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Arsenal have been using a former Liverpool coach in their bid to finally win the Premier League title.
The Gunners are some six points clear at the top of the table and are on track to take the English championship off Liverpool. Arne Slot’s side comfortably claimed the silverware last campaign but sit just fourth and 14 points adrift of Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side’s set-piece prowess has been a key asset in their success this season, scoring 15 times from corners and free-kicks. Throw-ins have been an increasingly used weapon for most Premier League teams this season, particularly long punts into the box.
And to help with throw-ins, Arsenal have reportedly been using Thomas Gronnemark, who is an expert in the field. According to The Times, Gronnemark has been working with the Gunners as a consultant having been ‘visiting their training ground to share his knowledge and techniques’.
Gronnemark previously worked with Liverpool for five years on an ad hoc basis, including when they won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title the following season under former manager Jurgen Klopp.
In his first season working the the Reds, they went from 18th to first in the Premier League for possession retention.
Speaking on Gronnemark, Klopp said: “We brought in Thomas and it changed our throw-in game completely! “It’s not obvious because when people talk about throw-ins they think it’s a long throw-in and you head it in.
“Now we have 18 [different] throw-ins in other areas and we want to have the ball after these throw-ins. It makes no sense if you have a throw and then after comes a 50-50 situation. So how that improves is massive.”
On his impact at Liverpool Gronnemark told the Guardian: “You could say that I coach intelligence when it comes to throw-ins. And I’m not afraid to say that most professional players possess very little intelligence in this respect – and among amateurs and young players it tends to be even worse; 99% of the professional players and coaches I’m in contact with have never practised throw-ins, and those that have, have not practised at a particularly high level.”
Earlier this season, Gronnemark did admit that he would be open to a Liverpool return under head coach Arne Slot.
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