The 2025-26 Premier League season generated plenty of talking points, but several recurring issues drew consistent criticism from observers throughout the campaign.
Long throws ranked among the most contentious tactical trends, with numerous teams adopting the approach in lieu of developing more sophisticated attacking play.
Critics traced frustration with the tactic back decades, with one infamous FA Cup tie between Northampton and Watford in November 1996 often cited as an early offender.
Darren Bazeley scored the only goal that day, and contemporary reports noted that “a succession of long throws and high crosses nearly produced something on several occasions.”
The Telegraph’s coverage of that match observed that “Watford patented the use of the long ball so they could not complain at Northampton’s reliance on the tactic.”
Nearly 30 years later, the tactic remains prevalent, with players such as Brentford’s Michael Kayode becoming known for their ability to hurl the ball deep into opposition territory.
Set-piece chaos also drew widespread criticism, with penalty area lawlessness reaching a peak during Arsenal’s match at West Ham that carried title race implications.
VAR officials reviewing the incident were forced to examine footage of Pablo holding David Raya’s arm, Jean-Clair Todibo grabbing Raya’s shirt while Martin Odegaard clung to his waist, and multiple players essentially wrestling one another.
No team in Premier League history scored more goals from corners than Arsenal did this season, raising questions about the balance between tactical innovation and the sport’s fundamental principles.
Referees repeatedly intervened before corner deliveries to caution players, a preventative approach that critics argued contradicted the basic role of match officials, who exist to punish fouls rather than predict them.
Manchester City’s third kit for the 2025-26 season also attracted ridicule, featuring fabric designed to resemble a rain-flecked window on a grey day, complete with neon green highlights.
The club’s official website described it as a tribute to Mancunian weather, stating the kit “proudly represents the club’s fearless spirit” and represents “the humour of Manchester.”
City confirmed they would not carry the design forward into 2026-27, replacing it with a different third kit chosen through a fan vote held in January 2025 using an AI-generated design.
The Premier League’s attempt to establish a presence on gaming platform Roblox also fell well short of expectations, with the league launching a game called Dribble Dash in January 2025.
The league described Dribble Dash as an obstacle course game where players dribble a football through a training ground before progressing toward a stadium, earning coins and trophies along the way.
Analytics platform RoMonitor Stats recorded a peak concurrent user count of just three on 4 May, with two users active on 5 May and an unexplained spike to 444 on 8 May.
On the game’s worst day in April, just eight users visited the experience, with each staying for an average of only 15 seconds before leaving.
The Bundesliga had launched on Roblox earlier, declaring themselves “the first European football league to debut on Roblox” and targeting “Generation Z in particular” through the platform.
The Premier League opted to build its own game from scratch rather than partnering with an established title, a decision that appeared to contribute to its limited reach and engagement figures.
The season as a whole reflected a competition still grappling with unresolved questions around officiating consistency, tactical evolution and how the sport presents itself both on and off the pitch.
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