Arsenal’s set-pieces are proving to be a problem for every team, including Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The Cityzens didn’t concede a goal from a corner or a free-kick against Mikel Arteta’s side this season, but they have been pained in previous years.
Set-pieces are a huge asset to Arsenal, and goals from such situations are one of the reasons why the Gunners are on top of the Premier League table right now.
Guardiola, who is regarded as the greatest manager of all time, thinks he knows how to tackle the problem.
Pep Guardiola explains ‘the best way’ to defend set-pieces
Arsenal work a lot on set-pieces at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Nicolas Jover was brought in, ironically from Manchester City, to take the Gunners to the next level in this department, and he has exceeded all expectations.
Nine of Arsenal’s 16 goals – 11 if you include penalty kicks – have come from set-pieces this season, which is more than any other club in the Premier League.
That is an incredible record, and despite all the noise from the outside, Arsenal should be really happy with how effective they have been.
Pep Guardiola has now had his say on the evolution of set-pieces in the Premier League, and he thinks he knows ‘the best way’ to deal with them.
He said in his press conference, as relayed on HaytersTV: “I have the feeling that if you play good, you concede less corners and less throw-ins. We conceded a lot of corners, for example, against Arsenal, and we didn’t concede a goal. It’s just because we didn’t control the game.”
Guardiola further added: “I remember with Burnley (under Sean Dyche), it was tough. We conceded one corner, or not even one corner.
“Why? Because we were controlling the second balls, and our pace and control were much, much (better). In these kinds of games, the best way to defend is in that way.”
Nobody can ‘control’ the game against Arsenal
Guardiola is right; the best way to be successful against teams who are effective from the dead ball is to ‘control’ the game and not concede any corners or set-pieces.
However, no team in the world can do that against Arsenal.
The Gunners are extremely dominant in all phases of play. Yes, they are effective in set-pieces, but they also control the game incredibly well and are rarely ever the side with less possession.
Even Guardiola decided to park the bus against Arsenal at the Emirates – that’s how difficult it is to go toe-to-toe with Arteta’s men to gain control of the game.
If teams do decide to take Arsenal on and get the better of them in the possession game, they are often sliced open and end up conceding four or five.
That is why Arsenal are arguably the best team in the world right now and are the favourites to win the Premier League and the Champions League.
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