Not everyone appreciates Arsenal's ability from set pieces and following Arsenal's defeat to Manchester United, and one figure wants to stamp out the Gunners' rather unique approach
16:32, 26 Jan 2026
Mikel Arteta
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Not everyone likes Arsenal's approach(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty ImagesAlex Pantling/Getty Images)
The Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have been called on to stamp out goalkeepers being crowded out at corners, following an Arsenal goal against Manchester United.
Former referee Mark Clattenburg believes officials must deal with the situation more harshly to avoid attacking sides taking advantage of such a situation.
Despite suffering a 3-2 defeat, the Gunners once again showed their prowess from set-pieces as Mikel Merino scored following a corner in the 84th minute. United goalkeeper Senne Lammens found himself crowded out and unable to come and claim the ball effectively, and the Spaniard was in place to capitalise.
Clattenburg would like to see such a situation policed more strictly. The Gladiators ref reckons that by dishing out more free kicks, the tactic will rapidly fall out of favour.
And, the ex-official believes it would just be bringing the game in line with how football is played in European competition.
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“It’s clear that this has become more common when set-piece coaches were employed by clubs to get any advantage possible," Clattenburg said.
“It’s something the PGMOL and Premier League need to address, and any blocking on the goalkeeper must be punished by a free-kick.
"Yes, more fouls will be given at first, but when teams realise they will not be allowed to use this tactic, they will stop. We see this tactic used less in the Champions League as referees punish more!”
Senne Lammens of Manchester United claims the ball ahead of Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United
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Senne Lammens was put under pressure from Arsenal corners(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Not everyone is agreed that goalkeepers require additional protection from players standing in their area. Former Manchester United and Everton defender John O’Kane believes teams instead need to be more savvy with how they approach defending the situation.
"It ain't rocket science," he said. "Coaches have to start leaving two or three players on the halfway line.
"Stoke [a nickname being used to describe Arsenal] have found a loophole in s***housery of obstructing the goalkeeper."
United's stars did not appear perturbed following their win, as Amad was even happy to joke about Arsenal's ability from corners.
Mikel Arteta's side have scored 26 goals via set-pieces this season. Ivory Coast international responded to one fan and said: "Your only hope is corner," accompanied by a laughing emoji.
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Arteta said the blame for the home loss to United lay at his door, however. “I take full responsibility [today], they have to take full responsibility for what they've done for seven months, in the manner that they behaved, how much they want it," he said.
"And now, in the process of winning, you have to lose or draw. It's how you react to that. Now we have another opportunity, the best place to talk is on the pitch, in three days' time, when we play in the Champions League again.
“And the better the energy is around everybody - around the staff, myself, the players, and especially our supporters, much better. And much better we'll play freely, we'll flow, and we'll continue to win a lot of matches, I'm sure.”