Mikel Arteta has hit back at critics of Arsenal’s dependence on set pieces, saying he is disappointed the Premier League leaders do not score even more goals from dead-ball situations.
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Arteta’s side have established a five-point lead at the top of the league thanks in large part to their success from set pieces — which has given rise to the nickname “Set Piece FC”.
They equalled the Premier League single-season record for goals from corners with two in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea to reach 16 for the campaign.
But Arsenal’s excellence since Nicolas Jover took over as set-piece coach has sparked criticism of their reliance on the tactic.
The debate on whether set pieces are ruining football as a spectacle is raging, with Liverpool boss Arne Slot revealing he no longer enjoys watching some Premier League matches.
“First of all, you have to accept it. I think it’s mainly here in the Premier League. If I watch other leagues, I don’t think there’s so much emphasis on set pieces,” Slot said, adding that PL goalkeepers were given less protection than in other leagues.
“Here you can almost hit a goalkeeper in his face and the referee still says just go on.
“Do I like it? My football heart doesn’t like it.
“Now, most of the games I see in the Premier League are not for me a joy to watch.
“But it’s always interesting because it’s so competitive, and that is what makes this league great, because there’s so much competitiveness, everyone can beat everyone.”
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Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, a Premier League title winner with Blackburn, said Arsenal will be the “ugliest” Premier League champions if they go on to clinch the title.
Arteta is unrepentant, insisting his only concern about the use of set-pieces is making sure Arsenal are even more efficient with them.
“I’m upset that we don’t score more, and that we concede as well,” he told reporters on Tuesday, on the eve of a trip to Brighton.
“We want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game, and that’s the trajectory and the aim of this team, and as a club, we want to be the same. So we try to do that.”
Asked if he was surprised at the criticism aimed at his side, Arteta replied: “Part of the job.”
City manager Pep Guardiola believes teams should focus on adapting to the set-piece strategy rather than complaining about the issue.
Arteta, who worked under Guardiola at City before joining Arsenal, agrees with his fellow Spaniard’s assessment.
“Now teams are adapting. Chelsea, look at the quality that they have, the amount of set-pieces they score. Manchester United as well. I was at Man City, I used to work a lot on them,” he said.
Undeterred by the claims that Arsenal will be “ugly” champions, Arteta said: “I don’t know how you celebrate one goal different to another one. Maybe for YouTube it’s nicer one or another. I don’t know.
“I would like to play with three players extra in my own half to get some beautiful football. This is not the reality of football.
“If you want to watch that football, you have to go to a different country because in the Premier League, for the last two seasons or three seasons, this is not the case.”
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said teams must adapt to deal with set pieces after Slot’s comments.
Arsenal have been labelled “Set Piece FC” as a result of their prowess from dead ball situations and other sides are learning from their playbook.
Speaking Tuesday, on the eve of title-chasing City’s match against relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, Guardiola said clubs had no choice but to learn to deal with the growing threat.
“It’s part of the dynamics and you can complain (but) you have to adapt and it’s part of the game,” he said.
The Spaniard, renowned for his fluid, possession-based football, said “in some aspects” he agreed with Slot, but explained that one of the fascinating aspects of football was the range of different styles.
“Football has not been played in one way since the it has been created,” he said. “So the football played in England is different from Spain, it’s different in Italy, it’s different and that’s nice.
“That’s why the Champions League is nice, different ways, even in that country every manager plays in a different way.
“So it’s nice, that’s why it’s so attractive. How boring would it be if all the managers and all the leagues played in the same way?
“So if I like or don’t like, it’s my business, so if I don’t like, I don’t watch as a spectator, but it is what it is, I have to adapt. It’s a question of how quickly you adapt.”
City have won their past six games in all competitions and are five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
“The last 10 games now start to be decisive,” said the City boss.
“Two Premier League games before the international break — we are five behind Arsenal so we can’t drop points.”
Guardiola said City would make a call on the fitness of Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly after Tuesday’s training session.
Norwegian striker Haaland missed Saturday’s 1-0 win at Leeds after picking up a knock in training while O’Reilly was forced off with an ankle problem at Elland Road.