The truth behind Arsenal's 'go-to' strategy

29/10/2025 07:28:00 ScoreStream

As Arsenal sits comfortably atop the Premier League table, an unusual subject has taken center stage in all conversations: "The Gunners score an excessive number of goals from set-piece situations."

Many argue that Mikel Arteta's squad depends on free kicks and corners instead of the beautiful attacking style they used to follow. Yet, this very "fixation" reflects a shallow and incorrect understanding of Arsenal’s development under Arteta.

Recall May 19, 2024, when Arsenal concluded the season with a 2-1 victory over Everton. That marked their 28th win and 91st goal in the Premier League, surpassing even the legendary "Invincibles" era of 2003/04. Despite this, they finished second, just 2 points behind Manchester City. This was painful but also motivated Arteta to push Arsenal to a higher level.

One year later, Arteta achieved that goal. Arsenal became more well-rounded, more ruthless, and most importantly, more efficient. Yet, instead of praising tactical improvements, experts spent more time debating the "way" Arsenal scores goals.

At every press conference, Arteta faces the question: Is Arsenal overly reliant on set pieces? Even rival managers like Arne Slot (Liverpool) openly mention Arsenal "living off set-piece situations." But such complaints overlook one fact: every set piece stems from Arsenal’s proactive play in open play.

Arsenal is not the team that creates the most chances from set pieces, but they are the best at capitalizing on them.

Arteta has openly rebutted: "To earn corners or free kicks, first you must create chances in open play. Everything in football is interconnected. The ball never stops moving." And he is right. Arsenal leads the Premier League with 67 corners, far ahead of second-placed Chelsea (56). This not only proves their dominant attacking ability but also shows their control over the game's tempo, forcing opponents to defend deep.

Another interesting stat: 19% of all Premier League goals this season have come from corners, the highest percentage in the league’s history so far. This means Arsenal is not "breaking the mold"; they are simply maximizing a modern football trend.

Ironically, Arsenal is not the team generating the most chances from set pieces. They rank only 8th in the league for passes from set-piece situations leading to shots (1.89 per game). What sets Arsenal apart is their conversion rate and solid defensive foundation. When you concede only 3 goals in over 10 matches and have the lowest expected goals against (5.28), every set-piece goal becomes even more valuable.

This efficiency is no accident. Arsenal has heavily invested in tactical details. They have a dedicated set-piece specialist, thoroughly study movements in the box, and turn every set piece into a "strategic weapon." This does not diminish Arteta’s attacking identity but makes Arsenal more versatile and unpredictable.

M.Vũ

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