Arsenal hire ex-Liverpool coach to help improve key set-piece tactics: Reports

Arsenal have reportedly hired former Liverpool set-piece coach Thomas Gronnemark as a consultant to bolster their Premier League title hopes. The Gunners are looking to improve their throw-ins and have been working with the expert.

According to a report in The Times, Gronnemark has been visiting the Arsenal training sessions to help them with techniques and share his knowledge as they look to add more threat through throw-ins. They have hired Nicolas Jover as the set-piece coach, but are now working on the throw-ins as well.

Gronnemark was praised by Jurgen Klopp during their time at Anfield, with the former manager saying that the coach was a key reason for their improvement from the set-pieces. The German said that Liverpool started doing well and said:

“We brought in Thomas and it changed our throw-in game completely! It’s not obvious because when people talk about throw-ins they think it’s a long throw-in and you head it in. Now we have 18 [different] throw-ins in other areas and we want to have the ball after these throw-ins. It makes no sense if you have a throw and then after comes a 50-50 situation. So how that improves is massive.”

Gronnemark was open to returning to Liverpool, admitting that he was ready to rejoin if Arne Slot wanted him. The Dane told RG News that he would be happy to help his former side as long as he was not working full-time with another Premier League side.

“L'pool are always welcome to call me. The only way I wouldn’t say yes to L'pool is if I were already coaching another top Premier League team that’s actually a direct competitor. As long as I’m not full-time at another club, as long as my contract gives me the green light, I’d say yes. Of course, with my history with the club, my connection with the fans, and people who are writing to me every day on social media and thanking me for my time with the team, I’d say yes in most cases.”

Liverpool are without a set-piece coach right now, after parting ways with Aaron Briggs in recent weeks.

Arsenal and Liverpool are opposite ends of Premier League set-piece table

Arsenal have scored a stunning 15 goals from set-pieces this season, one more than second-placed Leeds United. The Gunners have 12 goals from corners, free kicks, and throw-ins, with just three added to the tally from penalties.

Liverpool have the lowest amount of goals from set-pieces, with just four this season. Just one goal from a penalty for the Reds in the league, and their tally of three goals from others matches the bottom-placed Wolverhampton.