Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal: Gabriel & Gunners expose Spurs’ set-piece flaws

Spurs and Postecoglou have seen this film earlier than and it has made for sad viewing.

Three of Arsenal’s final 4 targets in opposition to Spurs have come from set-pieces and solely three groups – Nottingham Forest together with relegated Luton City and Sheffield United – have conceded extra from such conditions for the reason that begin of final season, Postecoglou’s crew letting in 18 excluding penalties.

And but, when the topic was raised with Postecoglou final season, it was virtually disregarded as a non-issue. The statistics, and extra importantly the defeats, counsel in any other case and these need to focus his thoughts finally.

However again to that distinction between the groups once more.

In the identical interval for the reason that begin of final season, Arsenal have scored extra targets than another crew within the Premier League: 24 excluding penalties from set-plays.

This can be a tribute to the work of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who got here to Arsenal from Manchester Metropolis in 2021. The Gunners had achieved their homework on Spurs, who did not be taught earlier harsh classes.

Since Jover’s appointment, Arsenal have scored 43 targets from corners, greater than anybody else in Europe’s prime 5 leagues.

Arteta responded emphatically when requested if Jover was the perfect in his area, saying: “In his area, in different fields, as an individual. The connection that now we have, that’s why I made the choice to deliver him to Metropolis once I was there after which to Arsenal.

“Him and the workers have injected a perception to the gamers that there are various methods to win soccer matches. This can be a actually highly effective one. It’s given us lots, so a giant praise to all of them.”

Gabriel’s aim was hardly a murals, extra a routine technique as Saka’s in-swinging nook supplied the set-up, helped by defender Cristian Romero’s poor defending.

Spurs’ vulnerability in such conditions is a recurring theme and Arsenal realize it. Romero’s attraction to referee Jarred Gillet that he had been fouled was the very definition of desperation. The Argentine, a self-styled robust man, merely was not robust sufficient.