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'The most dangerous side from set-pieces in Premier League history'?published at 16:46 6 December 2024
16:46 6 December 2024
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuha spoke to the Planet Premier League podcast about Arsenal's strength from set-pieces this season:
"I've been very impressed because they [Arsenal] play on your weakness. You cannot look at the ball and the player at the same time. With the balls that [Bukayo] Saka and [Declan] Rice are putting in at the moment, they're outstanding deliveries.
"Everybody has seen these set-pieces for the last year, 18 months, but no-one has found a solid enough remedy for them. You can say 'mark [William] Saliba and Gabriel', but what are you going to do with Havertz, Partey, Timber and Calafiori?
"They are arguably the biggest and most dangerous side from set-pieces in Premier League history."
Arteta on corner kings, 'massive' Odegaard and 'impressive' Timberpublished at 14:37 6 December 2024
14:37 6 December 2024
Tasnim Chowdhury BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Fulham (kick-off 14:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news, Arteta said: "We have another training session tomorrow so we will see how everybody is for Sunday". He added that it is "too difficult" to give an update on Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori but will know more on Saturday.
On Martin Odegaard's 100th game as captain, Arteta praised the "spirit" the midfielder brings to the team, adding: "Massive player, he showed again in big matches why he can deliver."
Arteta said his side want to be "the kings of everything" after being called corner kings. He said: "Best atmosphere and stadium, the best at everything. Before it was we didn't score enough, we didn't challenge, we didn't win big games for 20 years. We want to be the best at everything. The best academy, the best individual development for players. We want to be the best of the best. Recruit the best players, the best coaches, that's the aim."
On the comparison to Stoke: "I understood very well what Dimitar Berbatov said. We take it as a big compliment".
Asked about Declan Rice taking corners, Arteta said: "Adapt the player's abilities to the team's needs and to how we can exploit the qualities that we have within the squad in the best possible way. It's all about the players, every tactic, every decision, every position on the pitch is towards that."
Arteta says Jurrien Timber has been "really impressive", adding: "He's coming from a long-term injury after his ACL. We knew the talent, the leadership, the skill that he has. He's been in great form and his impact has been tremendous."
On Fulham: "Big challenge, obviously we experienced it last year, we lost five points against them. I was being very complementary about them, about the coach and what they do. It's always a really tough place to go".
On facing former Arsenal players at Fulham: "Doing very well as well, which I'm very happy for them. Reiss is still one of our own but the rest as well and it will be great to see them. Once they leave you have to leave them to do their own thing. Obviously once in a while we speak to them but very grateful for what they did for us and I wish them the best."
Fulham v Arsenal: Did you know?published at 12:27 6 December 2024
12:27 6 December 2024
Image source, Getty Images
Fulham came from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 in this fixture last season - but they have never won consecutive league games, or even home league games, against the Gunners before.
Arsenal's Fabio Vieira's long-term future at the club is in doubt with the Gunners ready to listen to offers for the 24-year-old Portuguese midfielder, who is currently on loan at Porto. (Daily Mail - subscription required), external
Gabriel has been in excellent scoring form for the Gunners and it had been feared that they might miss his presence from set-pieces, but that was not the case as Jurrien Timber and William Saliba both scored from corners to secure a comfortable victory over Ruben Amorim's side.
Fulham beat the Gunners last season, which dealt a blow to their title hopes, and Arteta does not want to get carried away ahead of the match at Craven Cottage.
"We want to have the right to win the games," he said. "If we perform the way we are performing right now, we are going to win a lot of games.
"But right now is about Fulham. We know the experience of last season. We have to prepare really well to earn the right to win there and continue to do that.
'Enthusiasm' key to corner successpublished at 12:35 5 December 2024
12:35 5 December 2024
Media caption,
Match of the Day: Arsenal's set-pieces win the game again
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator John Murray says Arsenal's corners "rained on Manchester United's defence" as the Gunners continue to be lethal from set-pieces.
Including William Saliba's and Jurrien Timber's goals on Wednesday, Arsenal have scored 22 goals from corners since the beginning of last season.
That is significantly more than any other Premier League team.
"That game was the story of Arsenal's success," said Murray reflecting on the victory at the Emirates. "They had corner after corner, which rained in on United's defence and they scored from two of them.
"No one can cope with Arsenal's corners!"
Former midfielder Izzy Christiansen added: "There's a lot to it. It is about the set-up and where people stand to attack, lock the block, go for the ball, but the main thing for me is the delivery.
"Arsenal are so accurate and you can see how much time they take to set them up. It is collective clock-work action and so effective.
"Any player or former player will tell you that set-pieces are boring to do on the training pitch, but they have generated an enthusiasm to become part of the way they play football."
Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:40 5 December 2024
11:40 5 December 2024
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester United.
Here are some of your comments:
Arsenal fans
Paul: We didn't play as well as I'd hoped until the first goal went in, then the result was never in doubt. Also, who doesn't love a corner goal?
Ish: I can't understand this talk of dark arts and Stoke 2.0? Did Tony Pulis ever challenge for the title? A team came to park the bus. Arsenal had a Plan B!
Bergkamp66: Some say we are long ball and corner specialists - they clearly didn't watch our 5-1 and 5-2 demolitions of Sporting and West Ham. Fantastic management and tactics I say - Plan A, Plan B and Plan C!
Haskins: I hope we don't start depending on these corner goals, although they are a great bonus. I still think a regular goalscorer would make the difference.
Man Utd fans
Clive: The good news? Our defence prevented Arsenal from scoring from open play - quite an achievement! The bad news? We had no means of preventing them scoring from cleverly taken corner kicks. More good news? We can quickly develop a defence against that and then use the same ploy ourselves - it's just part of Ruben's learning process.
David: Looking more organised and frustrated Arsenal, but faded badly in the second half. They need additional players sooner rather than later. They are carrying too many who will just not be able to operate in the intended system Amorim wants to implement.
Andrew: Disappointing. Parking the bus in the first half is not the way to play football. Frankly, it was dull. I'm afraid we look terrible going forward and I'm not sure Hojlund is good enough. He can't hold the ball up, doesn't link play and doesn't anticipate. He's just out of his depth. Not good.
Mahir: We played with a very calm and assured defensive mindset. I think this reflects the manager's personality, and it is a good thing. We have a lot of work to do, but I think this was a reasonable performance in the current circumstances.
'Nobody's been able to come up with the answer so far'published at 11:30 5 December 2024
11:30 5 December 2024
Image source, Getty Images
Senior football correspondent and commentator John Murray spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester United: "A really, really eventful night.
"I was at Arsenal, which was the 500th [men's first-team] match at Emirates Stadium. They were able to celebrate it with what was a really hard-fought win and they are just so effective with corners.
"Arsenal didn't have Gabriel because of injury, he is one of their biggest weapons that they have from the set pieces but without him, what did they do?
"A couple of the other defenders scored instead, so Timber and William Saliba were the two who scored the goals.
"But they [Arsenal] are far and away leading the table of most goals scored from corners in the Premier League since the start of last season and teams cannot live with them.
"It's fascinating watching it to see how various teams try to combat it and nobody's been able to come up with the answer so far."