Arsenal as soon as once more confirmed Tottenham why effectivity at set-pieces is so essential. We analyse the contrasting numbers between the 2 sides.
Tottenham would have recognized Sunday’s north London derby as a implausible alternative to place an finish to Arsenal’s latest dominance between the 2 sides.
In any case, Arsenal got here into this fixture having misplaced simply one of many sides’ final seven conferences and have been unbeaten within the final 4 (W3 D1).
With accidents or suspensions to a few of Arsenal’s key gamers, comparable to Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard, there was an actual sense that this was Tottenham’s second to strike again.
Nevertheless, regardless of optimism that this recreation may very well be completely different, it was a well-recognized concern that plagued Tottenham: their weak point from set-pieces.
Gabriel Magalhães rose highest within the Spurs field, unchallenged, to go within the winner. He was being marked (though that could be a beneficiant time period) by Tottenham’s centre-back Cristian Romero, who he outmuscled far too simply, earlier than changing Bukayo Saka’s devilish inswinger.
Query marks is also requested of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who actually might have come to say the cross. It might have landed properly inside his six-yard field.
It was set-piece weak point that undid Tottenham final season, too. Two of Arsenal’s three objectives of their 3-2 away got here through corners. Add that to Gabriel’s header right this moment, and three of Arsenal’s final 4 Premier League objectives in opposition to Spurs have come from corners.
The general numbers make grim studying for Tottenham. For the reason that begin of final season, they’ve conceded 18 objectives from set-pieces (excluding penalties). That’s the second-worst fee within the league of groups to have featured in each 2023-24 and 2024-25, behind solely Nottingham Forest.
In the meantime, Arsenal’s set-piece prowess serves to focus on the present gulf between the 2 sides. Mikel Arteta’s males have scored 24 objectives from set-pieces (excl. pens) for the reason that begin of final season within the Premier League – essentially the most of any aspect.
Because the final two north London derbies have proven, these objectives could be the distinction between successful and shedding.
Arsenal’s defensive power from set-pieces has additionally been extraordinarily good. For the reason that begin of final season, solely Manchester Metropolis (3) have conceded fewer objectives from such conditions than them (7).
That aerial dominance was on present in opposition to Tottenham. The house aspect tried 31 crosses to Arsenal’s 13 and had extra corners than Arsenal (7 to six) and but the Gunners by no means seemed threatened. Spurs’ solely probability of word was a late Romero header directed straight at David Raya. Dominic Solanke was a handful, however he was contained by the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba.
Enhancing their effectivity in each packing containers is one thing Spurs desperately want to enhance if they’re to have any hope of propelling themselves into the highest tier of Premier League groups. Their defensive report is poor and going forwards isn’t a lot better; they’ve scored simply 12 objectives from set-pieces for the reason that begin of final season. 9 sides can higher that tally.
Soccer is usually a recreation of moments, the place marginal good points can show decisive. Arsenal have repeatedly proven Tottenham how efficient set-pieces could be. They’ve now received three right away video games at Spurs, the primary time they’ve achieved that since a stretch of three between January 1987 and September 1988.
North London could be very a lot purple proper now. The gulf in set-piece success is a microcosm of that.
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