Premier League towel ban rattles Arsenal’s set‑piece edge

The Premier League has introduced a rule that will, from this season, forbid players from using towels to dry the ball during matches, a change that has left Arsenal uneasy as the club prepares for its opening fixture.

New towel ban introduced

The competition now prohibits any towel use unless both sides agree beforehand, a departure from the previous allowance where towels could be employed with mutual consent.

Last season, during a match against Newcastle, Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori attempted to dry the ball with a towel but was stopped by the referee because the opponent had not approved the action.

Arsenal, the reigning champion, relied heavily on long throw‑ins from Ben White and Declan Rice during their title‑winning campaign, often using towels to dry the ball before delivering the set‑piece.

Manager Mikel Arteta warned, “— Não poder usar as toalhas é uma grande mudança. We will see what we do. Maybe we will play a hat‑trick style,” highlighting his concern over losing a key offensive weapon.

Additional rule changes and upcoming fixture

Alongside the towel ban, the Premier League has added a countdown for goal‑kick and throw‑in executions, a strict time limit for substitutions, and a rule that a field player must replace a goalkeeper if the keeper is delayed for a minute.

Arsenal’s next Premier League appearance is scheduled for next Friday at 16h Brasília time, when the London side will host Coventry City at home.

Photographic credit for the related images reads Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images, and a separate feature mentions Emersonn’s early rise to the Premier League.