Mikel Arteta has defiantly addressed the growing debate around set-pieces in modern football, asserting his desire for Arsenal to score even more goals from dead-ball situations, despite leading the Premier League in this metric.
The Gunners have netted 16 times from corners this season, including both goals in Sunday’s victory over Chelsea, prompting pundit Chris Sutton to label them potentially the “ugliest” title winners if they go on to win the Premier League.
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This comes as Liverpool boss Arne Slot recently voiced his frustration, claiming some Premier League matches are no longer enjoyable to watch due to the prevalence of set-piece tactics.
However, the Spaniard remained unapologetic, stating: “I’m upset that we don’t score more, and that we concede as well.
“We want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game, and that’s the trajectory and the aim of this team, and as a club, we want to be the same. So we try to do that.”
Arsenal scored two goals from corners against Chelsea on Sunday (PA Wire)
When asked if he was surprised by the criticism, he simply replied: “Part of the job.”
Arteta elaborated on the evolving nature of football, explaining how teams have had to adapt to increasingly complex tactical demands.
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“You, as an opponent or whatever, you get upset when you concede a goal,” he noted, drawing parallels with Chelsea and Manchester United’s own set-piece strengths. “I was really upset the way we conceded a goal against Chelsea.”
He continued: “There are phases and there are moments when a team has an opportunity to do certain things. The game is evolving and the game is becoming more and more difficult.
“Before, when you used to do a game plan you’d just invert a full-back and bring an extra player in midfield. Now, teams are adapting. Teams know after every sequence of play, whether it’s a throw-in, a restart of play, an open-play situation, after direct play, exactly what they have to do. And everything is almost man-to-man.
So it’s going to be a different game unless we change the rules because the evolution of the game is that.”
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The Arsenal manager suggested that those seeking “beautiful football” might need to look beyond the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta has hit back at criticism of his team’s tactics from set-pieces (PA Wire)
“I don’t know how you celebrate one goal different to another one,” he mused. “Maybe for YouTube it’s nicer one or another. I don’t know.
“I would like to play with three players extra in my own half to get some beautiful football and play always against a free man. This is not the reality of football.
“If you want to watch that football, you have to go to a different country because in the Premier League, for the last two seasons or three seasons, this is not the case.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Declan Rice is expected to be fit for Arsenal’s upcoming trip to Brighton on Wednesday, despite having limped off during the Chelsea match.
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