Arsenal dominated the Premier League last season by scoring a division-high 25 non-penalty set-piece goals on their way to the title. However, seven games into the new campaign, the Gunners stand as one of only four teams alongside Liverpool, Manchester United, and Nottingham Forest yet to score a non-penalty set-piece goal.
Examining the drop in goals and expected figures
Arsenal’s record-breaking tally last year featured 19 goals from corners alone, marking their fifth straight Premier League season with at least 15 non-penalty set-piece goals. This steady improvement coincided with the arrival of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover in 2021, who continues to direct operations from the touchline.
When asked why these goals have dried up, manager Mikel Arteta pointed to bad luck in his recent comments reported by Sky Sports. Arteta stated that his team has performed better in certain aspects compared to last year during the opening five matches despite not scoring, adding that set-pieces can sometimes involve an element of luck.
Opta data supports Arteta’s view on wastefulness, showing that Arsenal rank among the biggest underperformers relative to their expected goals from set-pieces this campaign. Their chances currently carry a value of 2.50 expected goals, with only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest showing a larger negative margin.
Examples of missed opportunities include Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes heading over the bar from Declan Rice deliveries during a recent win at the City Ground. Earlier fixtures also saw Riccardo Calafiori miss against Chelsea from a Martin Odegaard free-kick, and Zion Suzuki save a Rice header from a Bukayo Saka corner against Aston Villa.
Rules clampdown and declining corner volumes
By contrast, Arsenal outperformed their expected goals by nearly four targets last season. While Arteta believes their fortunes will reverse, the squad must also navigate the Premier League’s stricter enforcement regarding holding, blocking, and grappling from corners.
The updated referee guidance aims to prevent players from gaining unfair advantages. A direct result has been an increase in defensive free-kicks awarded from corners. Arteta acknowledged the need to adjust to permitted actions while giving credit to opponents who defend dead-ball situations with greater attention.
Despite the regulatory changes, Arsenal’s delivery style remains largely consistent. Although short corners rose to 15 percent compared to nine percent last term, those instances occurred exclusively on opening day against Coventry. The majority of corners still target the six-yard box, though more focus goes to the near post now that goalkeepers receive extra protection from officials.
Beyond finishing issues and rule changes, Arsenal’s underlying numbers show a decline in set-piece expected goals per game, dropping from 0.56 down to 0.36. A major contributor to this shift is a reduced overall volume of corners.
Seven matches into the season, Arsenal average 4.7 corners per game—the lowest across their previous nine campaigns. This marks a 17 percent decrease from last season’s average of 5.7 and a roughly 30 percent reduction compared to the two seasons prior.
While an increase in corner volume paired with sharper finishing could revive their set-piece productivity, Arteta has emphasized scoring through varied methods. The team has demonstrated improvements in open play overall, even though non-penalty set-pieces accounted for a substantial 37 percent of their Premier League goals last season.
Source: SkySports | News
