\n<\/p>\n
Graeme Souness has reignited debate around Arsenal\u2019s set-piece dominance, claiming Mikel Arteta\u2019s side \u201cget away with\u201d tactics that would be punished elsewhere on the pitch.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arsenal\u2019s rise under Arteta has been built on control, structure and marginal gains. Few areas highlight that more than their set-piece routines, which have become one of the most effective weapons in English football. Yet while many praise the innovation behind those moments, Souness has taken a very different stance.<\/p>\n Speaking ahead of Arsenal\u2019s Carabao Cup final clash with Manchester City, the former Liverpool midfielder questioned the physical approach Arsenal adopt inside the box, particularly when targeting goalkeepers.<\/p>\n Souness believes Arsenal benefit from officiating leniency when executing their set pieces.<\/p>\n He told the Daily Mail:<\/p>\n \u201cArsenal 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 blocks a centre forward as he\u2019s trying to make a run and that\u2019s a foul.\u201d<\/p>\n The criticism centres on Arsenal\u2019s use of movement and contact in crowded penalty areas, where attackers and defenders compete for space before the ball is delivered.<\/p>\n Souness went further in his assessment of officiating standards, adding:<\/p>\n \u201cI just think we\u2019ve got daft referees. We\u2019ve got poor referees who don\u2019t really understand the game. They know all the rules from the first page to the last one, but nuances of the game they don\u2019t get.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the criticism, Arsenal\u2019s effectiveness from set pieces is undeniable.<\/p>\n Arteta\u2019s side have consistently turned dead-ball situations into high-quality chances, combining intelligent movement with precise delivery. Much of that success stems from the quality of service, particularly from midfield areas, with Arsenal\u2019s control and delivery profiles continuing to evolve this season through players like Declan Rice.<\/p>\n Souness himself acknowledged the quality within Arsenal\u2019s execution, even while criticising the method.<\/p>\n \u201cI love the term \u2018free-kick guru\u2019. Their guru is all about fouling the goalkeeper. That\u2019s as simple as, black and white,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, of course, there\u2019s people like Gabriel Saliba who are really brave and will put their heads where most people wouldn\u2019t put their feet, and they attack these balls that Declan Rice whips in, and they\u2019re great quality.\u201d<\/p>\n That admission highlights the dual reality of Arsenal\u2019s approach: elite delivery paired with aggressive positioning.<\/p>\n The debate arrives at a crucial moment.<\/p>\n Arsenal face Manchester City with silverware on the line, and set pieces could prove decisive in a tightly contested final. Matches of this magnitude often come down to moments rather than patterns, and Arsenal\u2019s ability to capitalise on dead-ball situations gives them a clear edge.<\/p>\n Souness\u2019 comments may divide opinion, but they underline the growing influence of Arsenal\u2019s tactical evolution.<\/p>\n Arteta has built a side that maximises every detail; whether critics label it clever or controversial, the results speak for themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Graeme Souness has reignited debate around Arsenal\u2019s set-piece dominance, claiming Mikel Arteta\u2019s side \u201cget away<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2125\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/osport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Souness questions Arsenal\u2019s physical edge<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Set pieces remain a major Arsenal strength<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Fine margins ahead of Wembley<\/strong><\/h2>\n