Arsenal Vs Brighton: Defending set pieces… again

Arsenal host Brighton on Sunday after conceding seven goals from set pieces in the last four matches in all competitions. Improvements must be made.

For much of the time during Arsene Wenger’s latter years, defending set pieces was never Arsenal’s forte. Usually small in stature and lacking the defensive mentality that inspired other players to relish these situations, the team tended to shrink whenever a freekick or corner was conceded.

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Add in shaky goalkeeping, especially when concerning the command on the penalty area and collecting high balls, and you had a recipe for a disaster. Indeed, that is often how it all played out.

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But this year, the first under Unai Emery’s management, there has been a marked improvement in defending set pieces. According to whoscored.com, Arsenal have conceded just ten goals from set pieces all year. By my count, of those ten, six came last week, three in the loss to Crystal Palace, two against Wolves and one against Leicester City — in that, I am including the goal kick for Jamie Vardy’s strike and the deep freekick that led to Wilfried Zaha’s goal.

On Thursday night, the Gunners again conceded from a set piece, their seventh goal from such a situation in just four matches in all competitions, and would have conceded another if Ezequiel Garay could slot the ball into an open goal from a matter of yards out. Over the past two weeks, Arsenal have reverted to the set-piece defending that was made notorious during the Wenger years, which is not what they have done for much of the season.

When they host Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon, Emery will be preparing his side for one of the best attacking teams from set pieces in the league. Brighton have scored 13 goals from set pieces this season. Only Spurs, Burnley, Everton and Liverpool have scored more.

More tellingly, they have scored 39.9% of their total goals from set pieces. Only Huddersfield Town, with nine set-piece goals, have a higher percentage. If you want to look for how Brighton will test Arsenal on Sunday, you need look no further.

What has been most concerning recently has been the lack of organisation and communication from set pieces. The goals conceded have stemmed from poor marking, wobbly offside lines that are easily exploited, a lack of clear communication and planning prior to their taking, rather than something as simple as losing a header. The defence needs a leader.

Who that is, I am not sure. Laurent Koscielny is the captain but is known to not be the most vocal. Sokratis is a much more natural communicator and organiser, but his defending has not been as stable in recent performances. Nevertheless, it likely falls on him to marshall the troops.

To beat Brighton, the Gunners must defend set pieces well. That has not been the case recently. Can they learn their lesson?