Tottenham forward Mathys Tel believes Premier League games are no longer entertaining to watch as more and more teams put an emphasis on set-pieces and disruptive tactics
Mathys Tel of Tottenham Hotspur plays during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom, on March 5, 2026. (Photo by Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Mathys Tel admits the Premier League has become "boring to watch" due to some of the tactics deployed by some teams, including the current emphasis on set-pieces.
The Tottenham attacker's comments relate to certain areas that Arsenal have excelled in this season, including set-pieces. The Gunners, who are on course to win their first domestic title in more than 20 years, have established themselves as the king of dead-balls having scored more goals (19) from set-pieces than any other team in the Premier League.
But Tel has become the latest figure to question the quality of games in the Premier League this term after similar comments made by Ruud Gullit and Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot.
“I’ll tell you the truth, yes, it’s not exciting,” Tel said on the Zack Nani Foot & Live podcast, via Maxifoot. “It’s boring to watch.
“It’s really just a clash between two teams with their own ideas. There’s less spectacle. There’s no Vinicius pulling off a sombrero, dribbling past you, no Kylian [Mbappe] accelerating past you.
“Here, I’d say it’s more structured, maybe too much so, with clear ideas, all the set pieces, little details that can sometimes make the difference. But sometimes you think it might be too much.
“I told the assistant coach in charge of set pieces: 'Don’t put me on that marking job.' Because it’s a zoo in the box.
Gabriel of Arsenal is held by Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United for an oncoming corner during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 25, 2026 in London, England.
Tel has hit out at the tactics that occur during set-pieces in the Premier League(Image: Getty)
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“We’re all bunched together, everyone’s pushing, knocking each other to the ground, holding onto each other. Forget it. The goalkeeper can no longer get out, he can no longer see.”
Arsenal have emerged as a target for criticism in recent weeks given their prowess from dead-ball situations. But Declan Rice has laughed off comments from critics like Brighton boss, Fabian Hurzeler, who took aim at the Gunners last week.
“It comes from us, the way we set up and then everyone talks about it and then everyone does it – so it’s confusing!” Rice told The i Paper.
“But they’re not doing it to the level that we do it. You can see that when you’re seeing teams take corners. We can still get better and that’s the good thing about it.”