Arsenal appointed a new set-piece coach to their backroom this summer, and Noel Whelan claims the decision is proving to be true.
The Gunners are showing some impressive form at present, winning seven of their last nine fixtures in all competitions, and currently lead the charts of goals scored from set pieces(re: WhoScored.com).
Their recent form has seen them climb as high as sixth in the PL table, a huge difference from being sat bottom after three matches, and Whelan is crediting their fine work on set pieces as making a difference.
“It’s an area where they’ve been fragile defensive-wise as well, at times,” Whelan told the Football Insider
“Look, set-pieces win you football games – that’s been said ever since I was coming through.
“If you work enough on them, you will get your just rewards and it will help decide games.
“At the minute, they are winning games through these set-pieces and that shows the justification for having the set-piece coach, it’s working.
“You have to have a plan and know what you’re doing all over the field. Those dead-ball situations are no different.”
There is a lot to be happy about in north London at present, and our goals from set pieces are certainly a big step in the right direction, with a number of big steps appearing to be taken in recent months.
I would love to pick the brain of our new set piece coach, but I also wouldn’t want to distract him from the fine work he is doing with the team.
How much credit can the set piece coach take on for our upturn in fortunes?
Patrick
Very correctly pointed out. We have improved greatly in the set piece area not only in scoring goals but also in defending them. Congrats to our set piece coach for this vast improvement and certainly it has made a huge difference in our results.
Give credit where it is due, the set piece coach deserves credit and so does the manager for selecting the right players, overseeing rigorous trainings and always having a good disposition before the press and on match days. The combination of signing the right players for the right fees and the right match day tactics are the hallmarks of a “amatuer” manager silently prooving the doubters wrong each match.
Has to said yes, another positive aspect of improvement.
For far too long corners and free kicks to us had only one outcome – dealt with easily by the opposition.
At last we have become a threat from set pieces.
Not sure on this one, but I believe we may have scored the most from set pieces to date this season.
But again, it is this type of initiative (addressing our set piece “issues”) that goes totally under the radar.
“Has to said yes,”
“Has to be said yes”
Arsenal must buy a top quality striker, a Ngolo Kante/Patrick Viera like- midfielder and two top quality defenders.
You clearly dont watch the games do you mate. Gabriel and White have been nothing short of sensational since Gabriel joined the squad. Furthermore we have Saliba impressing out on loan. Ideally we need a cm, lw and a cf.
Set pieces have long been an area of weakness for this club, so it’s certainly great to see even minor improvements…of course, personnel matters when it comes to the effectiveness of any scheme, but having someone on board that can properly assess how our specific players could best matchup against any given opponent is vitally important in a highly nuanced game of inches…let’s hope this aspect of our game continues to flourish