Didier Drogba - Arsenal
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Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has offered his take on how to disrupt Arsenal’s potent set-piece routines, which have become a key weapon under coach Nicolas Jover. The Gunners currently lead the Premier League with seven goals from set plays this season, including two in their midweek triumph over Manchester United.
Arsenal’s reliance on well-drilled corner and free-kick routines has drawn comparisons to Stoke City’s infamous set-piece tactics, with ex-Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov branding them “the new Stoke.” Now, Ivorian legend Drogba has shared his simple solution to neutralise Arsenal’s threat.
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Responding to a social media post analysing Arsenal’s corner-kick strategies, Didier Drogba suggested positioning a player close to the corner taker to disrupt their delivery. “Put someone in front of the corner taker 10m away and tell him to jump so the corner taker won’t be able to deliver a good ball,” Drogba commented, as reported by The Independent.
Arsenal star Jurrien Timber against Manchester United
Jurrien Timber scored Arsenal’s first goal against Manchester United on Wednesday (Image credit: Getty Images)
He further advised: “Ask your goalkeeper to collect any sloppy balls and instruct your defenders to protect him.” Accompanying his suggestion, the 46-year-old included a shrugging emoji, hinting that the tactic was straightforward yet overlooked.
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Despite Drogba’s advice, no Premier League team has yet adopted his technique to counter Arsenal’s corners, which have already troubled top sides like Manchester City, Tottenham, and Manchester United this season. The Gunners’ set-piece proficiency highlights their tactical evolution under Mikel Arteta, with key players like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka thriving in these situations.
Arsenal’s set-piece efficiency might face an additional twist if a new rule being trialed in English under-21 football is implemented. The law, aimed at penalising goalkeepers for time-wasting, would allow referees to award corners if a goalkeeper holds onto the ball for more than five seconds.
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