Hurzeler criticises Arsenal over delays at corners

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has called for stricter rules around set-pieces and criticised upcoming opponents Arsenal for time-wasting.

Hurzeler, whose side host the Premier League leaders on Wednesday, claimed the Gunners sometimes wait "over one minute" to take their corners.

Arsenal's prowess at set-pieces continues to fuel their title charge, with Sunday's victory over Chelsea the ninth time the Gunners have scored a match-winning goal from a corner this season.

But they have also been at the forefront of recent discussions around grappling and blocking at set-pieces, with Everton boss David Moyes identifying Mikel Arteta's side as the trailblazers for the use of "dark arts".

Asked why he believes Arsenal's approach to set-pieces has received the level of attention it has, Hurzeler said: "There are no clear rules anymore [around] how much time you can spend taking a corner or a throw-in.

"Some of the ways teams are blocking, there's no real rule. Sometimes the referee whistles and it's a foul, sometimes it isn't a foul or they don't whistle.

"[We need] a clear rule on how much time you can take for a corner, a free-kick, because no-one recognises it. When Arsenal have a corner and they are leading, sometimes they spend over one minute just to take a corner."

The statistics show that, on average, no Premier League team take longer to restart from corners than Arsenal.

Hurzeler pointed to the responsibility he feels clubs have to ensure match-going fans are being provided with value for money.

"Every supporter pays a lot of money to watch our games and should see the same game time," Hurzeler said.

"They want to see a football event, not maybe 50 minutes when the ball is in the game and 40 minutes when the game is not running," Hurzeler said.

"But we won't change these rules immediately. We know how important set-pieces are. At the moment it's a big trend in the league and we definitely need to adapt to it."

Matches involving Hurzeler's Brighton have the ball in play 56.2% of the time - the fifth-highest in the league, above seventh-ranked Arsenal (55.7%).

The Gunners' average delay time over free-kicks, goal-kicks and throw-ins is in keeping with other Premier League clubs.

But their average 44.35-second delay at corners is almost 50% longer than that of Chelsea, who they defeated with their 15th and 16th league goals from corner routines this season.

'It's gone too far' - managers have their say

There have already been three more goals scored from corners in the Premier League this season (138) than in the whole of the previous campaign.

Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick said the situations inside the penalty area at set-pieces had "gone too far".

"It wasn't long ago we were told you couldn't lay a hand on anyone in the box and it would be stamped out," Carrick said at his news conference on Tuesday.

"It's crept in. The success of set-pieces, corners in particular, probably in terms of being able to put so many bodies close together, has made more teams do it because the success rate is so high.

"It's understandable why there are so many teams doing it. As a game, it doesn't feel like we've got that balance right. I don't know what to do about it, it's not for me to decide."

His comments were a day after Liverpool boss Arne Slot said he finds most Premier League games no longer a "joy to watch" and his "football heart doesn't like" the increasing emphasis on set-pieces.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he understood Slot's comments and agreed "in some ways", but added: "It's part of the game."

"When I was a young boy we said the people in England celebrate corners and free-kicks like a goal. I remember perfectly, so nothing has changed in that way," Guardiola said.

"Arsenal dictate how they do it and it is an important aspect. Four years ago in the NBA, the three-shot point was not involved as much but now so many teams do it. It is part of the dynamics.

"You can sit and complain but you have to adapt."