Arsenal’s set-pieces became one of the biggest talking points in football last season.
The Gunners scored countless goals from corners and free-kicks on their way to winning the Premier League title, but instead of receiving universal praise, many rival supporters seemed determined to turn it into a criticism.
Some labelled Arsenal “Set Piece FC”, while others compared Mikel Arteta’s side to Stoke City as if scoring from dead-ball situations was somehow a negative.
Thierry Henry has now delivered the perfect response to those critics after England benefited from exactly the same thing at the World Cup.
Are Arsenal the best set-piece team in Premier League history?
Thierry Henry perfectly sums up what Arsenal fans have been saying all season
England’s opening World Cup victory over Croatia featured a familiar sight.
Declan Rice whipped a dangerous corner into the box, Harry Kane attacked it brilliantly, and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
Nobody complained, nobody suggested England were too reliant on set-pieces, and nobody compared them to Stoke City.
Instead, the goal was celebrated for exactly what it was: a well-worked routine executed brilliantly by Rice and Kane.
The irony was not lost on Henry.
The Arsenal legend has listened to the criticism directed at his former club throughout the season, and he could not resist pointing out the hypocrisy after England’s goal.
Speaking live on air on Fox Sports, Henry said: “It does disturb people when it’s Arsenal but when it’s the national team they’ll be happy this time.”
In one sentence, he summed up exactly how Arsenal supporters have felt for months.
When the Gunners score from a corner, it is apparently evidence that they are too dependent on set-pieces. When England do it, it suddenly becomes a sign of tactical intelligence and good coaching.
Henry’s point could not have been clearer.
Excluding Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, which Arsenal player would you fancy most to score directly from a corner?
Arsenal turned set-pieces into a weapon and deserve praise for it
The strange thing about the criticism is that Arsenal never hid what they were doing.
Arteta and his coaching staff identified an area where they could gain an advantage and then worked relentlessly to become the best team in the country at it.
That is something that should be admired, not insulted.
The very best teams in football history have always found different ways to win matches. Some dominate through possession, some through pressing and others through devastating counter-attacks.
Arsenal added elite set-piece delivery to their arsenal, and it helped carry them to a Premier League title. But it was never their only weapon.
The Gunners scored outstanding team goals, dominated games in possession and reached the Champions League final because they were one of the most complete sides in Europe. The set-pieces simply gave them another route to victory.
That is why Henry’s comments will resonate so strongly with Arsenal supporters. Deep down, most of them have been thinking exactly the same thing.
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