The Strategic Elements of Football Set-Pieces: Delivery, Timing, and Tactical Maneuvers

Arsenal’s recent 2-0 victory over Manchester United saw both of their goals originate from corner kicks. Historically, set-pieces were often considered a tool for underdogs, offering a rare opportunity for less-favored teams to compete against more skilled opponents through rigorous practice and physical advantages. However, Arsenal’s exceptional performance from dead-ball situations over the last two seasons, particularly their remarkable effectiveness from corners, has elevated set-pieces to a prominent tactical focus, now viewed as a crucial avenue for achieving marginal gains by both aspiring overachievers and title contenders. So, what precisely contributes to the execution of highly effective corners? On December 4, when Arsenal defeated Manchester United 2-0 at Emirates Stadium, both goals were scored from corners. One was headed in by Jurrien Timber, while the other was deflected into the net by William Saliba following a knockdown from Thomas Partey. This brace increased the Gunners’ total goals from corners to an impressive 22 since the start of last season, surpassing any other club in Europe’s top five leagues. Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen ranked a distant second with 17. Following the win against United, much of the discussion regarding Arsenal’s superiority in set-pieces centered on the quality of service provided by Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. Morten Gamst Pedersen, a former Blackburn Rovers midfielder and a set-piece specialist during his playing career, concurs that delivery is paramount. “On an in-swinger, you can go toward the goalkeeper and if the keeper misses it, you can score directly,” he states, citing Son Heung-min’s recent ‘Olimpico’ goal directly from a corner in the Carabao Cup, also against Manchester United, as evidence. Pedersen further elaborated, “An in-swinger will have more pace on the ball. I’d put it between the posts, on top of the goalie, like Arsenal do. And I’d always have to think about getting it past the first defender. That was what was in my mind as I got ready to take the kick.” He added, “There are different techniques that you use depending on what type of delivery you want to put in. The people who are the best passers and crossers, they are usually the best at delivering set-pieces – Kevin de Bruyne can shoot, pass and he can deliver set-pieces. And a bit of confidence helps as well.” Former Norway international Morten Gamst Pedersen was regarded as a set-piece specialist during his time at Blackburn Rovers. Ryan Shawcross, who became proficient at scoring headers from corners during his career, primarily with Stoke City, favored a different delivery style but also emphasized the importance of a well-placed ball into the penalty area. “I always liked an out-swinger because I felt you could get a good purchase on the ball,” Shawcross explains. “And I always favoured heading from the left-hand side if you’re looking from behind the goal. You jump different from different sides because you take off on a different foot.” He reiterated, “But it’s all about the delivery. Arsenal have got Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka who provide unbelievable deliveries. When we were really successful, we had Liam Lawrence, Jermaine Pennant, Matt Etherington. It’s all about delivery and desire to go and head the ball.” As a defender, Shawcross is recognized as one of the Premier League’s most prolific header scorers in the 21st century, having netted nine goals for Stoke. He also once scored seven league goals in a single Championship season, showcasing his skill in attacking corners. “Timing is key,” he explains. “That’s your timing to get away from your marker, timing to jump and meet the ball.” Shawcross described the mental process: “Your thought process as it’s getting closer is, ‘Right, what am I doing with the ball? Am I heading it down, am I going for power? To the right or to the left?'” He concluded, “But a lot of the time, the ball will dictate what you do. You’ll see it just hits the head and goes in. So it’s about the contact. Make sure you get a good head on it and try to head it down if possible.” Shawcross also believes that his height, 6ft 3ins, combined with his position as a central defender, gave him an advantage. “As a centre-back, you’re an expert in heading the ball,” he says. “If you think about myself and William Saliba – I’m not comparing myself to him, but we head the ball a lot.” He elaborated, “Centre-backs are better at heading the ball. Strikers, they flick the ball on a lot more, but centre-backs head the ball away, so they’re used to that contact with the ball on the front of the head and getting distance and height. You take those principles and try to apply it to scoring a goal.” He added, “I should have scored so many more. I should have gotten five a year.” Beyond the technical aspects, Pedersen also suggests that a psychological element contributes to a team’s success from corners, where their reputation can instill doubt in opponents. “At Blackburn, we led the league in set-piece goals at one stage,” he recalls. “When you get that fear from opponents, it helps you. You see that with Arsenal. Once you see that fear in the opponent, you keep attacking it. We could see that at Blackburn.” The contribution of players who are not the primary targets of the delivery has also grown in significance. Observing players awaiting a cross away from the set-piece taker reveals a meticulously planned sequence of jostling and ‘blocking’ maneuvers, designed to create an unobstructed path to the ball for a team’s strongest headers. “The ‘dark arts’ are the main key to success from corners – blocking,” states Stuart Reid, a freelance set-piece analyst who has collaborated with several professional clubs. “Even if you’re a side that doesn’t have great aerial ability, most teams will at least have one player who’s good in the air. If you use blocking, the chances are you can free up that player.” “Tony Pulis was massive on blocking,” Shawcross adds, referring to his former Stoke manager. “We’d orchestrate two or three different blocks before the ball would come in, and that would give that player the space to attack the ball. We’d ideally have someone free at the front post, someone free at the back post, someone free in the middle and someone blocking the goalkeeper.” He noted, “All the stuff that’s being waxed lyrically about now with Mikel Arteta, it was being done years ago by the Welsh genius Tony Pulis.” Despite these strategies, corner kicks remain a relatively low-percentage scoring opportunity; for instance, only 4.6% of corners resulted in a goal last season. However, as Arsenal is demonstrating, with Mikel Arteta’s squad converting 6% of their corners in 2023-24, dedicated work on the training ground can yield substantial rewards. Pedersen concludes, “Big games get decided by set-pieces these days. The better you get at set pieces, the more chance you have of winning these big games. It’s a big X factor.”