Artetas Set Piece Strategy Devised a Decade Back

Mikel Arteta remarked on Friday that Arsenals strength in set pieces has been building for ten years.

The Gunners have netted 10 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season, which is the soonest any team has achieved double digits in that area throughout the competitions history.

Arteta wrapped up his playing days at the Emirates in 2016 before moving to Pep Guardiolas coaching staff at Manchester City.

When the Spaniard, now nearing six years as Arsenals manager, was questioned about the moment he realised focusing on set pieces was wise, he answered: Ten years ago.

I began forming a vision and attempting to apply a system while gathering the top experts to execute it.

I joined City with the worlds finest manager and observed areas for enhancement, which was evident since I handled it at times but wasnt the global expert.

If Im not the worlds best at it nor using the optimal approach, there are means to refine it.

Before Crystal Palaces trip to Emirates Stadium this weekend, Arteta conceded he recognised set pieces, such as free kicks and corners, would prove vital for triumphs in his Arsenal tenure.

Importantly, Arteta was pursuing his coaching qualifications when he encountered Nicolas Jover, who subsequently served as set piece coach at Brentford prior to arriving at Arsenal in 2021.

Jover has played a key role in Arsenals impressive set piece performance.

You could immediately notice the impact once it took shape, he noted.

We have fostered the mindset, assigning due weight to that game aspect. Football is advancing, along with how rivals counter us, so we must optimise recurring situations.

Arsenal have only shipped three goals in the league this term and secured three straight clean sheets in the Champions League, rendering their defensive showing after 12 fixtures the finest in the clubs 138 year legacy.

Jose Mourinhos Chelsea team from two decades past conceded merely 15 goals en route to the title, a Premier League benchmark.

We seek such milestones. Ultimately, we aim for the hardware and accolades, stated Arteta, with his side targeting their first championship since 2004.

However, the more output we generate, the nearer we get to our goals, and that defensive mark is solid yet we require steadiness as its merely the seasons outset. We can improve further.