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Arsenal accused of killing the quality of football in PL

By Ritayan Chatterjee on October 22, 2025

Former midfielder turned pundit Jamie O’Hara has accused Arsenal of killing the quality of football in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta took over the Gunners’ managerial role back in 2019 during a very difficult time. However, he managed to help his side win the FA Cup title after a few months.

Despite that, the North London club struggled in the Premier League for a couple of years under Arteta. Now, the Spanish boss has made Arsenal a Premier League title contender.

The Emirates club finished second in the last three consecutive campaigns and even reached the Champions League semi-final by beating Real Madrid in the quarter-final last term.

However, Arsenal haven’t been able to win any major trophy since winning the FA Cup. So, they bought several new players this summer to help Arteta finally win big silverware this season.

Meanwhile, speaking on Sky Sports News(via Metro), O’Hara says that the use of long throws by big teams like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have killed the quality of football in the Premier League.

Moreover, the ex-Spurs star claims that it is understandable that smaller teams like Brentford do it, but as big teams have also started doing that, watching the English top-flight feels like non-league football.

Arsenal slammed for long throw-ins

The pundit blames Arsenal for starting this trend, and other clubs have now started following it.

O’Hara said:

“I can’t stand it, I hate it. It’s killing the game, especially the Premier League, the product. It’s like watching non-league at the moment, some of the football I’m watching. Spurs at the weekend: territory football, head it out, [Kevin] Danso comes up, gets the towel out and starts throwing… it’s so one-dimensional.

“Jamie Carragher is right, I get it, some of the lesser teams like Brentford, if you’ve got a long throw then it can cause problems and maybe create a chance. But the top teams doing throw-ins? I can’t believe what I’m watching.

“It’s all down to Arsenal, Arsenal started this. Arsenal started the long throw, the set-pieces. They’ve killed the Premier League in terms of fluid football and enjoyable football.”

Arsenal have enjoyed most success from set-piece situations in the Premier League in recent years and have now established themselves as the favourites to win the Premier League title this season.

So, if the North London club enjoy success with their current approach, they don’t need to listen to any criticism and should continue to do what they have been producing.

Meanwhile, following the midweek Champions League assignment against Atletico Madrid, Arsenal will face off against Crystal Palace in the Premier League next weekend.