Michael Owen - Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has questioned Arsenal’s defensive setup for Dominik Szoboszlai’s match-winning free-kick in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at Anfield.
In a contest that offered little in terms of attacking spark, Szoboszlai provided the decisive moment with a thunderous strike from over 30 yards, arrowing the ball into the top-left corner past David Raya in the 83rd minute.
The Hungarian midfielder, deployed at right-back, had already impressed by keeping Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli quiet before capping his performance with a moment of brilliance.
READ MORE: Juventus in talks to sign experienced Arsenal midfielder
While Arsenal’s defence under Mikel Arteta has earned a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most solid, Owen believes the decision to deploy a wall for Szoboszlai’s long-range effort hindered rather than helped goalkeeper Raya.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored a stunning freekick against Arsenal (Image credit: Getty Images)
“I think the wall in that situation is a hindrance,” Owen told Premier League Productions. “When the ball is that far out and if the goalkeeper stands in the middle and there is no wall, I bet he doesn’t even have to dive. He can just shuffle and catch it.
“The wall gives the taker a target to hit over, the goalkeeper has to shuffle to one side, and by the time the ball soars over, he doesn’t see it until it’s already close. If he had that extra distance to track it, I think he would definitely have saved it.”
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE NOW ARSENAL WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Owen went on to argue that while a wall is essential for free-kicks closer to the penalty area, the same logic should not apply from such a long range.
“From 20 yards out you need a wall, but from 30 yards or more, it’s a disadvantage,” he explained. “Because of the wall, Raya only saw the flight of the ball late, so effectively it became like saving a strike from 22 yards instead of 32.”
The result saw Liverpool edge past Arsenal in a tightly contested encounter, with Szoboszlai’s brilliance providing the only breakthrough in what was otherwise a stalemate between two well-organised sides.
NEXT ARTICLE: Frida Maanum hails Arsenal teammates after scoring twice in pre-season