Premier League Data Notebook: Spurs' Dribbling Woes, Hull's Mauling Style and the Death of the Outswinging Corner
The Athletic's Premier League data notebook breaks down several emerging trends from the early 2026-27 season. Tottenham's once-potent dribbling output has dropped sharply, raising questions about their attacking identity. Hull City, newly or recently promoted, have been winning duels and physical battles at a remarkable rate, disrupting opponents with a direct, combative style. Separately, league-wide data shows outswinging corners converting at historically low rates, with inswinging deliveries and short-corner routines now dominating set-piece strategy. Additional tidbits touch on Manchester United and Arsenal trends covered in the same notebook.
Read the full story at nytimes.comData-driven notebooks like this often signal tactical shifts before they become mainstream talking points. Tottenham's dribbling decline suggests either a tactical recalibration or a squad lacking the one-v-one specialists who previously unlocked deep blocks. Hull's physicality-based disruption is a reminder that promoted sides can overperform early through sheer intensity before the league adapts. The outswinging corner's decline is a league-wide trend that will reshape set-piece coaching and recruitment, as clubs double down on inswingers and decoy runs. For followers of the Premier League, these micro-trends explain why certain teams look transformed and why dead-ball value is quietly being re-priced.
Context added by Socc360, not by nytimes.com.
Data source: nytimes.com (via Socc360). Last updated .
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