Arsenal’s Set-Piece Strategy: A Question of Over-Reliance?

Pat Nevin, a commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live, recounted an incident where a disgruntled fan of a club he supported confronted him, stating, “Nevin, You’re just here for the money.” Nevin responded calmly, “Yes, I am,” adding, “I’m working and when you work you get paid for doing it – it’s kind of how our society works.” This anecdote served as a prelude to a recent situation where Mikel Arteta was questioned regarding the Gunners’ current playing approach. The interrogator drew a comparison between the present Arsenal team and Tony Pulis’ Stoke City, highlighting their mutual dependence on set-piece strategies, specifically corner-kicks delivered into the penalty area. Such a comparison might be viewed as disrespectful to the legacy of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal teams and even to Arteta’s own Spanish tiki-taka football philosophy. Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta remained composed and did not take offense. His primary focus appears to be on securing victories, rather than the specific manner in which they are achieved. He recently earned an additional point by utilizing this identical strategy at Craven Cottage on Sunday. However, a growing concern suggests that the team is becoming excessively reliant on this particular tactic. It now appears that they occasionally play with the specific aim of earning corner kicks. While their set-pieces pose a threat when executed effectively, an over-reliance on a singular approach presents a potential issue. This strategy reportedly had significant negative repercussions for their neighboring club, Tottenham.