Corner Kings Strike Again: Arsenal’s FA Cup Night of Set-Piece Magic

Arsenal overturn an early deficit with set-piece magic

Arsenal turned an early deficit into a 2-1 lead by halftime in the FA Cup third round at Portsmouth.

Set-pieces seal the comeback

The Londoners fell behind early, but the comeback came in two corners: the first a own goal and the second a strike from Gabriel Martinelli.

As usual, Arsenal capitalized on dead-ball situations, with both goals arriving from corner deliveries.

Opta statistics show that Arsenal have now scored two or more goals from corners in a single match for the third time this season, more than any other Premier League side.

The sequence began in August against Leeds United and was repeated the following month vs Newcastle United.

The improvement is credited to Nicolas Jover, the set-piece coach on Mikel Arteta's staff, whose work is paying off on the training pitch and in matches.

The Gunners remain in title contention, leading the Premier League and pursuing success in Europe, while also reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals this season.

Punchline 1: If corners paid rent, Arsenal would own the city.

Punchline 2: The only thing sharper than Arsenal’s next move is the linesman's flag.