Arsenal’s corner kicks are a deadly weapon in the Premier League title race
When Mikel Arteta was asked last December about a bonus for Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s free-kick coach, the Spanish coach smiled and said that “they can think about it.”
After Arsenal’s 19th goal from a free kick in the English Premier League this season, Arteta left it to the owners or Edu to answer the question regarding Gopher’s reward after Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle United.
Since the summer of 2021, Gopher has been converting set-pieces for Arsenal, and the acquisitions of Kai Havertz and Declan Rice have only strengthened it this season. The variety of Arsenal’s options, the aerial ability of the players and the delivery of their attackers contributed to the team’s prowess in set-piece play – from throw-ins, free kicks and corner kicks.
The two corner goals scored by Arsenal against Newcastle took their tally to 13 Premier League goals this season, which equals the record for most goals scored from corners in a single Premier League season since Opta began collecting this data in the 2007-08 season. This record is in the Gophers’ first season.
The difference this time is that Arsenal needed fewer corner kicks to reach 13 goals. When comparing across seasons, it is more accurate to look at goals per 100 corner kicks; Because one season may have more corners than another, and Arsenal’s rate of 6.6 goals per 100 corner kicks in the Premier League this season is the best since 2007.
Mikel Arteta celebrates with Nicolas Joffre, set-piece coach (Getty)
The beauty of Arsenal’s corners against Newcastle lies in their multiple threats across the width of the six-yard area, which provides players with more than one solution when crossing into the penalty area.
In those situations, Newcastle’s defensive set-up consisted of Anthony Gordon defending the short corner, Sean Longstaff marking William Saliba, Bruno Guimaraes tracking down Gabriel Martinelli near the penalty spot, and a 3-on-3 battle towards the back post between Newcastle’s Sven Botman, Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier. Havertz, Gabriel and Jakob Kevior from Arsenal.
In the first corner for Arsenal, Martin Odegaard presents himself as a short option, and Jorginho and Bukayo Saka are positioned towards the edge of the penalty area to be ready for the second phase, and to protect against counterattacks, and 6 players inside the penalty area.
As soon as Reis gives the signal by raising his left arm, Havertz and Kevior run towards the near post, followed by Gabriel. Meanwhile, Saliba is in the six-yard box, and Martinelli is waiting near the penalty point.
Before rushing towards the now vacant back post when Rice is just hitting the ball. The logic behind this routine is to overload Newcastle’s static players at the near post with dynamic runners (yellow) coming from the back post, and to use a late runner in Martinelli (white) to attack the free space at the back post after the Newcastle man – the markers are being pulled away from that area.
Arsenal made a classy offer against Newcastle (Getty)
In this example, the ball is cleared by Longstaff, but Arsenal’s spread across the six-yard box is clear. This presents multiple options because if Havertz doesn’t get the first touch, either Saliba or Gabriel have another chance. In addition, Arsenal players towards the near post have two options when the striker plays: direct the ball towards goal or pass it towards Martinelli at the back post.
In the next corner, Arsenal adjusted their setup slightly. White moves away from his usual role of tackling the goalkeeper, and positions himself inside the six-yard box. Once again, Rice’s signal begins the routine with Kevior and Havertz running towards the near post, followed by Gabriel and White, who is now an additional player adding to the size of that area.
The extra surge works as White beats Miguel Almiron at the near post but his ball finds Saliba instead of Martinelli, who attacks the free space towards the back post.
The reason this is so difficult to defend against is that Havertz, Kevior and Gabriel know the routine unlike their markers, and White changes his role in a way that increases the burden on Almiron and Luis Maelé – Newcastle’s box defenders at the near post – and the runs come from the blind side, meaning that Almiron and Maelé do not They can see the runners and the ball at the same time. Add Martinelli’s late run towards the back post and it becomes even more difficult.
It only takes 3 corner kicks for Arsenal for this routine to work. Here White is free inside the six-yard box, Martinelli is near the penalty spot and the runners are in position.
Saka raises his right arm, and the action begins with White moving towards the near post, Kefior heading in the same direction, and Gabriel darting away from his marker with Havertz’s movement acting as a cover.
White’s (red) dash towards the edge of the six-yard box moves Miley wide of the near post, Kevior pulls Trippier away from that area as well, and Saliba pins Longstaff to allow Gabriel to attack.
To give Gabriel another option when the centre-back connects with Saka’s cross. Gabriel chose to head the ball towards goal, and despite Karius’s save, Botman put the ball into his own net.
Havertz and Martinelli celebrate one of Arsenal’s goals in Newcastle (Getty)
In the second half, Arsenal scored their fourth goal with the same routine. Once again, Havertz, Gabriel and Kevior are positioned first towards the back post, Saliba and White inside the six-yard box, and Leandro Trossard near the penalty spot after Martinelli’s substitution.
The routine begins with Rice raising his left arm, which is a signal for Havertz and Kevior to start their run towards the near post. Their assistant is White, who moves to overload that area.
Coming from Jacob Murphy’s blind side at speed, Kevior beats a Newcastle box defender and scores Arsenal’s fourth goal after his header is deflected off Miley.
Other than blocking and feigning movement, the use of running angles to stay on the opposition’s blind side and the concept of attacking defenders while resting with fast running players are different ways to gain the upper hand in the cutting set – especially given the physical appearance of Arsenal’s players.
The value of Arsenal’s set pieces is how they change the state of the game and force opponents to be more active. From positions in the paint, Arteta’s side have scored 11 goals from set-pieces in the Premier League – allowing them to attack greater spaces when the opposition opens up.
In Arsenal’s quest for their first Premier League title in 20 years, set-pieces have been one of the cornerstones of this team.
2024-02-26 17:07:09
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