Arsenal have begun working with freelance throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark as Mikel Arteta looks to squeeze extra value from pitchside restarts.
While the Gunners have developed a deserved reputation as set-piece specialists – underlined by an impressive scoring record from corners overseen by Nicolas Jover – throw-ins have long been an area where they lag behind.
That may be about to change. Gronnemark, who confirmed his appointment on social media, specialises in what he calls a “long, fast and clever” approach to throw-ins.
A former Danish sprinter turned bobsleigh brakeman, Gronnemark’s route into football was anything but conventional. Speaking to Phil Costa’s Football Vision podcast in November, he explained how the idea first took hold:
“I got the idea to be a throw-in coach [in 2004], so I went down to the local library to find a book about long throw-ins, but there was no book, so I had to do my own course.”
What began as curiosity quickly became an obsession. Gronnemark went on to work with progressive Danish clubs keen to find marginal gains, honing throw-in techniques at Viborg, FC Midtjylland, Silkeborg and Horsens. He even broke the world record for distance throwing – using a front flip to generate extra momentum – to underline his credentials.
Along the way, his research convinced him that throw-ins, in all their forms, were being widely neglected. His coaching evolved beyond raw distance to include quicker, smarter restarts designed to create chances, as well as methods for disrupting opponents’ throw-ins and stealing possession.
That expertise has since taken him around the world, with stints at RB Leipzig, Ajax, Gent, Borussia Dortmund and, most notably, Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Speaking to The Guardian, Gronnemark reflected proudly on his work with Andy Robertson:
“Who couldn’t throw past 19 metres when I met him.”
He added: “That is very, very short, and when you throw that short, it’s very, very easy to put that throw under pressure. He managed to extend his throw by nearly eight metres. And although he’ll never have the longest throw, with training, we’ve managed to improve the radius of his throw-in by more than 500 square metres. This means he can throw to more players. He improved incredibly fast – tactically, too, in terms of when to take the throw fast and when to hold on to the ball.”
All of which is likely to be music to Arteta’s ears. Too often, Arsenal have been guilty of dawdling over throw-ins, with the same players always hesitating on the touchline or struggling to execute longer throws effectively.
Asked recently whether Declan Rice’s deliveries could ever become as dangerous as those of Brentford’s Michael Kayode – widely regarded as one of the league’s best – Arteta said:
“Everything has to evolve. I don’t know how good he [Kayode] was a year ago, or two years ago, or three years ago.
“I know how good Declan was taking set-pieces three years ago and four years ago, and I know how good he is now. So it doesn’t happen overnight.
“Things have to be trained, evolved and tweaked, and the player has to believe as well, which is key. He can become anything that he wants. When you look at him, Declan can do almost everything that you require him to do.”
Guess who has been coaching Brentford’s throws for the last three seasons? Yep, you guessed it.
Having agreed terms with Arsenal, Gronnemark is expected to begin by auditing the good, the bad and the ugly before getting to work on the training ground. From what we understand, he already has a relationship with Jover, which should help speed up the process.
That said, Gronnemark is not working full-time, so it may take a while for the effects to show. Still, if Arteta’s track record with specialists is anything to go by, this could yet prove another smart play in the pursuit of marginal gains. Keep your eyes peeled.
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If you’re looking to learn more about Gronnemark’s background and tactics, we thoroughly recommend listening to Phil’s wide-ranging conversation on the Football Vision podcast.