Arsenal’s set-pieces are the talk of the Premier League at the moment, having already scored nine goals from them so far.
It has given the Gunners plenty of points, winning them some important games along the way in the division.
Their attention turns to the Carabao Cup, however, as Brighton provide the next big challenge for the side.
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It’s likely to be a tactical battle between Mikel Arteta and Fabian Hurzeler in the first meeting of the new season.
While Arsenal may be able to break through with an edge on the set-piece front, the Brighton boss has revealed how to stop that threat.
Fabian Hurzeler looks on before Oxford vs Brighton in the Carabao Cup
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Fabian Hurzeler explains how to defend Arsenal’s corners
Arsenal’s set-piece threat has been so potent in the past few months that it has become a topic of conversation once again.
Debate has raged surrounding how to stop the Gunners, but it seems as though Hurzeler has broken it down perfectly.
Speaking ahead of the Carabao Cup clash between Brighton and Arsenal, he said: “You can’t defend them one-against-one, that’s the first thing.
“The second thing, I think it’s not only Gabriel [who provides a threat], it’s the movement they do together. I think they block very well for each other.”
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Being able to stop those movements seems key, not least given how pinpoint accurate Declan Rice is with his deliveries.
For Hurzeler and Brighton, it’s less about individual moments but about how the culture is shaped around set-pieces.
He said: “The other side is that we are quite good at defending, so when we look at our defending record, statistics this season, we are quite good.
“We also try to build a set-piece culture, this needs time, this doesn’t come overnight. I think when we look at Arsenal, they’re one of the first teams in the league who had a set-piece coach and the work now on these topics for several months, for over several years, and you see now the results of all this work.”
Perhaps an embracing of the set-piece culture, rather than a rejection of it, could see there being an equalising out across the league as a whole.
Declan Rice takes a corner in PSG vs Arsenal
Photo by Lars Baron – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Brighton’s set-piece statistics this season
While focus will naturally be on Arsenal and their ability from set-pieces, the quality of Brighton cannot be discounted.
The Seagulls sit fourth in the league for most set-piece goals, with four scored so far.
As for their defensive record, they are among the best in the Premier League with just one conceded in the first nine games.
It’s the sort of record Arsenal would love to boast, having conceded two of their three league goals from set-pieces this season.
If any team looks likely to snuff out the threat from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins, it’s likely to be Brighton.