Arteta's Decade-Long Set-Piece Strategy Boosts Arsenal's Historic Goal Record

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that his focus on set-piece strategies began a decade ago during his coaching tenure at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. Recognizing he was not the best to perfect set-piece execution, Arteta surrounded himself with specialists, including Nicolas Jover, who joined Arsenal as set-piece coach in 2021. Arsenal have since become dominant in set-piece scoring, achieving a record 10 Premier League goals from set pieces early in the 2023-2024 season and leading in Europe with 23 goals from dead-ball situations since last season. This tactical emphasis has contributed significantly to Arsenal's defensive solidity, with the club conceding only three goals in the league so far this season and maintaining multiple clean sheets in the Champions League. Arteta emphasized that while set pieces are a key focus, his obsession extends to all aspects of the game including defense, transitions, and positional attacks. This holistic approach has helped create a culture at Arsenal that maximizes frequent game situations, contributing to their current top position in the Premier League and strong European performance.