Arsenal have become a set-piece-scoring machine under Mikel Arteta with the help of coach Nicolas Jover. Scoring from two in the Wednesday night match with Manchester United to record their third-straight league win, a first for this season, the Gunners closed the gap to Liverpool to seven points.
Despite the emphasis on corners, the Gunners were joint on set-piece goals - five - with Manchester United going into the match, taking that tally to seven and one ahead of Everton and Aston Villa to lead that specific table. Therefore despite this perception of supposed reliance, evidently it is only marginally above other sides – yet that is making quite the difference.
Gabriel Magalhaes’ absence was a cause for concern though before the game and not having the usual poster boy for the routines raised questions how Arsenal might react. But it was Jurrien Timber, a far less towering figure, who would do so, glancing in an early second half strike from a trademark Declan Rice delivery.
Speaking to football.london after the game, Timber was asked whether he thought it might be him to step into the void left by his Brazilian teammate. He felt, honestly, anyone had a chance.
“It could be anyone, to be fair,” he said. “I think we created a lot of chances with the corners so I was happy it was me but I’m also just happy with the three points.”
Timber missed almost all of his first season at Arsenal, forced to watch from the sidelines and therefore the wait for his first goal at the club has gone on for well over a year. He gave his reaction to football.london regarding breaking the duck.
“It was coming, it nearly came against Forest, it was coming and I was really happy it came now because it was an amazing game, I’m happy I was able to do it and it was an important one as well.”
It got to the stage where the Arsenal fans now have a chant for their set-piece success and when corners continued to be won in the second half, an anticipating roar could be heard bouncing around the stadium. The hope is this can be replicated throughout the season, especially at home, to potentially unsettle opposition sides and sew seeds of doubt in their minds.
Timber was asked whether, psychologically, teams fear them from these moments. His answer was perfect.
“I think so, I hope so. I hope so, because we are scoring a lot out of it. So I hope so, definitely,” he replied. Jover and Arteta will certainly be hoping that fear does exist and now they have shown that it is not all on Gabriel to be concerned by it will only add to that threat.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Premier League