England and Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has delivered a powerful assessment of the modern game, championing the set-piece mastery of clubs like Arsenal and calling for an end to the tactical snobbery surrounding it.
The End of Set-Piece Snobbery
Speaking candidly while on international duty before England's match against Serbia on Thursday night, Konsa highlighted a significant trend sweeping the Premier League. He lauded Arsenal and their manager, Mikel Arteta, for being at the forefront of this evolution, turning dead-ball situations into a potent weapon.
The thoughtful defender didn't stop there. He also referenced Brentford's effective use of long throws and praised the work of Aston Villa's own set-piece specialist, coach Austin MacPhee. This perspective from a top-flight player underscores a growing respect for a discipline often unfairly maligned by pundits and purists.
A Proven Winning Strategy
The effectiveness of this approach is undeniable. Konsa's comments bring to mind England's 2018 World Cup campaign, where a remarkable nine of their twelve goals originated from set-pieces. This statistic suggests that manager Gareth Southgate was, in fact, a pioneer in recognising the value of these meticulously planned routines.
For all the jibes about a perceived lack of flair, the players themselves clearly respect what is becoming a cornerstone of success not just in England, but across Europe's elite leagues. The fundamental question remains: if a strategy consistently yields results, why would any team not embrace and champion it?
Arteta's Arsenal Leading the Charge
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have established themselves as the Premier League's set-piece kings. Their expertise from corners and free-kicks has been a major factor in their push for the title this season. While some may nostalgically prefer the free-flowing style of Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles', it does nothing to diminish Arteta's brilliance as a coach.
Arteta is a pragmatic innovator who identifies and exploits every possible advantage. The notion that teams must only play high-press, high-energy football is outdated. The best teams, including Arsenal, now understand the necessity of mixing their approach, using set-pieces as a crucial tool to break down stubborn defences.
It's a sentiment echoed by match-going Arsenal fans, who have been heard chanting "Set piece again, ole, ole" in celebration of this effective tactic. Rather than becoming prickly about the focus on set-pieces, as Arteta occasionally has, the club and its supporters have every reason to be proud of their proficiency.
The critics who deride these tactics are simply failing to move with the times. Football is constantly evolving, and the current emphasis on set-pieces is today's cutting edge. True innovators like Arteta and Pep Guardiola will inevitably find new ways to gain an advantage tomorrow, but for now, the set-piece is king, and the smartest teams are wearing the crown.
