Arteta's Ten-Year Set-Piece Plan Pays Off: Arsenal's Rise as a Complete Team
24 October 2025
Set-pieces and defensive backbone
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has long prioritized organization on restarts and dead-ball situations, tracing his set-piece philosophy back ten years and turning it into a defining feature of this season.
Ahead of the Crystal Palace clash, Arteta updated on Gabriel Magalhaes, who had to leave the pitch with an issue and could miss part of training; the final decision will come in the next 24 hours.
He stressed that a solid defensive base is essential to winning titles, adding that the best defenses often decide championships.
Arsenal have conceded three goals in eight league games, a figure that keeps them in the conversation with all-time benchmarks and even ahead of some historic years. They have gone more than 400 minutes without conceding, aiming for a 500-minute stretch as they chase another solid defensive run.
10-year plan paying dividends and measuring progress
Arteta explained that the focus on set-pieces began a decade ago and has shaped Arsenal into a more complete side, with a culture that treats dead-ball situations as a core asset rather than an afterthought.
Arsenal became the first of the five major European leagues to notch ten goals from set-pieces this season, with Gabriel Magalhaes and a team-mate converting from corners in a 4-0 win over a top opponent in the Champions League.
Leandro Trossard’s late header against Fulham reinforced the effectiveness of Arsenal’s set-piece approach, underscoring a clear advantage in that department since the 2023-24 campaign when the club has consistently looked to corners as a scoring source.
When asked about Declan Rice’s evolving role, Arteta said the midfielder has become a more complete player capable of contributing across the field, and that this versatility supports the team’s broader plan for pressure, transition, and goals.
On facing Eberechi Eze, a familiar foe with emotional ties to past clashes, Arteta noted the history but stressed readiness to compete and win, as he expects Eze to be ready to perform at the highest level.
He closed by reiterating that teams with the strongest defensive records typically win leagues, and that Arsenal must maintain discipline and consistency to keep moving toward their targets.
Punchline 1: Arteta treats set-pieces like a secret sauce—one corner kick and suddenly the ball has a fan club and the trophy filing cabinet starts smiling.
Punchline 2: If defense is an art, Arsenal’s got a gallery full of masterpieces—just don’t ask the ball for directions, it’s too busy finding the back of the net in slow motion.
