Tottenham forward Matthijs Tell believes Premier League matches are no longer interesting to watch as teams increasingly focus on set-pieces and destructive tactics.
Matthijs Tell of Tottenham Hotspur plays during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 5, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Matthijs Tell admits the Premier League has become “boring to watch” due to the tactics some teams are currently employing, such as the emphasis on set-pieces.
The Tottenham attacker’s comments relate to specific areas where Arsenal have excelled this season, such as set pieces. The Gunners, on track to win their first domestic title in over 20 years, have established themselves as the kings of dead balls, having scored more goals from set pieces (19) than any other team in the Premier League.
But Tell becomes the latest person to question the quality of this season’s Premier League fixtures, after Ruud Gullit and Liverpool manager Arne Slott also made similar comments.
“I’ll tell you the truth, yeah, it’s not funny,” Tell said on the “Zack Nani Foot & Live” podcast via Maxi Foot. “It’s boring to watch.
read more: Kyle Walker announces retirement from international football amid tributes to manager Thomas Tuchelread more: Declan Rice hits back at critics of Arsenal’s set-piece tactics with cheeky comments
“It’s really just a clash between two teams with their own ideas. It’s less of a spectacle. Vinicius doesn’t do a sombrero, he doesn’t dribble past, Kylian[Mbappe]accelerates past him.”
“Here I think it’s more structured, with a clear idea, all the set pieces, sometimes little details that can make a difference. Maybe it’s too much. But sometimes I think it might be too much.
“I said to the assistant coach in charge of set pieces, ‘Please don’t put that marking job on me,’ because it’s a zoo in a box.
Tell nailed the tactic that occurs in Premier League set-pieces (Image: Getty)
“We’re all huddled together, all pushing each other, slamming each other into the ground, holding on. Forget it. The goalie can’t get out anymore, he can’t see anymore.”
Arsenal have come under fire in recent weeks due to their superior ability to emerge from dead ball situations. But manager Declan Rice laughed off the comments of critics such as Brighton manager Fabian Haseler, who criticized the Gunners last week.
“It’s confusing because it comes from us and it’s how we set it up and then everyone talks about it and then everyone runs it!” Rice told the Eye Paper.
“But they’re not doing it to the level that we’re doing it. You can see that when you see teams take corner kicks. We can still improve and that’s the good thing.”
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