Set-Piece FC Arsenal is the new normal as The Gooners have become a nuisance to their rivals in the English top-flight following the successful implementation of set-piece routines that work, making them richly productive therein.
Not long ago, they were called the Dark Art Lords, yet, Arsenal could really do with these sort names as they sound way better in comparison to the ones they got when they were the victims, the sore losers that rivals wanted them to be in past seasons.
The win over Manchester United has caused a lot of uproar as both their victim, its fans and those of their other rivals have combined to taunt the Londoners for their use of set-piece to score in, and win games.
The Gunners, accused of employing dark arts to trigger their opponents during set-piece situations earlier in the season, have produced more goals from set-piece than any other side in the Premier League this season.
While Arsenal continues to flourish from set-piece and have become a nuisance to rival teams, set-piece coach Nicolas Jover continues to get praises for his job, and has become more famous, although not for the right reason with aggrieved and jealous rivals.
Manchester United legend and English pundit Gary Neville even called him the most annoying bloke in football in the wake of the game in the Emirates stadium on Wednesday.
However, it is also worth reminiscing that Jover joined Arsenal having worked with Manchester City, where he helped improved their set-piece at both ends of the pitch and in the 2019-20 campaign, Pep Guardiola’s side scored 17 goals from set-piece, which ranked them first in the division that season, whereas they scored 11 and ranked tenth in the season before Jover’s appointment. Yet, there was never a time The Cityzens were accused of set-piece obssesion.
Although the essence of every set-piece is to score. Nonetheless, looking at the numbers, it appears Mikel Arleta’s charge have not been excessively better than other sides when it comes to scoring from set-piece this season. One fact has however made them a stand out.
Why Set-Piece FC Arsenal is a Forced Narrative
Arsenal earned a reputation for themselves last season with their 20 set-piece goals in the Premier League, which surpassed the previous record in a single campaign since 16 in 2016-17, set by Tony Pulisʼ Stoke City..
Yet, it was just 21 percent of a total of 91 goals scored by The Gooners in the competition during the campaign, which statistically do portray them as reliant on set-piece. Moreso, when you consider that the other 70 goals are more than managed by 13 teams in the division, it becomes clearer.
This season, the Emirates landlords again lead the way on goals from set-piece with the two against Manchester United taking them above Aston Villa and Everton, who are both tied on six, while arch rivals Chelsea and Manchester United as well as Nottingham Forest are all level on five.
The closeness in productivity would suggest Arsenal is on par with some of their counterparts who are never taunted of scoring from set-piece. Take for instance, the seven set-piece goals represent 25 percent of their total, while the five for United takes 27 percent of their own total of 17.
If Arsenal is heavily dependent on set-piece, what does that make Manchester United?
Why is Arsenal the Target of the Public?
The right answer to this is that Mikel Arteta’s charge have produced their corner moments in prominent fixtures, and the consequences are always significant.
Their first of the season did not come until the fourth Gameweek. Bukayo Saka corner, met by the header of Gabriel, and it was enough to secure all three points away at Tottenham Hotspur, a fixture many have predicted them to lose given the absence of several important stars.
The second came in the following gameweek from the same combination to complete a comeback after going 1-0 down earlier against Manchester City in the Ethiad, before going a man down and then concede a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw, making it back-to-back visits to the Ethiad without defeat.
Another one followed in the next gameweek against Leicester City, when rival fans must have been delighted after watching the last season’s runner-up blew a two-goal lead and heading into the final minutes of the game.
Arsenal producing a memorable late winner from a corner is definitely an eyesore for those who would have preferred them without a win, and not only the Foxes and their fans felt the pain when Leandro Trossard’s kick across goal from a Bukayo Saka corner was turned in by Wilfred Ndidi.
The next would not come until Arsenal faced Liverpool in another important fixture. Mikel Merino headed home from a Declan Rice free-kick to restore The Gooner’s lead after Liverpool have themselves scored from a set-piece, with Virgil van Dijk heading home a corner.
They had one more at West Ham with Saka and Gabriel again combining to open the scoring in a 5-2 win before they added two more against Ruben Amorimʼs team.
You definitely do not make friends when you have your main rivals cornered, denying them a chance to overrun you even against the odds. Hence, the agenda against them. But should Arsenal really care?
Set-Piece FC Arsenal – Should they Really Care?
‟We love to score from corners as we always try to explore the weakness of the opposition.ˮ Mikel Arteta said on his team scoring from corners, a statement that wouldn’t sound strange to any coach.
Remember Ollie Watkins holding down Aaron Ramsdale so that a Douglas Luiz corner go all the way in? And Joelinton climbing on the back of Gabriel to commit a foul, not awarded as Newcastle scored the lone goal with which they beat Arsenal? Every team is always looking to explore the weakness of their opponent.
Arsenal has played it fancy but they failed. A few years back, they were the subject of ridiculing for playing it fancy without getting desired results and now they’ve managed to come up with a tactic that works, why should they care if anyone isn’t pleased with their ways.
They are no longer the pathetic same old Arsenal that rival fans want to see. Not anymore the team made victim in unacceptable situations yet no justice done. Who cares what Arsenal do to get their hands on the Premier League title that has eluded them for 21 years?
Sometimes the game flows beautifully, and some other times it’s a chess game. Great sides have to be able to deal with both situations when they arise and Arsenal has adopted set-piece as a unique way to rise to the occasion, and after all, corners don’t just come out of a hat like a rabbit.
The Arsenal that turned up against Manchester United wasn’t the best we’ve seen in recent games, yet still a team well immersed in their manager’s implementation of tactics. Set-piece is a great trait to have in your armory and as long as it remains legal, it can be integral.
Nonetheless, Arsenal still remains one of the most exciting teams to watch, not only in domestic games but across the world.
Mikel Arteta and His Set-Piece FC Arsenal Going Forward
Arsenal have steadily overcome their run of poor form and the priority will now be ensuring the continuity of the good form to further close the gap on Liverpool. It’s still very early into the season and they can be thankful that the runaway leader is not Manchester City.
The result against Manchester United made it a fourth consecutive win across all competitions, equaling their best run this season, and it does sees them close the gap on Liverpool to seven as Arne Slot’s charge dropped points in the Saint James’ Park.
It also sees them register a fourth straight Premier League win against United of the first time ever, while also extended their unbeaten run against big six rivals in the league, a run which started since a 3-1 win over Chelsea in May 2023.
Whether playing it fancy or ugly, winning at all cost is what they have to do if they are to bring a first Premier League title to the Emirates stadium, and if their way of winning leaves their rivals in distress, then it only makes victory taste better.
Up next is a trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham, a team that took four points off them last season. Mikel Arteta has to again be cautious to ensure there is no upsetting their revenge plan, and maybe with a win they can close the gap on Liverpool, who faces Everton in a tricky Merseyside derby.
Hassan Afolabi
1 Comment
This article is actually pointless and there is no need to write it. It is a waste of time because you’re repeating what we all know already. Read it on your own and you will see that no one cares and fans go complain normally and it’s painful but your article won’t change how rivals feel, why should it?