So much has been made of Arsenal’s goals from set-pieces this season and after yet more criticism following the win over Chelsea, former Liverpool man Steve Nicol has defended the Gunners.
Arsenal set a record for goals from corners as William Saliba and Jurrien Timber netted at The Emirates.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side have been accused of relying on them too much at times.
Now, though, Steve Nicol has actually stood up for the Gunners.
Arsenal fans be honest…are you FED UP of seeing the Gunners score from corners all the time?
Steve Nicol defends Arsenal’s set-piece record
This is going to be a subject we see surface more and more as the season continues on and the day Arsenal drop points and don’t score from one, the critics will have a field day.
However, Nicol believes Arsenal should be credited, not criticised.
“I mean, listen we’d all love to sit and watch, whenever there was a game, lovely fast-flowing attacking football. Sometimes it’s just not possible and right now, it doesn’t seem that any team is capable of doing that consistently.
“So when you can’t do that consistently, you have to find ways of scoring and Arsenal in particular, have found a way of taking advantage of situations like set-pieces,” Nicol said for ESPN FC.
“So, I’m afraid it’s just one of those things that’s come about and it’s just how it is for now.”
Arsenal’s set-piece criticism is way over the top
What is the old saying? There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
No title-winning team has ever been the same. We’ve had Jose Mourinho’s defensive masterclasses, Alex Ferguson’s gung-ho late winners and we’ve had Man City’s ball dominant teams be successful.
However, it doesn’t mean any one of those teams did things the ‘right way’. In the end, they all won, and that’s all that matters.
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Arsenal have invested time and money into the appointment and subsequent work of Nicolas Jover.
If they happen to be perfecting the craft better than any other team, then why should they be criticised for simply gaining a crucial advantage?
The critics have been way over the top with this lately and it’s refreshing to hear Nicol stand up for the Gunners.
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