Arsenal face a fresh Premier League rule change after clubs were banned from using towels to dry the ball before throw-ins, removing one of Mikel Arteta’s options from last season.
The Gunners made increasing use of long throws during their Premier League title-winning campaign, with Ben White and Declan Rice among the players asked to launch the ball into dangerous areas.
That approach will now have to change.
Speaking before Arsenal’s Community Shield meeting with Manchester City, Arteta admitted the removal of towels could have an impact.
“Not being able to use the towels is already a big one,” Arteta told SunSport.
The Arsenal boss even joked that his players may have to find a rather different solution.
🚨 Thomas Gronnemark is helping Arsenal improve their long throws – which Declan Rice & Riccardo Calafiori have been tasked with. His sessions are not just on long throws, and also focus on quick throw-ins. 👷♂️ [@sr_collings] pic.twitter.com/KWo25JwTBY
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) January 16, 2026
Arsenal Premier League rule change removes long-throw option
Previously, Premier League clubs could make towels available for players to dry the ball before taking a throw-in when both teams agreed to their use.
Arsenal encountered the rule last season when Riccardo Calafiori was stopped from using a towel during the victory at Newcastle because the two clubs had not agreed for them to be available.
That option has now disappeared as English football introduces several measures designed to increase ball-in-play time and reduce delays.
The Premier League has also confirmed five-second countdowns for delayed throw-ins and goal-kicks, while players being substituted will have ten seconds to leave the pitch.
ReadArsenal previously detailed how the new anti-time-wasting rules will affect Arteta’s side, including the new punishment for delaying restarts.
Arteta is supportive of the broader changes and believes attempts to improve the flow of matches are positive.
However, Arsenal will still need to adapt.
Set-pieces became an important part of their title-winning campaign, and long throws offered another method of putting opponents under pressure around the penalty area.
The towel ban may appear like a small alteration, but Arteta has already identified it as one change Arsenal will have to solve when their Premier League title defence begins against Coventry City.
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