Tottenham star makes feelings clear on Arsenal tactics with brutal 'boring' dig

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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.

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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.”

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