Mikel Arteta has hit back at critics of Arsenal's reliance on set pieces, insisting he is disappointed the Premier League leaders do not score even more from dead-ball situations. Arsenal moved five points clear at the top with a 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday, with two goals from corners taking their season tally to 16, matching the Premier League record for a single campaign.
The Gunners' success under set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has drawn criticism from some quarters, with Liverpool head coach Arne Slot saying he no longer enjoys watching certain Premier League matches. Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, a Premier League winner with Blackburn, claimed Arsenal would be the "ugliest" champions if they lifted the title.
Arteta, however, remains unrepentant and wants his team to become even more efficient from set pieces. "I'm upset that we don't score more, and that we concede as well," he said before Wednesday's trip to Brighton. "We want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game, and that's the trajectory and the aim of this team." Asked if he was surprised by the criticism, he replied: "Part of the job."
The Arsenal manager agreed with Pep Guardiola's view that teams should adapt to the strategy rather than complain. "Now teams are adapting," said Arteta. "Chelsea, look at the quality that they have, the amount of set pieces they score. Manchester United as well. I was at Man City, I used to work a lot on them."
Dismissing the suggestion that Arsenal would be "ugly" champions, Arteta said: "I don't know how you celebrate one goal different to another one. Maybe for YouTube it's nicer one or another." He added: "I would like to play with three players extra in my own half to get some beautiful football. This is not the reality of football. If you want to watch that football, you have to go to a different country because in the Premier League, for the last two seasons or three seasons, this is not the case."
