Arsenal have been lauded for their set-piece ability this season but the stats show the Gunners actually possess the worst record in the top flight.
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Arsenal beaten 2-1 by BournemouthConcede two goals from set-piecesPick up unwanted Premier League recordFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth brought up an interesting statistic regarding Mikel Arteta's side. Goals from Dean Huijsen and Evanilson secured all three points for the Cherries against the Gunners, with both goals coming from set-pieces. Arsenal have now conceded 38.7% of their Premier League goals this season from set-piece situations, which is the greatest proportion of all English top flight clubs in 2024-25, according to Opta.
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Arteta's side had been dubbed set-piece kings earlier this season after become seemingly lethal from dead-ball situations. Set-piece coach has Nicolas Jover came in for plenty of credit for their attacking prowess but has since been criticised, with the team leaking goals from corner and dead-ball routines. More work on the training ground appears to be needed if Arsenal are to tighten up defensively.
WHAT ARTETA SAID
Arteta spoke about the situations after the Bournemouth defeat. He told reporters: "It's not only what you score, it's the difference in gap between the ones that you score and the ones that you conceded and we have conceded a lot, especially recently, which are costing us a lot of points, that's clear and that's everybody's responsibility. But as well today to the opposition, today they've done it really well. If somebody is able to throw the ball in the middle of the goal to a guy that is taller than anybody else and he hits the ball in the back of the net, we really want to do better but it's difficult."
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL
Arsenal now head to France for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final second leg against PSG, trailing 1-0 from the first game at the Emirates. The Gunners face an uphill task turning the tie around and face a PSG team that should be well rested after Luis Enrique made 10 changes to his starting XI against Strasbourg on Saturday.
