There’s been some frightening sights in the world of football over the years. We’re talking Arjen Robben cutting in on his left foot, Lionel Messi running at defenders, Rory Delap loading up a lethal long throw and now the sight of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka or Declan Rice standing over a set piece.
The Premier League hasn’t been this fearful of such scenarios since the days of Tony Pulis, and some may argue that the only difference between Mikel Arteta and the former Stoke City boss is a pair of glasses and a hat.
The Spaniard, for all of the comparisons in jest, deserves great credit alongside set-piece coach Nicolas Jover after becoming experts in something that could finally result in a Premier League title.
Nicolas Jover: Everything you need to know about Arsenal's set-piece guru
Who is the man behind Arsenal’s ridiculous threat from set pieces?
The closest title races in Premier League history
Manchester City and Arsenal have delivered a Premier League title race for the ages – here are some of the tightest from years gone by…
ByStephan GeorgiouMay 20, 2024 2023/24: 16 goals Jover's influence shows
Some will be quick to shoot down the scenes of Jover celebrating every time that Arsenal score from a set piece, but the coach deserves credit for his excellent work.
He has taken Arsenal from being an average side from set plays into becoming the most dangerous team in the Premier League. And last season, it showed more than ever for the first time.
Scoring an impressive 16 goals from set pieces, Arsenal caught each of Newcastle, Tottenham, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sheffield United twice in the same game, with sides simply unable to handle Jover and Arteta’s setup. By this point, it was of course no surprise that Gabriel proved to be the biggest threat, finding the back of the net five times in all competitions.
It wasn’t enough to win them the title yet again, but the Gunners stole the headlines several times from set plays, perhaps most notably when Declan Rice found the back of the net to secure a last-gasp victory over Manchester United.
1
Man Utd
Declan Rice
Corner
2
Bournemouth
Ben White
FK
3
Sheff Utd
Eddie Nketiah
Corner
4
Sheff Utd
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Corner
5
Burnley
William Saliba
Corner
6
Burnley
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Corner
7
Brighton
Gabriel Jesus
Corner
8
Liverpool
Gabriel
FK
9
Crystal Palace
Gabriel
Corner
10
Crystal Palace
Gabriel
Corner
11
West Ham
William Saliba
Corner
12
West Ham
Gabriel
FK
13
Newcastle
Own goal
Corner
14
Newcastle
Jakub Kiwior
Corner
15
Tottenham
Own goal
Corner
16
Tottenham
Kai Havertz
Corner
2024/25: 18 goals (so far) Arsenal become set-piece kings
Usually, when a team concedes from a set piece, many believe that whoever is in charge of that side will be left incredibly disappointed, as they’re often seen as avoidable goals to concede.
Arsenal, however, have turned the avoidable into the inevitable, making goals from set pieces a happy habit. The Emirates watches on as if Saka or Rice are stepping up to the penalty spot when they place the ball on the corner quadrant, raise a hand up and deliver an unstoppable delivery.
Having beaten the previous season’s record of 16 goals from set pieces, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to suggest that the Gunners pose a greater threat from those scenarios than they do from open play.
1
Tottenham
Gabriel
Corner
2
Man City
Gabriel
Corner
3
Leicester
Own goal
Corner
4
PSG
Bukayo Saka
FK
5
Liverpool
Mikel Merino
FK
6
Sporting CP
Gabriel
Corner
7
West Ham
Gabriel
Corner
8
Man Utd
Jurrien Timber
Corner
9
Man Utd
William Saliba
Corner
10
Fulham
William Saliba
Corner
11
Crystal Palace
Gabriel Jesus
Corner
12
Brentford
Mikel Merino
Corner
13
Tottenham
Own goal
Corner
14
Chelsea
Mikel Merino
Corner
15
Real Madrid
Declan Rice
DFK
16
Real Madrid
Declan Rice
DFK
17
Ipswich
Leandro Trossard
Corner
18
Crystal Palace
Jakub Kiwior
FK
