Ugly or Beautiful? Arsenal’s Set-Piece Masterclass
Arsenal’s set-piece dominance powers title charge as 9 match-winning corners highlight their Premier League strength and tactical evolution.
Another day, another set-piece masterclass from Arsenal.
The Premier League leaders were far from their best in a narrow 2-1 win against Chelsea, but two goals from well-placed corner routines proved enough to give the Gunners a five-point lead at the top.
Arsenal's ability from set-pieces has been a major part of their title challenge, having scored 16 times from corners so far – three more than anyone else – and equaling the record for most goals scored in a Premier League season with Oldham in 1992-93, West Brom in 2016-17, and the Gunners themselves in 2023-24.
First, William Saliba scored after Gabriel's initial header from a corner, before fellow defender Jurrien Timber powered home Declan Rice's delivery for his third league goal of the season. In addition to being ahead of second-placed Manchester City – despite having played one game more – the Gunners also have a 100% record in the Champions League, are in the Carabao Cup final, and are in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
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Chris Sutton, who previously won the title with Blackburn Rovers, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Arsenal, set-pieces again. I think they're going to win it. If they win – will they become the worst Premier League winning team in history? The performance wasn't like that."
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira : "When you're at the top of the Champions League and Premier League tables, you expect Arsenal to advance. It was difficult for Arsenal to take risks. Expectations are high, you expect more from Arsenal."
But Gunners boss Arteta said: "It's not bad, you have to play the game you're supposed to play, and against Chelsea, you know exactly what game you're going to play.
"For me, it's a beautiful game to play because there's a lot of quality and you have to adapt to their style of play, and they had to do the same against us, so the margins are very, very small, and the finishes decide games like this."
And former Everton midfielder Leon Osman : "They relied on set-pieces again, as they have all season. If it's a strength, I don't see why you wouldn't use it."
A joint Premier League record and Gabriel's impact
If the Gunners weren't so adept at scoring from free-kicks and corners, the story in the title race could have been different.
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- This was the ninth time Arsenal scored a match-winning goal from a corner in the Premier League this season, which is now the most by any team in a single campaign (surpassing Manchester United's eight in 2012-13).
- They have led 1-0 from corners on nine occasions in the Premier League this season, which is the most by any team in a single campaign, along with Southampton (9) in 1994-95.
- Arsenal's 16 goals from corners are the most by any team in a single Premier League campaign, surpassed only by Oldham in 1992-93, West Brom in 2016-17, and the Gunners themselves. goals scored in 2023-24.
- Only two other teams have reached double digits in goals from corners, while 13 teams have scored less than half as many as Arsenal.
Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres has started scoring in recent weeks and is the club's top league scorer with 10 goals, although most of them have come against teams lower down the table.
He is followed by Eberechi Eze, who scored five goals in two matches against Spurs, and Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Martin Zubimendi, who each scored five goals.
This means that goals from set-pieces are crucial for the Gunners.
In October, before the league game with Crystal Palace, Arteta said that he began focusing on the importance of set-pieces in football 10 years ago, and that he would continue to do so this campaign and against Brentford. He has been proven right by the appointment of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
Brazilian defender Gabriel is so integral to most routines that Arsenal utilize him.
He has been directly involved in 25 goals in the Premier League (20 goals, five assists), which is now the most by an Arsenal center-back in the competition, a total achieved in six seasons.
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The Gunners have used several different set-ups from corners this season, but their movement when the ball is delivered is familiar.
Arsenal players come together at the far post, and when the ball is about to be delivered into the area, players move together to get in front of the opposing goalkeeper and defender to get the necessary first touch on the ball.
This can lead to complaints from teams who feel they are being blocked, with Chelsea even making a strong appeal after Timberlake's winning goal.
Following Arsenal's 2-1 win over Chelsea, the team has been relegated to the Premier League this season. More goals have been scored from corners (138 in 281 games) than in the entire previous campaign (135 in 380 games).
'Football is about being effective in both penalty areas'
Arsenal, in their quest to win their first league title since 2004, will have to deal with the tension of the title race, with just nine matches remaining.
"Yes, but every team has to be fair," he said. "Look at where they are in terms of how many goals they score.
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"We haven't had set-pieces for a few weeks, but we scored a lot of goals from open play.
"Today, there was an option to score from such situations. We did that very well, and we also conceded goals."
Chelsea were leading the game before Timber's crucial goal, but they needed some excellent saves from goalkeeper David Raya to hold the sixth-placed Blues to a point.
Arteta's old Everton teammate, Osman, said, "I didn't think there was much difference between the two teams, but Arsenal stayed on top, and that's very important at this stage of the season, isn't it?" "If your strength is fast-paced wide men who are always creating something new, then you give them the ball all the time.
"If your strength is set-pieces, then you try to win set-pieces and score from them, and they're very good at it, very effective.
"And ultimately that was the difference between the teams, but Arsenal won't care because it's another three points."
According to Osman, Arsenal may be criticized for their style of play and are often compared to previous title winners, but if they win the title, that's all that matters.
"Many viewers want to see beautiful football, or purists want to see spectacular goals back-to-front in open play," he said.
"Football isn't always played like that. Football is about being effective in both penalty areas, finding a way around them.
"I think whatever happens in between can look good, can be fun, can be exciting. "But ultimately, both of those are less important than what happens in the penalty area because that's where games are won and lost."
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