Arsenal Football Club has made a strategic move to strengthen their Premier League title bid by appointing Thomas Gronnemark, a renowned long-throw specialist. This decision comes as part of the club's ongoing efforts to enhance their performance and secure an edge in the highly competitive league.
Gronnemark, hailing from Denmark, is no stranger to the Premier League. He previously served as Liverpool’s throw-in specialist under Jurgen Klopp from 2018 to 2023. His tenure coincided with some of Liverpool’s most successful years, marked by numerous trophy wins.
Following his stint at Liverpool, Gronnemark spent three seasons at Brentford. Under his guidance, Brentford scored more goals from throw-ins than any other team in the Premier League since last season - nine in total which is more than double that of any other team. In addition to his coaching career, Gronnemark holds a former Guinness World Record for the longest throw-in. His expertise will undoubtedly be an asset for Arsenal who are yet to score from a throw-in this season.
Consultancy role at Arsenal
The 50-year-old Danish coach will join Arsenal in a consultancy capacity rather than assuming a full-time role. He will work alongside Nicolas Jover, Arsenal's set-piece coach whose expertise has already proven beneficial for Mikel Arteta’s side. Since Jover's arrival in 2021, Arsenal have been among the league’s most prolific scorers from free-kicks and corners. In fact, they scored more goals from corners last season than any other team and boast this campaign's best set-piece record with 14 goals (excluding penalties).
This season has seen long-throw goals increasingly influence matches' outcomes - another reason why Gronnemark's appointment is timely. During his first season with Liverpool, the team surged from 18th to first in the Premier League for possession retention from throw-ins. This improvement was followed by a Champions League win and their first league title in 30 years. Gronnemark's expertise isn't limited to English football; he has also consulted for Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, FC Midtjylland, Union Saint-Gilloise and Japan’s JEF United.
Arteta continues to seek marginal gains as he attempts to end Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a Premier League title. Currently leading the table with a six-point advantage over Manchester City and Aston Villa, Arsenal's strategic appointment of Gronnemark could be the key to maintaining their lead and securing this season's title.
