Arsenal’s form in attack comes and goes, but one constant is the threat from set-pieces.
It’s no surprise that Nicolas Jover frustrates rivals, as Arsenal really are the kings of set-play.
Fans now cheer when a free-kick or a corner is awarded, with dead-ball scenarios almost regarded as good as a scoring chance as a penalty.
Some don’t understand how Arsenal can’t be stopped from set-pieces, specifically corners, but in the Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg, Chelsea attempted to become the team to break the mould.
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Chelsea’s attempt to limit Arsenal’s corners only benefited the Gunners
Dan Burn was recently talking about Arsenal’s corners, as rivals are desperate to stop the Gunners.
Amid the talk, Liam Rosenior took a step forward and unleashed a surprise tactic, seeing three Chelsea players leave the box and run upfield to reduce the crowding.
The element of surprise rocked Arsenal’s plans, but that was part of the problem, as after it was done once, the novelty wore off.
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The Gunners were still able to threaten, despite not scoring, as Rosenior’s masterplan wasn’t quite as revolutionary as it seemed.
Chelsea’s players running out might’ve lowered the number of bodies in the box waiting for the cross to come in, but it also took three Blues out of defending the set-piece.
What seemed like the logical response to Arsenal’s set-play instead just showed that Jover’s tactics are not going to be outsmarted easily.
Jamie Redknapp wasn’t sold on Chelsea’s corner tactic against Arsenal
Speaking on Sky Sports when Chelsea unleashed their corner tactic, Jamie Redknapp shared the flaws that he saw from Rosenior’s approach.
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“I like the plan, but my problem is Enzo Fernandez was left marking Gabriel, and he has 10 yards to attack the ball,” he explained.
“Chelsea are trying to negate there being too much traffic in the area, which Arsenal try to cause chaos with. They obviously have a plan, but if Arsenal have the right delivery, Enzo Fernandez has no chance.”
Redknapp noticed that even the new plan came with an element of risk, noting that if Arsenal played their cards right, Chelsea had ‘no chance’.
The issue is, we all know most of the time, Arsenal do play their cards right, sending rivals back to the drawing board in a bid to respond to Jover’s brilliance.
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