January 22nd 2024.
The recent success of Arsenal on set-pieces has caught the attention of the Match of the Day panel, as they try to unravel the mystery behind the team's impressive routines. The Gunners have been the most lethal team in the Premier League when it comes to offensive corners and free-kicks, with a total of 12 goals scored this season. Much of this success can be attributed to the tactics of their set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, who has been instrumental in creating these scoring opportunities.
In fact, set-pieces have accounted for more than a quarter of Arsenal's goals this season, with two more being added to their tally in their recent game against Crystal Palace. These goals were a result of well-executed corners by defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who powered them home with precision. While Jover may be the one barking orders from the sidelines, it has been revealed that the players themselves play a crucial role in determining which routine to use.
During Saturday's episode of Match of the Day, presenter Alex Scott shared the panel's findings, which were the result of some detective work. Former player Ashley Williams noticed a pattern in the behavior of Arsenal's captain Martin Odegaard during set-pieces, specifically with his socks. Sometimes he would roll them up, while other times he would kick the turf. Williams suggested that this could be a signal to his teammates, indicating which routine to use.
Williams explained, "There's always a trigger for what the movement's going to be. We can see they have worked on whether it's a front-post corner or a back-post corner. If you keep an eye on Odegaard, we feel - maybe we've had too much time on our hands - but we feel that maybe he's signalling something to the corner taker." This theory was supported by the fact that Odegaard would always be in the same spot and performing the same action with his socks.
However, not everyone was convinced by this theory. Fellow pundit Alan Shearer jokingly suggested that perhaps Odegaard's socks were simply too big for him. But regardless, the panel's findings have shed some light on Arsenal's impressive set-piece routines and the role that Odegaard may play in them. It will be interesting to see if this theory holds true in future games and if it will continue to contribute to the team's success.
In the meantime, Arsenal fans are left wondering why manager Mikel Arteta did not substitute Odegaard in their recent game against Crystal Palace. Former player Theo Walcott also questioned this decision, while Ian Wright expressed his surprise at Arteta's choice. With the team's success on set-pieces, it's clear that Jover's tactics are working and will continue to be a key factor in Arsenal's games.
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