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Fans believe Mikel Arteta may have found a crafty way to work around a fresh Premier League ruling.
Arsenal fans spot a tactical twist
Arsenal may not have been firing on all cylinders against Man United, yet they still managed to snatch all three points. Riccardo Calafiori’s early strike proved to be the difference. But, what really had fans talking was the suspicion that Arteta and his players were attempting to play smart with a new regulation.
This season, goalkeepers are no longer allowed to hold onto the ball for more than eight seconds. If they do, the opposition is awarded a corner. Gunners’ fans watching the game believe their side tried to push Man Utd’s keeper Altay Bayindir into falling foul of this law.
The theory is that Arsenal players slowed Bayindir down deliberately by hovering in front of him whenever he had the ball. The hope was that the Turkish stopper would eat up more than his eight seconds. That will gift them another set piece. Given that Arsenal have become the undisputed kings of corners, the idea is hardly far-fetched.
There is no side who has been more productive from these situations than Arsenal since the 2023/24 campaign. Declan Rice‘s delivery was perfect for the only goal of the game. That goal demonstrates just how much the club depend on their dead-ball set pieces.
Corners matter to Mikel Arteta
For Arteta, corners are not just a route to goal but a weapon that helps define his team’s style. Arsenal’s reputation for set-piece dominance is no accident, with routines drilled relentlessly on the training ground.
The North London side have outscored Liverpool from corner situations last term as well. The Gunners know that every flag kick could be the difference in tight games. Fans reckon Arteta was simply trying to find another way to create those opportunities.
The match Referee Simon Hooper was wise to the tactic in the game between Arsenal and Man Utd. He made sure the Gunners’ players gave Bayindir room before starting his stopwatch. He denied the visitors any extra joy from the new ruling.
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