Mikel Arteta hints one Arsenal player is being trained to become their long-throw specialist

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Arsenal are already one of the best set-piece teams in the world, but they want more.

The Gunners have been absolutely incredible from corners and free-kicks in recent years. Nicolas Jover has completely transformed them in that department.

Even though they are brilliant in those set-piece situations, what Arsenal can certainly improve is their effectiveness from long throws.

Mikel Arteta has now suggested that Declan Rice is being trained to do just that.

Declan Rice could become Arsenal’s long-throw specialist

Long throws are proving to be a big asset for teams across the Premier League this season.

Rory Delap made a great name for himself for his throws back in the day, but not many people apart from him used that to trouble opponents.

Things have changed now, and the best player in the Premier League with long throws is arguably Michael Kayode of Brentford.

Arsenal will have to deal with the former Fiorentina man’s throws on Wednesday night, and ahead of the game, Arteta was told that Rice is not as good as Kayode.

The Arsenal boss claimed that nothing happens overnight and hinted that Rice is being trained to become a specialist in that role in the future.

He said, as per the Evening Standard: “Everything has to evolve. I don’t know how good he was a year ago, or two years ago, or three years ago. I know how good Declan was at taking set-pieces three or four years ago, and I know how good he is now.

“So, it does not happen overnight. Things have to be trained, evolved and tweaked. And the player has to believe as well, which is key.

“He can become anything he wants. When you look at Declan, he can do almost everything you require him to do.”

Arsenal could become unstoppable if they master long throws

Arsenal are absolutely elite in almost every department.

The Gunners are the kings of set-pieces, while they have shown in recent weeks that they can score from open play against the big sides as well.

The one area where they aren’t top-class yet is long throws.

Rice and Riccardo Calafiori are usually the ones who are tasked with the responsibility, but they aren’t perfect at it just yet.

If Jover can help those two players master long throw-ins like they have done with corners, Arsenal could become unstoppable.