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You might refer to them as Stoke 2.0, but Mikel Arteta’s corner strategies are undeniably yielding results, thanks to set-piece expert Nicolas Jover steering their effectiveness.
Since last season, Arsenal has impressively scored 30 goals from set-pieces, with more than 20% of their goals this season originating from corner kicks, which could be crucial for their title aspirations.
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Credit: Rex
Our tactical analyst, Dean Scoggins — from SunSport YouTube show Tactics Exposed — explores the reasons behind the Gunners’ threat from corners and reveals the strategies that make them effective…
1) THREE Ts — TRIGGER, TIMING AND TRAJECTORY
The precision is exceptional. It begins when Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka raises a hand to signal the play.
A brief two-second delay positions the ‘train’ stationed at the back post.
The trajectory of the ball is critical; Rice tends to deliver it flatter towards the front post, whereas Saka lifts it higher towards the center and back.
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2) THE JIGSAW PUZZLE
For Arsenal, every element must fall into place — and all players involved have defined roles.
Those stationed behind the back post execute strategic runs toward the front, intentionally varying their movements to disrupt defenders.
They seamlessly fill spaces between defenders, crafting a complete picture.
This ensures that if the front post player is outperformed, Arsenal has a ‘jumper’ prepared ahead of every defender, making it exceedingly difficult for the opposition to react.
This approach was clear in Jurrien Timber’s goal against Manchester United.
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3) CHAOS CREATOR
The Gunners consistently have an unmarked player at each corner.
United tried to form a ‘forcefield’ around their goalkeeper to counter Arsenal’s strategy of obstructing him.
The new ‘chaos creator’ often runs in front of the goalkeeper’s line of sight, making him hesitant to venture off his line.
Frequently, one player rushes to the front post to disrupt the initial defender under the ball, allowing the ‘jumper’ an opportunity to score.
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4) HOW DO YOU STOP IT?
Tackling this challenge effectively can be difficult. United employed a reasonable tactic, placing two players at the front post to avoid one being outmatched by a block.
Nevertheless, they struggled with execution. Bruno Fernandes was caught underneath the ball, while Rasmus Hojlund stood too far outside the post line, resulting in both being ineffective.
A more effective approach would involve a center-back or dominant forward claiming responsibility for the front post while maintaining their position.
My advice for defenders — start at the post, make contact, and take command of the situation. Avoid being passive!
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5) PLAYING FOR CORNERS!
Of course, a straightforward method to counter this is to simply avoid conceding corners.
During Rory Delap’s long throws at Stoke, we observed Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill opting to kick the ball out for a corner rather than face a throw-in.
However, Arsenal consistently finds ways to create corner opportunities.
A somewhat risky tactic might be to allow crosses from wide positions, trusting defenders and goalkeepers to handle those scenarios more effectively.
Just remember not to ‘do a Rashford’ and give away unnecessary corners that lead to inevitable goals!
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Credit: Sky Sports
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Credit: Sky Sports
