Steve Bruce notices Arsenal are doing what West Brom can no longer do after Darnell Furlong sale
West Brom’s sale of Darnell Furlong has left them unable to replicate a tactic that has seen great success at Arsenal.
Furlong was a long-serving West Brom player, but he was allowed to leave this summer in a £4million switch to Ipswich Town.
Ryan Mason felt like Alfie Gilchrist was the perfect replacement and therefore sanctioned an exit for the 30-year-old.
However, that could come back to haunt the Baggies after a new trend that has emerged in football recently.
Steve Bruce has noticed new tactical trend at Arsenal
Former West Brom manager Steve Bruce has noticed the tactical trend that has shaken the English game at the moment.
The Gunners are six points clear top of the Premier League, with just five of their goals coming from open play.
Mikel Arteta’s side have scored 10 goals from set pieces, which equates to 56 per cent of their total this season.
Speaking on talkSPORT on 3 November, Bruce said: “All of sudden now, everybody is waxing lyrical about the long throw.
“I saw Arsenal do it on Saturday and I am thinking ‘oh my gosh’, why wouldn’t you?
“When you have got two centre-halves like Arsenal have got that cause chaos in the other box, why wouldn’t you use a long throw if you have got one that can throw it in there.”
Darnell Furlong would have been perfect for West Brom
One of Furlong’s best assets over the years for Albion, was his long throw, which caused panic in opposition boxes.
With the likes of Nat Phillips and Chris Mepham being strong in the air, it may have been a valuable weapon for Mason and Co. to exploit.
- Grady Diangana scored against Coventry in 2023 after Furlong’s throw was flicked on
- Kyle Bartley headed home from a Furlong throw-in against Preston in May 2024
- Furlong’s throw-in led to an Isaac Price goal in the 1-0 win over Blackburn on 9 August
However, they can no longer take advantage of the trend, because they do not have a long-throw specialist like Furlong in the squad, after he was allowed to leave.
It is not pretty, but the North London outfit have proven that it is effective, as they look like they are on course to win the title using long throws and corners.
Mason would probably love to have something like that in his arsenal that he could use to pick up results, as his job is under pressure after a miserable run of results.
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