Arsenal scored a Premier League-high 25 non-penalty set-piece goals on their way to winning the title last season, including a record 19 from corners. But seven games into the new campaign, the Gunners are one of only four sides, along with Liverpool, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, yet to score a non-penalty set-piece goal.
The improvement coincided with the addition of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover to their backroom staff in 2021. He has been described as a "genius" and remains an active presence on the touchline. This season, though, the set-piece goals have dried up despite plenty of chances.
Manager Mikel Arteta put it down to luck. "I think that's the reality of set-pieces," he said. "I think this season we should have scored four and we haven't." According to Opta, Arsenal rank among the Premier League's biggest underperformers relative to their set-piece expected goals, with chances worth 2.50 expected goals. Only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have underperformed by a bigger margin.
Examples abound. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes headed good chances over the bar from Declan Rice deliveries against Nottingham Forest, Riccardo Calafiori missed an excellent chance from a Martin Odegaard free-kick against Chelsea, and Zion Suzuki saved Rice's header from a Bukayo Saka corner against Aston Villa. Last season, by contrast, Arsenal scored nearly four goals more than expected. Arteta believes their luck will turn soon, and the underlying data offers encouragement, though the Premier League's clampdown on grappling, holding and blocking from corners is a new challenge for all sides.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing