The Premier League has come under criticism from one its own players amid the current trend of set-piece importance.
Dominant league leaders Arsenal have come under-fire from outsiders for their set-piece focus – with Mikel Arteta’s side having scored 19 goals directly from this (corners, free-kicks and/or throw-ins).
That tally is the most in the English top-flight this season with Newcastle second on the list, having scored five fewer set-pieces.
Tottenham are among a cluster of teams who have scored 13 set-pieces this season, but their forward Mathys Tel is not a fan of the style of football.
Speaking on the Zack Nani Foot & Live podcast, Tel didn’t hold back – brandishing the Premier League as a ‘zoo’.
‘I’ll tell you the truth, yes, it’s [the Premier League] not a spectacle,’ he said. ‘It’s boring to watch; it’s really just a clash between two teams with their own ideas.
Mathys Tel (centre) has labelled the Premier League as a ‘zoo’ when it comes to set-pieces
Arsenal have scored 19 goals from set-pieces (corners, free-kicks and/or throw-ins) this term
‘There’s less flair, no Vinicius pulling off a sombrero flick, no dribbling, no Kylian (Mbappe) unleashing a burst of speed.
‘I’d say it’s more structured, perhaps too much so, with clear strategies, all those set pieces, little details that can sometimes make the difference. But sometimes, you might think it’s just too much.’
‘The scuffles in the box in front of the goalkeepers? I told the assistant coach in charge of set pieces: “Don’t put me on the marking”. Because it’s a zoo!
‘We’re all stuck together, everyone’s pushing each other, throwing each other to the ground, holding on… Forget it. The goalkeeper can’t get out, he can’t see.’
Thankfully for Tel, Tottenham’s next match isn’t in the Premier League as they travel to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tusday night.
