Arsenal now carry a ‘gargantuan threat’ in one area thanks to ‘brilliant’ player

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Arsenal are set to face Burnley tomorrow as they look to continue their fine form, and will be confident of a victory.

Arsenal are now the best team in the Premier League when it comes to attacking set-pieces, whilst Saturday’s opposition, Burnley, are amongst the worst.

Gabriel Magalhaes has been particularly threatening from set plays, scoring three times in his last four games, whilst Declan Rice’s deliveries have also proved lethal.

However, one player’s impact in these goals has gone under the radar, and he is playing a hugely important part in Arsenal’s excellent attacks from dead balls.

Ben White has scored just once this season, but he aims to target opposition goalkeepers during set-pieces, which in turn allows the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba to attack the ball.

Ben White role in Arsenal set pieces praised

Speaking on the Handbrake Off Podcast, former Gunner Adrian Clarke praised Ben White for what he does at corners, ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Burnley, and highlighted how Arsenal could target goalkeeper James Trafford at set pieces.

“James Trafford is a good young keeper, very, very promising, but he is a liability when balls are put in the box,” Clarke stated.

“There has been a lot of incidents where teams have swung it under the crossbar and he’s floundered, and he’s the one keeper in the Premier League that I would say he’s the weakest at defending corners.

“When I analyse the goals we score from corners, they’re almost always inswingers into a crowded 6-yard box, where we either flick it onto the far post or crowd out the keeper.

“Ben White’s brilliant at that. Ben White is an absolute menace to opposition goalkeepers. When you look at this match on paper, Arsenal from corners, should carry a guaranteed threat, and I go as far as to say I expect us to score from at least one set piece in the game.”

Arsenal’s attacking set pieces

Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been praised for his role in making Arsenal dangerous from corners.

One of Gabriel’s goals against Crystal Palace saw Leandro Trossard play a vital role in drawing two defenders away from him, and it is these marginal tactical gains which have led to a huge improvement in Arsenal’s danger at set-pieces.

Rice has been given credit for his deliveries, and Gabriel praised for his ferocity in the air to power the ball home, but the role White plays in making sure the keeper is blocked from claiming the ball, without committing a foul, is a clearly planned tactic from Mikel Arteta and his staff, and a hugely successful one.