Arsenal are dreaming big this season. Under Mikel Arteta, the club is sitting at the top of the Premier League table and looks stronger than ever. With a six-point lead over Manchester City, many fans believe this could finally be the year the title returns to North London.
But Arteta is not relaxing. Even with Arsenal in first place, the manager is still looking for small details that can make a big difference. Instead of focusing only on transfers, he has chosen another path. He has gone back to something he believes can decide titles: set pieces.
Reports from The Times say Arsenal have turned to Thomas Gronnemark for advice. Gronnemark is a former Liverpool coach and a man known across world football for one very special skill. He is one of the world’s leading throw-in experts.
Gronnemark is 50 years old and comes from Denmark. He is a former professional footballer, but his biggest fame comes from throw-ins. In fact, he has officially been named as the holder of the world’s longest throw.
Over the years, his unique skills have attracted many clubs. He has worked with Brentford, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, FC Midtjylland, Union Saint-Gilloise, and even JEF United in Japan. His work has helped teams gain small advantages that often change matches.
His most famous role came in 2018. That was when former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp offered him a job at Anfield. At the time, Gronnemark could hardly believe what was happening.
Speaking about that moment, he said: “I was totally in shock when Jurgen called me.”
He then explained how unexpected the call really was.
“I was visiting a chocolate shop with my family; I saw the +44 and thought it was an English guy trying to sell me pens. I listened to the voicemail and it was a message from Jurgen. I tried to call him back, but he didn’t pick up.”
The surprise did not end there. Gronnemark described how emotional the moment became for him.
“My heart was just pounding… I took the call on my way home in the car, where I drove directly into a grass field when he called.”
He then shared what Klopp told him during that unforgettable conversation.
“He told me that he was sitting in a beach chair, reading the German newspaper Bild while on vacation in Tenerife, and he came across an article about me… he had never heard of a throw-in coach before.”
That decision turned out to be a masterstroke. With Gronnemark’s help, Liverpool improved their throw-ins and control of games. Soon after, Klopp’s team went on to win the Premier League title.
Now, Arsenal hope history can repeat itself. Arteta believes Gronnemark’s knowledge can give his side another edge in a title race that could be decided by fine margins.
Arsenal are already very strong when the ball is dead. This season, they have become the Premier League’s set-piece kings. The Gunners have scored 14 goals from corners, free-kicks, and other dead-ball situations. No other club has scored more.
Much of that success is down to set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. His work has transformed Arsenal into one of the most dangerous teams in Europe from corners and free-kicks.
Arteta has been very open about how important this area of the game is to him. He says this focus did not start recently but goes back many years.
When asked when he realised how important set pieces were, Arteta replied: “Ten years ago. I wasn’t here, but 10 years ago, I said ‘it is a massive thing to do that’ and I started to have a vision, try to implement a method and try to be surrounded by the best people to deliver that.”
That vision is now paying off. Arsenal score goals when games are tight. They punish teams that switch off for a second. In title races, those moments often decide everything.
By turning to Gronnemark, Arteta is sending a clear message. Arsenal want to be perfect in every detail. They want to use every legal advantage available to them.
It also shows how modern football has changed. Success is no longer just about star players. It is about specialists, planning, and tiny improvements that add up over a season.
As the second half of the campaign begins, Arsenal fans will be watching closely. Every throw-in, every corner, and every free-kick now feels more important than ever.
If Arsenal go on to lift the Premier League trophy, this quiet move for Klopp’s former throw-in expert could be remembered as one of the smartest decisions of the season.
