I don’t have any data, but besides Saliba’s goal vs Burnley I can’t remember when was the last time we scored from set piece. Many times Saka and Martinelli corners are cleared on the first post which is frustrating.
I have heard on some local tv praise for Arsenal’s set pieces and now read Kompany saying something similar about them being the best at it.
Based purely on eye test, I find West Ham way more dangerous. Ward-Prowse is perhaps the best set piece specialist and Soucek, Antonio, Zouma etc are real aerial threat.
Which team you find best in set pieces?
The high number of corners is a byproduct of being dangerous at corners. Being good at corners typically means winning more corners, because the opposition struggle to defend them and clear corners out for more.
Watch the games and you’ll see times where we take multiple corners in a row.
Hmm, I thought it’s more a byproduct of playing attacking football. Typically top 6 teams have more corners than other teams, but historically teams like Stoke and Burnley have been quiet dangerous through set pieces, because that used to be their main weapon.
lol do u actually watch arsenal games 😂😂?
We literally scored another set piece in the same match
You’re right, I’m probably overlooking the rebound aspect, something we’re actually good at.
We’ve scored the most goals from set pieces this season even before the Burnley match. Also last season and this calendar year. We’ve more goals from set pieces than open play this season.
We’re very good at set pieces, I really don’t understand how you can think otherwise
Last season I noticed great improvement, but this year it just feels like too many of our corners end up cleared at the first post, to call us “best in the league in set pieces” or “set piece specialists”. I’m not saying we’re bad, but think we’re average or slightly above average in this aspect of the game.
I don’t know what you expect from a set piece specialist. Scoring every second corner or freekick of sorts? These set pieces have a low percentage of actually turning into goals. If generating many corners and other set pieces and scoring from them is what makes us specialists, then we’re fucking amazing at it. Let’s say each corner is worth 0.01 xg on average. Then 10 corners would only amount to a 10% chance of scoring a goal. Scoring consistenlty from that is incredible.
Not that, but there have been games where Saka/Martinelli would hit 5 times the man at the first post, without any Arsenal player near the guy making the clearance. That has just been frustrating at times, so I was just wondering if this is based on player’s individual ability or based on bad coordination/communication…
They hit the first man often because they’re driving flat corners with pace into that front post area, there’s an extremely high threshold but when it comes off you have an unstoppable close range header.
Because the word “best” is subjective and you’re reading it in a different way to mean “most efficient”. We’re the best at them in one sense because we’ve scored the most, that may not mean we’re the most efficient however.
I do not think its just about good headers. Arsenal can play various solutions to any set piece which makes it difficult for deffenders. With West Ham you know the ball goes to Souček.
Arsenal switches the style of set pieces two three times a game. Far. Front. Short. Long. Fast ball, high ball, direct. They are also very good at controling the zone afterwards. Getting rebounds and keeping you locked in.
Which I would argue is more difficult to deffend opposed to just keeping big guys at the big guys.
Zinchenko vs Burnley Saliba vs Burnley Tomiyasu vs Sheffield Utd Nketiah 2nd vs Sheffield Utd White vs Bournemouth Trossard vs Everton Rice vs Man Utd
Have you been watching with your eyes closed?
Arsenal are the team with most corners taken in the league.
And at least half of the goals are from rebounds, which is something I have been overlooking, so it’s my bad, but still I think the corners aren’t taken very well, but I should give more credits to the positioning of the team and to the rebound ability.
Haha!! This post is funny! Thanks OP brother! I needed cheering up today.
Arsenal’s issue isn’t set pieces
It’s Kai Havertz
Arsenal is good at set pieces