The consensus seems to be yes – but with difficulty.
There are several aspects to Arsenal’s set-pieces that make them extremely difficult for opponents to defend. The first is excellent delivery.
“Delivery is key, movement, blocking the goalkeeper. The ball is played over that first player [at the near post] and it’s perfection,” former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said on Match of the Day while analysing Declan Rice’s delivery for Jurrien Timber’s opener.
Speaking on Football Daily, Izzy Christiansen noted how many of Arsenal’s corners were delivered right on top of United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was surrounded by ‘blockers’.
And on Match of the Day, Amorim seemed to concur, adding: “They put a lot of players near the goalkeeper and it’s almost impossible to fight for the ball.”
Speaking to Amazon after full-time, Rice said: “We keep at it [set-pieces] all the time, we never get bored. With repetition you end up scoring goals.
“When you go up for a corner it’s a chance to score a goal, not a chance to relax and chill.”
Variety is key as well. Arsenal kept United guessing, with their first goal coming from a front-post delivery and their second via a corner sent to the back post.
“Sometimes they front-load the front post but then go to the back post, and sometimes they’ll have Gabriel in the middle. The key for Arsenal is being able to mix it up,” Match of the Day pundit Micah Richards said.
Keown argued that United didn’t make it difficult enough for Arsenal to score from corners.
“[United] are in a zonal system, no-one is picking up and it’s far too easy for Arsenal. They’re just passengers, it’s just naivety,” he said.
Opponents have used a man-to-man marking system but without much joy either. Some fans are complaining on social media that Arsenal’s use of blocks and subtle pushes is going unpunished.
“As coaches, when we prepare these strategies, you know what the opposition are going to do,” former Everton manager Martinez said on Amazon.
“The uniqueness of Arsenal’s work is that they always find a little trick that makes things impossible to defend if the delivery is right.”
