Arsenal are the newly-installed favourites to win the Premier League title this season, but former Tottenham star Jamie O'Hara has slammed the Gunners' style of play
Nathan Ridley
13:38, 21 Oct 2025
Jamie O'Hara speaking
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Jamie O'Hara isn't a fan of Arsenal's tactics(Image: Sky Sports)
Sky Sports pundit Jamie O'Hara has accused Arsenal of 'killing' the Premier League with their tactics.
Although Mikel Arteta's side are top of the table, having collected 19 points from their first eight games, their success from set pieces has inadvertently become a stick to beat them with.
Eight of the Gunners' 15 league goals this season have come from set plays, including the Leoandro Trossard strike which saw them beat Fulham 1-0 on Saturday.
Only Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scores more often than Arsenal do from a set piece.
In addition to bagging goals, Arteta's side rarely concede from set plays. But their supposed reliance on set pieces infuriates O'Hara, comparing their style of play to non-league football and blaming the Gunners for setting a trend.
Following Jamie Carragher's analysis of the increased amount of long throws being taken this season, O'Hara was asked for his thoughts. "Can't stand it, I hate it," the former Spurs midfielder, who spent five years in Arsenal's academy, said.
"It's killing the game, especially the Premier League, the product. It's like watching non-league at the minute, some of the football I'm watching. Spurs at the weekend; territory football, head it out, [Kevin] Danso comes up, gets the towel, starts throwing.
"It's so one-dimensional and Carragher's right. I get it, some of the lesser teams like Brentford, you've got a long throw-in, you can cause problems, you can maybe create a chance. But the top teams doing long throw-ins? I can't believe what I'm watching.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Ben White of Arsenal takes a throw during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Arsenal Stadium on October 01, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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Arsenal regularly take long throw-ins now and they have proved a massive threat(Image: Julian Finney - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
"It's all down to Arsenal - Arsenal started this. Arsenal started the long throws, the set pieces. They've killed the Premier League in terms of fluid football and enjoyable football.
"They don't (play good football)... Everyone's run with it. Arsenal are the best at it - you can't get away from it - set pieces, throw-ins, Arsenal are the best. But everyone's copying what they're doing."
Carragher was discussing set pieces after Arsenal's title rivals, Liverpool, gave up the decisive goal in their 2-1 loss against Manchester United on Sunday from a corner.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during the Premier League match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage on October 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have looked unstoppable from set pieces(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"I think Arsenal right now look the best-equipped team to win the title in terms of the way the league is now," the Liverpool icon told the Gary Neville Podcast.
"It feels like a lot of set pieces, long throws. Liverpool conceded the goal again from a set piece. Arsenal look like scoring goals from set pieces.
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"They can defend them as well, and they might be better equipped to win this title in terms of how the Premier League is going, style-wise, from all the teams."
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