Rice put in the corner for Jurrien Timber to finish for Arsenal's opening goal
Arsenal have now scored 22 goals from dead ball situations since start of last term
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By SAMI MOKBEL
Published: 18:49 EST, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 18:50 EST, 4 December 2024
Arsenal blitzed Manchester United with their latest exhibition of set-piece perfection as Ruben Amorim suffered his first defeat since being appointed as head coach.
The Gunners closed the gap on leaders Liverpool, who drew 3-3 at Newcastle, to seven points with goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba - both from corners - secured their fourth straight win.
Since the start of last season, Arsenal have scored 22 goals from dead ball situations - the most in the Premier League.
‘When you go up for a corner it's a chance to score a goal, so to score both of them from corners, [set-piece coach] Nico [Jover] will be buzzing and I'm so happy,’ said Declan Rice, who took the corner for Timber’s opener.
‘Seeing clips, I know the weight I need to put on the ball and it's just about repetition. I put a few good balls in and could've had a couple of assists so it was nice to get one.’
After four game without victory in the league, the Gunners have now won three consecutive top-flight matches.
Declan Rice has revealed his secret to Arsenal's dead ball success after they scored from two more corners on Wednesday
The Gunners have now scored 22 goals from dead balls since the start of lasts season
Man United boss Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, called for his side to be more aggressive in the situations
‘When you have a blip in the league you get written off,’ added Rice.
‘We stick together as a group and we knew the run of results were not good enough, now we're starting to see a turn of that.
‘People get carried away. You just need to be around it in February time. Liverpool have dropped points, they're seven away so we will see what happens.’
Head coach Mikel Arteta added: ‘We want to be affective from every phase of play - but the team has that belief from every angle to threaten the opponent and try to score.
‘It’s a very special night, I’m very happy - celebrating 100 games in this incredible stadium. And the way we played…’
On his team’s problems with set-pieces Amorim added: ‘The set pieces changed the game. We could've been more aggressive towards the Arsenal box. Until the set pieces the game didn't have too many opportunities for both sides, the set pieces killed the game.
‘They can put a lot of players near the goalkeeper and it's almost impossible to fight for the ball but we have to manage to defend them and we already know we have to be better.
‘We were committed and we lost to the set pieces.’
Amorim added: ‘We have to be better on that situation, but like every area we need time to improve.
‘We have to manage the games with a different methodology.’