In the meticulous world of Premier League preparation, Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been drilling his players on a specific task ahead of Wednesday's match: blocking Brentford's key aerial threats, like Sepp van Berg, from "accessing key zones". This focus on the minute details within the penalty area, rather than just delivery, exemplifies the modern set-piece arms race – a trend Brentford started and Arsenal have since perfected.
The Pioneers and The Perfectors
While Arsenal now receive plaudits for their dead-ball dominance, the innovative thinking originated at Brentford. The Bees were among the very first clubs to appoint a specialist set-piece coach, applying new data-driven science to a traditional aspect of the game. This has irked some at the Gtech Community Stadium, especially as rivals garner praise for a methodology they pioneered. Manager Keith Andrews, himself a former set-piece specialist, has made public comments reflecting this frustration.
The upcoming clash is rich with symbolism: a meeting between the club that restarted the set-piece revolution and the club that has taken it to its logical conclusion. As one rival noted, Arsenal's true innovation lies in perfecting two set-piece routines that are close to undefendable, giving Mikel Arteta's side a crucial 'winning edge'.
A Data-Led Genesis
The philosophical roots of this approach trace back to around 2014 and Danish club Midtjylland, then also owned by Brentford's data-centric owner Matthew Benham. Analysts recognised that set-pieces were being inefficiently used in an era increasingly dominated by Pep Guardiola's positional play. The mantra at both clubs became finding that "winning edge" through marginal gains.
This new school of thought gave rise to a generation of set-piece coaches, including Nicolas Jover. Identified as a distinctive talent by former Arsenal loans manager Ben Knapper, Jover was initially taken to Manchester City by Arteta. Although less pronounced at a free-scoring City, his work was highly valued; the club fought hard to keep him when Arteta, as Arsenal manager, came calling in 2021.
The Modern Set-Piece Arms Race
The emphasis on set-pieces is not fading. Opta data reveals the weekend's fixtures matched the season's record for set-piece goals in a single match-round at 14, a figure that has happened three times this campaign and is double the rate from the start of the season. With a scarcity of top coaches in this niche, an arms race has developed, making specialists like Jover, Aston Villa's Austin McPhee, and others mini-celebrities.
The next level of this battle involves complex choreography: computing player runs, minimising opposition threats, and overwhelming goalkeepers. Yet it still relies on fundamentals. Brentford staff praise the long throws of Kevin Schade and Michael Kayode, while Arsenal believe Declan Rice may now have the best dead-ball delivery in the world, backed by Bukayo Saka. They are serviced by physical specimens like Gabriel and Jurrien Timber attacking the ball with intent.
Some within football believe set-pieces are especially potent now because the modern, academy-developed player is less accustomed to the physical duels they entail compared to eras past. This, coupled with the fear factor a strong set-piece record instils – as Arsenal reportedly saw against Bayern Munich – creates another layer of advantage.
As the cycle completes, Brentford remain one of the few clubs equipped to withstand Arsenal's set-piece threat and give some back. But as Arteta would likely argue, the real point is having multiple strings to your bow. It’s not about choosing between a ground-based positional game or aerial prowess; it’s about using every available tool to secure that all-important edge.
