Football is becoming more like the NFL – how and why

In a recent interview Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was asked to compare football and the NFL, saying: ”The closest thing to what American football is is if every [football] play was a set-piece. Every play represents a set-piece for us.”

Set-pieces are becoming increasingly important and, if we accept McVay’s expert opinion, the Premier League is resembling the NFL more closely. Corners, free-kicks, throw-ins and even kick-off situations are being prioritised more than in past seasons.

This season, 28.4% of Premier League goals scored have come from set-pieces, the highest of any of the past 10 seasons.

And 3.2% of goals have come from throw-ins, the highest percentage of the past decade too.

It is interesting that McVay was the one to make these observations given his friendship with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Both men are young coaches at the forefront of shaping what their sport looks like tactically and have shared ideas.

In recent seasons, Arsenal have become masters of scoring from set-pieces.

Since the start of the 2023-24 season, they have scored 36 goals from corners in the Premier League, 15 more than any other side in this period.

It is plausible that Arteta’s men, and others, have taken inspiration from teams like the LA Rams to inform their set-piece success.