Sunderland Deploys Tactical Billboard Shift to counter arsenal’s Long Throw-Ins
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Sunderland AFC employed an unconventional tactic in last Saturday’s match against Arsenal – physically moving the advertising billboards closer to the field – in a calculated effort to disrupt Declan Rice’s dangerous long throw-ins, a key weapon for the London club early in the season. The move, first reported by British media outlets this Monday, highlights a growing trend in English football to neutralize this increasingly potent set-piece threat.
A Strategic Response to Arsenal’s Set-Piece Prowess
According to reports from the BBC, the “black cats” sought to “limit the danger” posed by arsenal in set pieces, with a specific focus on curtailing the effectiveness of Rice’s long throw-ins by reducing the space available for approach runs. Sky Sports also questioned whether Sunderland utilized “tricks” to make Arsenal’s throw-ins more challenging at the Stadium of Light.
sunderland manager Régis Le Bris downplayed the strategic adjustment with a touch of humor, joking, “Are you sure they were ahead? It must have been the wind.” However, he later confirmed the intent, stating, “We tried to take care of the small details to win the game. They are very strong in set pieces, so we tried to reduce that threat. It was crucial to find solutions.”
Not a New Tactic for the ‘Black Cats’
This isn’t the first time Sunderland has resorted to this unconventional strategy. The club previously implemented a similar adjustment in the second leg of last season’s Premier League promotion play-off semi-final against Coventry City, repositioning the fences to limit the long kicks of defender Milan van Ewijk. The plan proved triumphant then, propelling Sunderland to the final and, ultimately, promotion.
The match against Arsenal ended in a 1-1 draw, with a late 94th-minute goal from Brian Brobbey denying Mikel Arteta’s side their sixth consecutive Premier League victory. Arsenal’s defense, previously formidable – having not conceded two goals since matchday 36 of the previous season and maintaining an 811-minute streak without allowing a goal – was surprisingly breached by a Sunderland side currently enjoying a remarkable start to the campaign.
Sunderland’s Rise and the Return of the Long Throw
Currently fourth in the table with 19 points, Sunderland trails league-leading Arsenal by just seven points. The team’s success is fueled, in part, by a willingness to explore innovative tactical approaches.
The resurgence of the long throw-in as a viable attacking strategy is becoming increasingly apparent in the English league.Data from Opta reveals that in just the first seven games of the current season, nearly half as many throw-ins were taken into the penalty area as were recorded throughout the entirety of last season. This represents a return to a more direct style of play reminiscent of the Tony Pulis-era Stoke City, famed for the pinpoint accuracy of Rory Delap’s long throws.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” remarked Luiz Felipe Scolari,then manager of Chelsea,describing the impact of Delap’s throws. The threat was so important that, as one goalkeeper recalled, Boaz Myhill of Hull City even preferred conceding a corner kick to facing a throw-in from the Irishman, hoping to avoid the ensuing aerial bombardment.
Advertising billboards advanced in the match between Sunderland and Arsenal Photo: AFP
Sunderland’s proactive approach underscores a growing awareness among teams of the potential impact of long throw-ins and a willingness to adapt to counter this evolving tactical trend.
