Fans saw the secret new tactics of Arsenal in their Premier League collision against Manchester United.
The two giants collided in Old Trafford on Sunday with many new signing sessions.
But there was also a new rule implemented in the game that had a major effect on the game plan of Mikel Arteta.
Under new legislation, keepers must now release the ball after eight seconds or less.
If a stop holds it longer, the opposite team will have a corner.
And Set-piece King Arteta showed that he was ready to immediately manipulate the rule with a brutal new tactic.
In an attempt to postpone United from taking goal kicks, Arsenal players took turns to block goalkeeper Altay Bayindir when he had the ball.
Their hope was to force the Turk to hold it, so that the magic was passed for eight seconds to give them a corner.
Arsenal has scored 31 Prem Goals of Corners since the start of the season 2023/24 – 11 more than the next nearest side Liverpool.
And Arteta clearly saw it as a valuable effort to get an extra one or two of the set pieces.
Unfortunately for the Gunners, referee Simon Hooper was smart for their game plan.
And he made sure that Bayindir players were gone before he started counting down on his watch.
Fans were certainly amused by the behavior of Arsenal.
One said: “The length that is made for that marginal profit.”
Another stated: “Another year, Arsenal then goes to filling keepers and defenders on corners.”
It was noted: “Typical.”
Another added: “Try to slow down our keeper for a different angle.”