Arsenal shrug off ‘new Stoke City’ tag but deadly corners are spreading panic among rivals

As Arsenal fans headed towards the exits at Emirates Stadium, a few of them couldn’t help belting out one more verse.

“Set-piece again, ole, ole! Set-piece again, ole, ole,” supporters sang, breaking out into laughter as they went.

Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Manchester United was the latest reminder of their set-piece prowess and evidence of the psychological edge they have over opposition teams.

Both goals came from corners so, after a tight first half, ultimately decided the game.

The Gunners had more shots from corners than from open play last night, with both Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey squandering great chances in the first half.

United are not the first side to be overwhelmed by Arsenal’s set-piece prowess and they will not be the last.

Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored 22 goals from corners - which is more than any other Premier League side in that period.

The two players with the most assists from set-pieces in that time are Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who take the Arsenal corners.

It is why Arsenal have been lumped with several new nicknames, including ‘Set-piece FC’ and ‘the new Stoke City’.

But Arteta and his squad should brush those off, as the only thing that matters this morning is that they have closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to seven points.

Arsenal may have dropped to third in the table after Chelsea leapfrogged them on goal difference thanks to a thumping 5-1 win at Southampton, but importantly Arsenal have made ground on Liverpool after they were held to a 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

This title race looks like it could have plenty of twists and turns - and that’s why Arsenal should celebrate their set-piece prowess. As last night showed, it is a valuable weapon that opposition teams simply cannot deal with.

Arsenal won 13 corners against United and with each one, the atmosphere inside the Emirates grew. By the end, fans were teeing up the ball being swung into the box with “whoas” of anticipation such was their confidence it would lead to a goal.

“The stadium’s reaction is something we didn’t plan,” said Arteta. “It’s because they have belief in the same way they react when we’re in high press and we are with the ball because they know what we can do.

“It creates that connection and that belief and is easier for the players to deliver because that noise creates good things in us and difficult things in the opposition.”

It appeared to rub off on the United players, whose zonal system was bamboozled by the movement of Arsenal’s players.

For the first goal, a cluster of players started at the back-post before charging forward to the near one, with Jurrien Timber flicking in Rice’s corner.

The second saw the routine flipped as everyone stayed at the back-post and Thomas Partey’s header back in was turned home by William Saliba.

“I think that every time I was going to take the corner, I knew it was going to be a good ball,” said Rice. “In my head I was just thinking about putting it in the same spot and in the end with repetition, you end up scoring goals.”

There is a tendency to look down on the use of set-pieces and perhaps that is born out of the belief that corners are like the routines seen at Hackney Marshes on a Sunday morning, with the ball thrown into the box in hope rather than expectation.

But Arsenal’s dominance in them is born out of skill and practice.

The deliveries from Rice and Saka last night were near perfect every time, while the movement from those in the box was just as good.

And that was despite Arsenal being without their biggest threat set-piece threat, Gabriel, who missed out due to injury.

In his absence, some of Arsenal’s other giants had a chance to shine from corners and Timber’s header means that 10 of the Gunners’ 22 goals from corners since the start of last season have opened the scoring.

So often, set-pieces are a way for Arsenal to unlock a game and last night they went on to dominate United after Timber’s goal.

That is why Arsenal should celebrate their threat from set-pieces. Come the end of May, it could make all the difference.