Arsenal found a successful route to goal via set-pieces in their 2-0 win over Lyon on Sunday.
Arsenal claimed victory in the Emirates Cup in their final pre-season friendly. In truth, the French outfit did not pose much of a challenge for Mikel Arteta’s side, who were dominant from the outset.
A number of Arsenal players impressed against Lyon, whilst Riccardo Calafiori drew plenty of attention as he made his non-competitive debut for the Gunners as a second half substitute.
However, despite their dominance, the North London club were not able to score from open play. Whilst they created chances, they lacked the clinical edge they displayed against Bayer Leverkusen last time out.
Arsenal fans felt Gabriel Martinelli was particularly wasteful, but in truth, the lack of importance carried by the result in this fixture may have had more to do with the Gunners’ profligacy. On top of that, of course, sometimes that’s just how football games go.
On those occasions, it is important to have alternative means of finding the back of the net. Arteta’s side have exactly that in the form of their set-pieces. Against Lyon, two first half corner deliveries from Declan Rice led directly to goals, as they were headed in by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Nicolas Jover still working set-piece magic at Arsenal
Arsenal boasted an incredible set-piece record last season, and so many of their vital goals came from such situations.
Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover was a secret weapon for Arsenal. His innovative approach to corners and free kick scenarios often gave the Gunners an edge over their opponents.
His magic touch is seemingly still intact, but he has clearly had to evolve. Arsenal would not get away with simply repeating their successful set-piece routines from last season. Opposition defences have now had chance to analyse and unpack those strategies, and won’t be caught out again.
Instead, Jover has had to adapt, and one change he has made was clear to see against Lyon. Whilst Arsenal are sticking with in-swinging corners, rather than targeting the front post, as they did last season, now deliveries are going deeper into the box. The Gunners are overloading the back post.
From here, the ball can either be headed in, as Gabriel did so emphatically on Sunday, or nodded back across the face of goal into a dangerous area. Not only did the Gunners score twice from corners against Lyon, but a number of their back post deliveries into the box caused problems for the opposition defence.
Riccardo Calafiori will make Arsenal even better at set-pieces
In Gabriel, Saliba, Ben White, and Kai Havertz, amongst others, Arsenal have players who pose an aerial threat in set-piece situations. Now, Arteta can add Calafiori to that list. The Italian defender is an imposing physical presence, and will certainly make himself felt in the opposition penalty area.
Mikel Merino could be a huge asset in these situations too, if Arsenal can get a deal for the Real Sociedad midfielder over the line.
Merino is the best aerial duel winner in Europe, and demonstrated his goalscoring prowess with his head with a fine finish at Euro 2024.
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