Overview
- Stats Perform data show the season’s opening weeks featured more than double last year’s total of long throw-ins and 133 fewer seconds of ball-in-play time per match.
- Ifab’s football and technical advisory panels discussed potential limits on how long players can take over throw-ins to increase active playing time.
- Pep Guardiola acknowledged the league-wide emphasis on dead balls yet reiterated he will prioritize possession play while sharpening Manchester City’s set-piece defending.
- Manchester City remain without a set-piece goal this season, whereas Arsenal have already scored heavily from dead-ball situations, underscoring divergent tactical approaches.
- Guardiola confirmed rotation for the Carabao Cup tie at Swansea with Divine Mukasa stepping up to the squad, James Trafford returning in goal, Rodri unavailable, Omar Marmoush likely starting, and Erling Haaland likely to be rested.