Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has openly admitted his frustration that his team has not capitalised more effectively from set-piece situations this season, even as the north London club faces mounting criticism over their perceived reliance on this tactical approach. The Gunners secured a vital victory over Chelsea on Sunday, netting two goals from corners, which has intensified debate around their style of play.
Record-Breaking Set-Piece Tally Sparks Debate
With those two goals, Arsenal have now equaled a Premier League record, scoring 16 league goals from set-pieces this season. This places them alongside historic company, matching the achievements of Oldham Athletic in the 1992-93 campaign, West Bromwich Albion in 2016-17, and their own tally from the previous 2023-24 season. Despite this statistical milestone, the strategy has drawn negative comments from fellow managers in the top flight.
Rival Managers Voice Concerns Over Entertainment Value
Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot remarked on Monday that the league's growing emphasis on set-pieces has made matches "not a joy to watch," highlighting a broader concern about the aesthetic quality of football. Adding to the criticism, Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler today accused Arsenal of time-wasting tactics around corner kicks, further fuelling the controversy ahead of their upcoming league encounter on Wednesday.
In response, Arteta expressed his disappointment, stating, "I'm upset that we don't score more from set-pieces and that we concede from them as well. We aim to be the best and most dominant team in every aspect of the game. That's the trajectory and ambition of this team and the club."
Arteta Attributes Trend to Evolving Game Rules
The Spanish manager went on to defend Arsenal's approach, arguing that the high volume of set-piece goals is a direct consequence of current football regulations and the defensive setups employed by teams across the Premier League. He questioned the distinction between different types of goals, saying, "I don't know how you celebrate one goal differently from another. Maybe for YouTube, one is nicer than another, but the reality of football depends a lot on context."
Call for Realism in Modern Football Analysis
Arteta emphasised the practical challenges faced by teams, noting, "I would like to play with three extra players in my own half to achieve beautiful football and always face a free man. However, that is not the reality of the game today. If you want to watch that kind of football, you might have to look to other countries, as the Premier League has evolved significantly over the past two or three seasons."
He elaborated on the tactical adaptations, explaining, "Teams are now highly organised after every sequence of play—whether it's a throw-in, a restart, an open-play situation, or a direct attack—they know exactly what to do, often marking man-to-man. Unless the rules change, this evolution will continue to shape the game differently."
This defence comes at a crucial time as Arsenal prepare to face Brighton, with the debate over set-pieces likely to remain a hot topic in football circles, reflecting broader discussions about tactics, entertainment, and the evolving nature of the sport.
