“Their guru is all about fouling the goalkeeper”

Graeme Souness has criticized Arsenal’s set-piece tactics while also tipping them to win the Premier League this season. The Gunners are the frontrunners to win the league this time as they stand at the top of the table with 70 points from 31 games.

In an interview with Daily Mail Sport, Graeme Souness weighed in on Arsenal’s set-piece tactics that have worked well in their favor this season. The Gunners have relied heavily on their “set-piece guru” Nicolas Jover’s tactics to hold their place at the top of the Premier League table, Souness said:

“Arsenal get away with a hell of a lot by crowding goalkeepers and blocking goalkeepers. You block anyone on the pitch, anywhere else on the pitch – a centre-half half blocks a centre forward as he’s trying to make a run – and that’s a foul. ‘I just think we’ve got daft referees. We’ve got poor referees who don’t really understand the game. They know all the rules from the first page to the last one, but nuances of the game they don’t get.”

He added:

“I love the term ‘free-kick guru’. Their guru (Jover) is all about fouling the goalkeeper. That’s as simple as, black and white. Now, of course, there’s people like Gabriel, Saliba who are really brave and will put their heads where most people wouldn’t put their feet, and they attack these balls that Declan Rice whips in, and they’re great quality.”

However, despite Souness’ criticism of the Gunners’ set-piece tactics, he tipped them to win the Premier League this season.

“I think Arsenal will win the league.” (On quadruple) No, but they’re a pragmatic team. They know how to win football matches, and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But I’ve won leagues and were we always the prettiest outfit? No, we just got the job done. And no one will remember how we did it.”

If Arsenal win the league this season, it will mark an end to their 23-year wait for the title, having won their last in 2003. The Gunners also remain contenders to win three other titles this season, including the Champions League, FA Cup, and the Carabao Cup. Winning all four will lead them to a historic quadruple for the first time in their history.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta responds to criticism about the Gunners’ reliance on set-pieces

In a pre-game press conference ahead of their league clash against Brighton, Mikel Arteta responded to the widespread criticism his side has been facing due to their reliance on set-pieces. He said (via BBC):

“I am upset we haven’t scored more and that we have conceded (from set-pieces) as well. We want to be the best and most dominant team in every aspect of the game. That is the trajectory and the aim of this team.”

He added:

“Teams are adapting, teams know after every sequence of play – whether it is a throw-in, a restart of play, an open-pitch situation – after that, they know exactly what they have to do and everything is almost man to man. So it is not going to be a different game, unless we change the rules, because the evolution of the game is that.”

As per WhoScored, Arsenal have scored 19 goals through set pieces this season, alongside three penalties.