Quick Read
- Brentford leads the Premier League in long throw-in attempts, scoring 3 goals from 70 throws so far in 2025.
- Six teams have netted goals from long throw-ins in the first 13 games, matching last season’s total.
- Arsenal are five points clear atop the league after defeating Brentford, while Chelsea’s title hopes have been dismissed by pundits.
- Manchester City continue to score freely but struggle with defensive consistency.
- Liverpool salvaged a draw against Sunderland, but the team’s confidence and form remain in question.
Brentford and the Long Throw-In Phenomenon: Football’s Unexpected Edge
In the swirling drama of the Premier League, innovation often arrives in unexpected forms. This season, one of football’s oldest weapons—the long throw-in—has returned to center stage, and Brentford have crowned themselves the masters. With 70 attempts already this campaign and three goals to show for it, Brentford’s throw-in strategy is making waves, forcing rivals to rethink their approach and sparking a tactical revolution across England’s top flight.
Opta defines a ‘long’ throw-in as one that travels over 21.9 yards. As of matchday 13, the Premier League has witnessed 520 such throws into the box—already yielding 12 goals and one own goal. Last season, the tally was just 14 across the entire year. The message is clear: teams are not just experimenting, they’re investing in the art of the throw.
Brentford’s success isn’t accidental. Behind their rise is specialist coach Thomas Grønnemark, whose expertise has shaped not only Brentford but also Liverpool, Ajax, and Borussia Dortmund. “Football is a low-scoring sport. Even one goal can win you the game, bring you success for the whole season,” he tells ESPN. Clubs, hungry for any edge, are mining data to uncover their next ‘golden nugget’—and the long throw-in has become a prized asset.
The Anatomy of a World-Class Long Throw
What does it take to launch a ball over 37 yards with accuracy and threat? Grønnemark breaks it down: teams need more than one skilled thrower and at least three ‘good hitters’—players who can win aerial duels or capitalize on chaos in the box. The ideal thrower falls into one of three categories: tall with long arms (think Mikkel Qvist, who once hurled throws 43 yards), explosive with fast-twitch muscle fibers (like Roberto Carlos or Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo), or highly flexible, able to generate whip and torque (Stoke’s Rory Delap and Brentford’s Michael Kayode).
The technical side is equally complex. From foot placement and grip to the timing of release and energy transfer, Grønnemark lists over 30 parameters he coaches. The run-up, body mechanics, and even psychological readiness all play a part. It’s no longer enough to simply ‘hurl it in there’—the best teams treat throw-ins as set pieces, practiced and perfected.
But with innovation comes risk. Poor execution can backfire, as seen in Arsenal’s recent win over Burnley: a failed long throw led to a rapid counter and a goal for the opposition. The spectacle also suffers when teams take too long preparing, draining the pace and excitement for fans. “If we see too many low-quality long throw-ins, and have more waiting time, we have less entertainment for the fans,” admits Grønnemark.
Title Race: Arsenal’s Surge and Chelsea’s Stumble
While tactical trends evolve, the fight for the Premier League crown remains as fierce as ever. Arsenal have seized the initiative, moving five points clear at the top after a clinical 2-0 win over Brentford. Mikel Arteta’s squad, freshened by three changes, found the net through Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka, underlining their depth and consistency.
Manchester City, meanwhile, continue to dazzle and frustrate. Their recent nine-goal thriller against Fulham showcased attacking prowess—Phil Foden netting a brace, Erling Haaland scoring his 100th league goal—but defensive lapses threaten their ambitions, with just one clean sheet in their last six games.
Chelsea’s hopes, however, are fading. Despite a spirited draw with Arsenal, Gary Neville was blunt in his assessment on Sky Sports: “Chelsea have no chance of winning the Premier League title.” Nine points adrift, their defeat at Leeds exposed flaws in goal, defense, and up front. Neville’s verdict? “They’ll be in the top four or five, but they’re short in goal, short at centre-back and short up top.” Even with talent and depth, the Blues lack the elite quality needed to mount a serious title challenge.
New Faces, Old Pressure: Liverpool and Sunderland’s Battle
Elsewhere, Liverpool’s quest to recapture their early-season form has hit turbulence. Big-money signings have struggled to settle, and a late deflected equalizer from Florian Wirtz against Sunderland saved the champions from a tenth defeat in 14 games. Sunderland, resurgent and optimistic, nearly snatched victory at Anfield—a goalline clearance by Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa proved decisive in stoppage time.
The match, chronicled by The Guardian, highlighted the razor-thin margins at the top. Sunderland’s Chemsdine Talbi put the visitors ahead with a deflected strike, only for Liverpool to claw back through Wirtz’s fortuitous effort. As the pressure mounts, confidence wavers—“Liverpool look totally bereft of confidence,” one fan lamented, marveling at their fall from early dominance.
Football’s Evolution: Data, Discipline, and the Human Element
As clubs chase the next marginal gain, the Premier League’s landscape grows ever more complex. The long throw-in—once a quirky tactic, now a refined weapon—embodies this shift. Teams are hiring specialists, auditioning players, and analyzing every nuance. Yet for all the science, football’s drama remains deeply human: moments of brilliance, costly mistakes, and the relentless search for advantage.
Will Brentford’s innovation spark lasting change? Can Arsenal maintain their lead, or will City’s firepower outweigh their defensive flaws? Is Chelsea’s project destined to fall short, or could Liverpool’s star signings finally deliver?
The Premier League’s 2025 season is a testament to evolution—not just in tactics, but in ambition and adaptation. Brentford’s mastery of the long throw has shifted the balance, but as title contenders rise and fall, it’s the blend of data, discipline, and raw competitive spirit that keeps English football at the heart of the global game.