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Over 30% of Premier League goals this season have come from set pieces. We examine why dead-ball situations have become the most important tactical battleground in English football.
After ten gameweeks of the 2026-27 Premier League season, 31.4% of all goals have come directly or indirectly from set pieces — corners, free-kicks, throw-ins, and goal-kicks. That figure would have seemed remarkable a decade ago, when set pieces were considered a minor tactical consideration. Today, they are the most important battleground in English football, and the clubs that execute them best are reaping significant rewards.
Nottingham Forest lead the Premier League in set-piece goals with nine from their eight clean-sheet situations this season. Brentford, long the benchmark for dead-ball innovation, have converted four corners into goals through near-post routines that opponents consistently fail to defend despite knowing they are coming. Arsenal's near-post flick routine — developed with the help of a specialist set-piece coach — has been directly responsible for three goals, including the opener in their win over Tottenham in Gameweek 6.
At the other end of the scale, three clubs have conceded at least five set-piece goals already this season, exposing a defensive deficiency that no amount of open-play tactical work can fully compensate for.
Three factors explain the rise of the set piece. First, the widespread adoption of data analytics means clubs now invest seriously in set-piece design — studying opponent positioning, run angles, and delivery zones with the same rigour previously applied to open-play patterns. Second, the physical size of modern Premier League squads has increased, making aerial delivery a more reliable scoring route. Third, pressing-heavy teams are, by definition, slightly slower to reorganise into defensive shape after losing possession from a set piece, leaving them vulnerable to quick dead-ball routines.
Perhaps the most underappreciated development is the throw-in. Following the success of the throw-in coach concept — pioneered in Scandinavia and now adopted by multiple Premier League clubs — carefully designed throw-in routines in advanced positions have created three direct goal-scoring opportunities this season. It sounds absurd, but the data supports it: a well-executed throw-in in the final third generates an average xG of 0.07, comparable to a corner from a wide angle.
Brentford remain the gold standard, but Arsenal have invested the most this season in bringing their set-piece execution to the elite level. Their new specialist coach, poached from a Scandinavian club known for dead-ball innovation, has already made his mark on the training ground. For any club looking to close the gap on the top six, set pieces are the highest-ROI investment available. The numbers prove it.
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