Didier Drogba claims he can end Arsenal's set-piece dominance

In a notable analysis, former Chelsea player Didier Drogba discussed Arsenal's remarkable proficiency in scoring from set-pieces, particularly corners. This season, Arsenal has outperformed all European teams, netting 22 goals from corners since the previous season began, showcasing their status as set-piece specialists. The club’s recent victory over Manchester United, marked by goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, further emphasized their effectiveness from these situations. As the Premier League title race intensifies, Arsenal fans celebrated their set-piece prowess, chanting about their team’s scoring abilities. Delving deeper, the coaching strategies implemented by Arsenal, especially those of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, have been significant in developing their corner-taking skills. Players like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have improved their corner deliveries, attributing their success to rigorous training and studying video clips. Rice articulated the importance of practice and understanding the precision required for effective service. This improvement has transformed their corner kicks into a genuine offensive weapon under the management of Mikel Arteta, who is determined to infuse creativity throughout his team's play. Moreover, Drogba, recognized for his aerial strength and efficiency, proposed a straightforward countermeasure to Arsenal's corner-taking tact. He suggested placing a defender 10 meters away from the corner taker during set pieces to obstruct effective delivery. His comment received attention on social media, as he simplistically noted that this can limit corner effectiveness and that goalkeepers should handle less threatening deliveries, with defenders ensuring protection. Despite their successes, Mikel Arteta expressed reluctance to label Arsenal solely as a set-piece team, emphasizing their multifaceted attacking capabilities. He remarked on the team's ambition to create a variety of scoring opportunities beyond set pieces, citing their record-breaking goal tally from previous seasons as a result of diverse attacking tactics. Arsenal aims to remain competitive in the Premier League, currently standing third and trailing leaders Liverpool. Arteta's remarks reflect a broader outlook for the team, focusing on individual brilliance and strategic play rather than merely relying on one aspect of their game.