Gordon's Champions League Take: Premier League Has Lost Its Way to Set-Pieces and Chaos

Anthony Gordon reckons he's spotted something troubling about English football. Ahead of Newcastle's Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, the England winger offered some candid thoughts on how the Premier League has evolved—and it's not exactly flattering.

The Magpies man painted a picture of two very different competitions. In Europe's elite tournament, he suggested, teams are more adventurous and committed to traditional football. The Premier League, by contrast, has become something altogether different.

"The Champions League teams are much more open, they all try and play," Gordon explained. "It's less transitional. In the Premier League it's become more physical than I've ever known it to be. It's like a basketball game sometimes, it's so relentless physically. There's not much control, it's just a running game. Sometimes it's about duels—who wins the duels wins the game, or moments."

He went on to suggest that European football represents a purer form of the game. "The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game, it's a bit more football-based. Teams come and try and play proper football," Gordon said.

But perhaps his most damning observation concerns the tactical direction of English football. "In the Premier League now you're seeing a lot more long throw-ins and set-pieces. It's become a lot slower and a lot more set-piece based," he added.

Gordon's assessment isn't without merit. The Premier League has long carried a reputation for its physical intensity compared to Europe's other major leagues, yet this season has seen a particular emphasis on set-play specialists. Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, have been the standard-bearers here, converting a notable proportion of their goals from corners and free-kicks. Other clubs have cottoned on quickly. Brentford have weaponised long throw-ins through Michael Kayode's launching ability, while Leeds United have made them a cornerstone of their attacking strategy.

The Champions League does indeed look markedly different in character. Deeper defensive blocks are less prevalent, set-play reliance is lower, and long throws rarely feature as a primary attacking weapon.

There's an inherent contradiction lurking in Gordon's observations, mind you. Describing the Premier League as simultaneously "transitional" and "like a basketball game" while also claiming it's "become a lot slower" doesn't entirely square the circle. Yet the broader thrust—that English football has become increasingly fragmented and set-piece dependent—chimes with plenty of observers online.

Gordon himself has thrived in European competition this season, netting six goals in seven Champions League appearances, though his Premier League tally sits at just two in eighteen outings. Whether his critique reflects genuine tactical shifts or simply where he's found his form remains open to debate.