Arsenal star Piero Hincapie has defended the Gunners' set-piece approach after criticism from Liverpool manager Arne Slot, insisting the team does nothing illegal
Daniel Orme Trends Writer
10:44, 12 Mar 2026
Arne Slot has been critical of Arsenal's style of play
Arne Slot has been critical of Arsenal's style of play(Image: Getty Images)
Arsenal's Piero Hincapie has stated that he is unfazed by the criticism of his team's playing style, as long as it leads to Premier League glory.
The Gunners have emerged as one of the most proficient teams in the top-flight when it comes to set pieces in recent seasons. This strategy has proven highly successful, with Arsenal currently leading the table and holding a seven-point advantage over Manchester City. Despite this, some remain sceptical, criticizing their more physical approach.
Hincapie, who joined on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, has responded to these critics, which include Liverpool boss Arne Slot. He said: "We pay attention to the details.
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"Our set-piece strength is talked about all over Europe. That's the result of daily training with our set-piece coach, Nico Jover. That sounds annoying, but the results mean that every one of us is eager to score from a corner or a free kick."
He added: "The most important thing for me is that we are successful and don't do anything illegal in the process. You can't always win beautifully."
Slot is among those who have criticized Arsenal's focus on set pieces, despite the Reds themselves becoming adept at them.
Piero Hincapie has defened Arsenal's tactics
Piero Hincapie has defened Arsenal's tactics(Image: Getty Images)
Earlier this month, he commented: "You have to accept it. I think it's mainly here in the Premier League. If I watch other leagues, I don't think there's so much emphasis on set-pieces.
"If I watch an Eredivisie game, which I still do, I see goals being disallowed and fouls on goalkeepers being given, and I think, 'Wow, that's a big difference.'
"Here, you can almost hit a goalkeeper in his face, and the referee still says, 'Just go on.'
"Do I like it? My football heart doesn't like it. If you ask me about football, I think about the Barcelona team from 10, 15 years ago. Every Sunday evening, you were hoping they would play.
"Now, most of the games I see in the Premier League are not, for me, a joy to watch, but it's always interesting because it's so competitive.
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"That is what makes this league great because there is so much competitiveness. Everyone can win against everyone."
While the Gunners have benefited from numerous set pieces throughout this campaign, they experienced the opposite effect during their Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen.
The Bundesliga outfit broke the deadlock on Wednesday from a corner within moments of the restart.