Ahead of Wednesday’s clash with league leaders Arsenal, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has called for stricter rules to combat what he describes as “dark arts” at set-pieces.
Hurzeler specifically targeted the Gunners’ tactical delays, claiming they often spend over a minute to take a single corner.
“Every supporter pays a lot of money… they want to see a football event, not 40 minutes when the game is not running,” Hurzeler said.
While Arsenal’s set-piece efficiency is fueling their title charge, the data supports Hurzeler’s frustration. 44.35 seconds is Arsenal’s average delay at corners—nearly 50% longer than Chelsea’s.
The trend has split the Premier League’s top bosses. Arne Slot (Liverpool) admitted his “football heart” doesn’t like the emphasis on set-pieces, calling games less of a “joy to watch.”
Michael Carrick (Man Utd) warned that the grappling and blocking in the box has “gone too far.”
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola (Man City) offered a more pragmatic view, comparing it to the NBA’s three-point revolution: “You can sit and complain, but you have to adapt.”
As the “corner chaos” continues to dominate the 2025-26 season, all eyes will be on the referee’s stopwatch during Wednesday’s high-stakes encounter at the Amex.
