect u'll create chances too 
. People used to think it was old-school or whatever, but now big teams like Arsenal are using them as a key part of their strategy and getting awesome results 
. It's all about adapting and learning from other successful managers, right? Mikel Arteta is definitely one of the most influential coaches out there atm 
. And I'm loving how Sean Dyche called out people who doubt set pieces - it's time to give them some credit! 
. The game may change fashion all the time, but its core principles are still the same - create scoring chances and defend well 
. And let's be real, set pieces can be pretty exciting, especially when done right 
. Long throws like Arsenal's are just mesmerizing 
!
. It's still early days for him and Arsenal, and we've seen teams come and go in the Premier League with similar 'adaptations'. Still, it's great to see set pieces being taken more seriously... I was at that Stoke City game against Chelsea when Delap launched a throw-in into the box, and it was absolute pandemonium 
I'm loving this set-piece revolution! Stats say 25% of Premier League goals are scored from corners & free-kicks, while 22% come from throw-ins 
. It's no surprise top teams like Arsenal & Liverpool have specialist coaches for these situations 
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mikel arteta's so humble 2 & willing 2 learn from other successful managers that's what makes him a top gaffer 
love how u brought up sean dyche on ur podcast too 
what i dont get is why ppl used 2 think set pieces were old-fashioned 
all it takes is a good thrower like rory delap or now arsenal's own players 2 make that corner count 
. But seriously, it's amazing how things come full circle. Mikel Arteta's willingness to learn and adapt is what makes him such a great coach, and now big teams are taking notice of the importance of set pieces. I'm also loving that Stoke City fans got to enjoy those epic throw-ins back in the day 
. It just goes to show that you can't dismiss something just because it's old-fashioned - sometimes it's still the best approach!