Since the start of the season, the team with the most goals from set-pieces is Arsenal. The Gunners have so far managed seven goals from those situations, mainly due to the tireless work of set-piece specialist, innovator, and Mikel Arteta’s right-hand man – Nicolas Jover. The creator of magic in set pieces has shaken up British football with his innovations in what might seem like a routine aspect of the game: taking corner kicks. While for many teams in British football, corners have become as important as throw-ins, Arsenal has recognized this part of the game as an opportunity to deliver a serious blow to their opponents. This was most clearly felt by Manchester United, who conceded both goals at the Emirates in the second half, following Jover’s clever tactics.Arsenal may have scored the most goals from corners, but they don’t rely on set pieces as much as you might think. The Gunners’ seven set-piece goals make up only 25% of their total goals this season. 🔴Should the title of Set Piece Kings go to Sean Dyche’s Everton instead? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Qc9waG2yhr— Stadium Astro 🇲🇾 (@stadiumastro) December 7, 2024 But for all the talk about the Frenchman born in Paris, there is another club in the league that is just behind the Gunners in the set-piece department, and they are playing at the Emirates today – Everton. The Toffies are near the bottom of the league, as only five points separate them from the first team to get relegated, and scoring goals has been a problem for them. But out of 14 goals they managed so far, six are from set pieces, which puts them right at the second spot in that department, right below Arsenal. And if you ask coach Sean Dyche, the ‘art’ of set-pieces is all but new.“People have been analyzing set pieces for years and years. I first remember doing it as a youth team manager in 2007 when you’d need two different screens. It was called Final Cut Pro. You’d sit there laboriously learning how to do it, transferring information from one screen to the other; lifting it, dragging it, dropping it, stop-in, timelining. It was a pain in the arse! Then coding comes in on a laptop, you can buy it right off the shelf and boom” said Dyche.Mr Set Piece – Arsenal’s unsung heroArsenal have Jover as the new media star in recent times, while Everton manager has Steve Stone and Ian Woan, whose names certainly are not so interesting to the general public, but as Dyche cleverly puts it, all the hard work in the preparations is useless if you actually don’t have players who are willing to attack the ball in the penalty area.“Maybe Arsenal have a psychological advantage because they’re so good at them, but we’ve found that as well. Virtually all teams mention them as a threat when they play us. That brings its own psychology! Delivery and attacking the ball will never go out. Brian Clough was talking about that in 1987 when I first went to Nottingham Forest. ‘Put the ball in the box and someone has got to go in and attack it.’ Over time, delivery improves, movement improves, the physical power of players improves and their jump capability improves. But that one thing you need; just the sheer will and desire to score a goal” said Everton coach honestly.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 15Saturday18:00: (1.25) Arsenal (6.25) Everton (15.0)18:00: (1.33) Liverpool (5.50) Fulham (8.50)18:00: (1.35) Newcastle (5.60) Leicester (9.50)18:00: (2.00) Wolverhampton (3.60) Ipswich (4.00)20:30: (2.65) Nott.Forest (3.50) Aston Villa (2.75)Sunday17:00: (1.90) Brighton (3.50) Crystal Palace (4.10)19:30: (1.63) Man.City (4.55) Man.Utd. (5.20)22:00: (1.33) Chelsea (5.50) Brentford (8.50)22: 00: (4.40) Southampton (3.90) Tottenham (1.75)Monday23:00: (1.75) Bournemouth (3.70) West Ham (4.70)***odds are subject to change***
