Danny Murphy says there’s only one way Arsenal’s set-piece goals can be stopped

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Danny Murphy thinks Arsenal’s set-piece superiority can be limited, but not because of how opposition teams defend.

There’s so much discourse about Arsenal’s strength from set-pieces this season, which was to be expected.

No team can match the Gunners when it comes to scoring and defending dead-ball situations, making the attention unsurprising.

Arsenal are unstoppable from set-pieces, but Danny Murphy thinks there is one way that the goals could dry up for Mikel Arteta’s side. 

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Danny Murphy thinks Arsenal’s set-piece goals will only slow down if Gabriel Magalhaes is unavailable  

Questions are being asked about Arsenal’s style of play, which is becoming rather tiresome, as there are so many other reasons why the Gunners are the team to beat.

Set-pieces have played their part, with Arteta’s side scoring 11 goals from dead-ball routines so far, with the protagonist undoubtedly being Gabriel Magalhaes.

Even opposition managers fear Gabriel when the ball is fired into the box, which brings us to Murphy’s idea of how to stop Arsenal’s set-play supremacy.

The pundit joked on talkSPORT that the only way Arsenal can be stopped from set-play is if their centre-back is unavailable.

“It might ease off a little bit if Gabriel gets an injury, but other than that, I can’t really see it [stopping].”

Considering that Gabriel has been called the most influential player in the Premier League, Murphy’s idea carries weight, which only reinforces just how good Arsenal are.

Murphy responds to Arsenal set-piece criticism 

When you’re at the top, those outside will wish for your downfall, which is very much what Arsenal are experiencing right now.

Murphy, however, thinks criticism of the Gunners’ so-called reliance on set-pieces is way off the mark.

“I’ve got no problem with them doing it. You’ve got to play to your strengths, and if you find something that works,” he said.

“Their numbers are so far ahead of everyone else. Why wouldn’t you stick to it? Make no apologies for it.”

Murphy is right, Arsenal mustn’t apologise for being unstoppable, with the correct route of complaints being targeted at those who are unable to prevent the goals from being scored.

In Murphy’s eyes, if Gabriel can be stopped, the frequency of set-piece goals could reduce, which is a massive compliment to Arsenal’s brilliant Brazilian.