Arsenal
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Scott Parker has come to the defence of Mikel Arteta amid ongoing debate over Arsenal’s playing style, calling the Gunners “an unbelievably well-coached team.”
Arsenal sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League table and have emerged as strong contenders for their first league title in over two decades. However, despite their impressive position, Arteta’s side has faced criticism for their reliance on set-pieces, with just five of their 16 league goals so far coming from open play.
Ahead of Burnley’s Premier League clash with Arsenal this weekend, Parker dismissed the notion that the Gunners’ success is built solely on dead-ball situations. The Burnley manager instead praised their structure, fluidity, and tactical intelligence.
“I’m not sure I see it like that,” Parker said on Thursday when asked about Arsenal’s style. “When I’m watching them, to be honest with you, I see a fluid team really. I see an unbelievably well-coached team, a team that solves situations. Of course, there’s one of many elements – but I would say this is definitely not a team that just relies on set-plays.
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“Now, obviously, at the start of this season there’s been key moments where they’ve got wins from set-plays. This is a well-oiled and functional team that are very fluid in the way they play, really. Defensively, like you say, is really a foundation. It was probably something we lived by last year, really. It gives you a bedrock and they’ve certainly formed that. But, yeah, for me, like I said, this is a top, top team and a well-coached team.”
“I see a fluid team really. I see an unbelievably well-coached team… this is definitely not a team that just relies on set plays.”😤
Burnley boss Scott Parker says that Arsenal do not rely on set-pieces, ahead of their match this Saturday👀 pic.twitter.com/OYDPxJ0Gdz
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) October 30, 2025
Parker also credited Arteta’s meticulous attention to detail as a defining factor behind Arsenal’s strong start to the season.
“Maybe I see it a little bit different,” Parker continued. “When you’re watching teams and you see the level of detail that’s gone into certain parts of their game, it’s very, very evident where those details are.
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“I think full credit to Mikel because, like I said, there are a lot of facets to a game of football. One is how you play attacking, defensively, and set-plays, and they’re ticking a lot of boxes.
“A team that’s sitting top of the Premier League or a team like us last year — if anyone thinks it’s because Arsenal just score from corners, or us last year just got 100 points from not conceding, having this defensive bedrock — they’re so far from it really. There’s a lot more things that are involved in that, really.”
Parker’s comments reflect growing admiration among fellow managers for Arteta’s evolution of Arsenal into one of the Premier League’s most complete and tactically refined sides this season.
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