Arsenal's dominance in the Premier League is not just limited to their impressive goal-scoring record, but also their ability to capitalize on corners and other dead-ball situations. The team's tactics have been expertly honed by manager Mikel Arteta, who has built upon his experiences with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The key to Arsenal's success lies in the consistent delivery of high-quality set pieces from well-placed players. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are the primary corner takers, with Rice creating eight goals from corners this season compared to five for Saka. This is not an isolated tactic, as other players like Martin Ødegaard, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke have also scored from corners.
While launching balls directly towards leaping centre-backs may seem straightforward, Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover ensures that the team mixes up their deliveries to keep opposition defences guessing. The majority of corners are aimed at the near post (23%) or far post (15%), with a spread between deliveries into the middle, near post, and far post.
The success of Arsenal's set pieces is also attributed to their aggressive approach, which shifts players' starting positions, presses the goalkeeper, and varies the direction of deliveries. This chaos created by the team can lead to goals from knock-downs, flick-ons, or goalmouth scrambles, as seen in their Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
However, opponents may find it challenging to exploit this strategy, particularly if they adopt a defensive approach to counter Arsenal's corners. By leaving players upfield rather than bunkering down, teams like Paris Saint-Germain have been able to capitalize on breakaways and improve their chances of scoring.
For Premier League sides, finding a way to counter Arsenal's set-piece prowess could be crucial in breaking their dominance. The team is now working with long-throw specialist Thomas Grønnemark to add another dimension to their tactics, potentially making it even harder for opponents to find weaknesses in their game plan.
The key to Arsenal's success lies in the consistent delivery of high-quality set pieces from well-placed players. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are the primary corner takers, with Rice creating eight goals from corners this season compared to five for Saka. This is not an isolated tactic, as other players like Martin Ødegaard, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke have also scored from corners.
While launching balls directly towards leaping centre-backs may seem straightforward, Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover ensures that the team mixes up their deliveries to keep opposition defences guessing. The majority of corners are aimed at the near post (23%) or far post (15%), with a spread between deliveries into the middle, near post, and far post.
The success of Arsenal's set pieces is also attributed to their aggressive approach, which shifts players' starting positions, presses the goalkeeper, and varies the direction of deliveries. This chaos created by the team can lead to goals from knock-downs, flick-ons, or goalmouth scrambles, as seen in their Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
However, opponents may find it challenging to exploit this strategy, particularly if they adopt a defensive approach to counter Arsenal's corners. By leaving players upfield rather than bunkering down, teams like Paris Saint-Germain have been able to capitalize on breakaways and improve their chances of scoring.
For Premier League sides, finding a way to counter Arsenal's set-piece prowess could be crucial in breaking their dominance. The team is now working with long-throw specialist Thomas Grønnemark to add another dimension to their tactics, potentially making it even harder for opponents to find weaknesses in their game plan.