Arsenal’s tactical evolution, driven by opponent adjustments, highlights their mastery of set-pieces as a strategic winning tool, demonstrating intelligence over perceived negativity in the Premier League.
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta has undergone a significant tactical evolution, with the team becoming arguably the most formidable side in Europe from dead-ball situations.
This mastery of the set-piece, driven by specialist coaching and Arteta’s long-held fascination, has been vital to the Gunners’ title challenges but has also sparked debate over a perceived shift toward ‘negative play.’
According to You Are My Arsenal article, Arteta’s obsession with mastering set pieces began a decade ago, long before his tenure as Arsenal manager. This strategic focus has paid dividends, transforming a previously overlooked aspect of the game into a consistent source of goals.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, the club has scored an astonishing number of goals from dead-ball scenarios, far exceeding their Premier League rivals.
This success is often attributed to the combination of specific player recruitment, bringing in physically imposing players, and the precise, often unconventional, routines deployed by set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
However, this increased reliance on set-piece effectiveness has led to accusations of ‘set-piece dependence’ and a more conservative, or ‘negative,’ approach in open play.
Some pundits and rival supporters argue that while Arsenal’s defensive solidity remains a cornerstone of their success, their offensive output in open play has suffered during certain periods, particularly when key creative players have been unavailable.
The Arsenal camp, and many observers, counter that this tactical flexibility is a necessary response to the Premier League’s evolution. Teams increasingly employ low blocks against top sides, forcing managers to find alternative routes to goal.
The set-piece dominance, therefore, is not a failure of open play but an intelligent, professional adaptation to opposition tactics.
As Arteta himself explained when discussing his commitment to this area of the game: “Ten years ago I said it’s a massive thing to do that (master set pieces).
I started to have a vision and tried to implement a method and tried to be surrounded by the best people to deliver that. I went to City with the best manager in the world and I could see where we could have improved.”
Ultimately, whether viewed as pragmatic genius or overly cautious, Arsenal’s set-piece success is a testament to the club’s desire to constantly evolve, ensuring they have the tools to secure points even when open-play opportunities are scarce.
As one observer noted, “The Epl has evolved to a stage where once you’ve been found out, u have to switch tactics or suffer. Even the great Pep is doing same right now.”