Strategies to Disrupt Arsenal’s Set-Piece Dominance

What strategies can be employed to disrupt Arsenal’s effective set-pieces?

This question has been at the forefront of discussions in football, yet few have offered viable solutions.

Arsenal has established itself as a dominant force in Europe, leading in goals scored from set-pieces over the past few seasons. Their proficiency in this area has made it a potent tactic for the team.

Recently, Liam Rosenior and Chelsea attempted an innovative approach during their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg match against Arsenal. This strategy came shortly after former goalkeeper Shay Given suggested a similar technique on Match of the Day.

Despite Chelsea’s efforts ultimately falling short, resulting in a 1-0 defeat and a 4-2 aggregate loss that secured Arsenal’s place in the EFL Cup final, the approach could provide valuable insights for rival teams.

As Arsenal prepared to take two corners, Chelsea deployed three players from defense into attack, compelling Arsenal to quickly respond by sending players back to defend.

While teams like Monaco and Crystal Palace have occasionally left players upfield against Arsenal’s set-pieces, none have executed such a late strategy to push Mikel Arteta’s team back towards their own half.

It is possible that Chelsea was influenced by Shay Given, who worked with Rosenior at Derby. Given remarked on Match of the Day after observing Arsenal score twice from set-pieces in their 4-0 victory over Leeds:

“I wish someone would try something different. Take nothing away from Arsenal, but I see the same setup every week—with Arsenal players positioned at the back, causing chaos. Every formation is consistent.

“Teams need to try novel approaches to disrupt this effective style of play. By leaving three players upfield, Arsenal would be compelled to keep at least three to four defenders back, creating more space in the penalty area for defenders and the goalkeeper. While this might also leave space for forwards, the confusion among defenders could be beneficial.”

Since the beginning of last season, Arteta’s team has scored 53 goals from set-pieces across all competitions—13 more than any other Premier League team.

Chelsea’s tactic, while not enough to see them through to the EFL Cup final, did succeed in preventing Arsenal from scoring from a set-piece during that match.

However, former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp expressed skepticism regarding Chelsea’s strategy. He stated on Sky Sports:

“I appreciate the plan, but my concern is that Enzo Fernandez was left marking Gabriel, allowing him a clear path to attack the ball. Chelsea’s aim was to reduce congestion in the penalty area, where Arsenal typically creates chaos. While they have a strategy, if Arsenal delivers the ball effectively, Enzo Fernandez will struggle to defend against it.”

Will other teams adopt similar tactics going forward?

This semi-final encounter serves as a pivotal moment for teams seeking to counter Arsenal’s prowess in set-piece situations.