Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Sheffield United: 5 things we learned – Dani Ceballos rescues Gunners

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal's players celebrate after Nicolas Pepe scored the opening goal from a penalty during the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on June 28, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's players celebrate after Nicolas Pepe scored the opening goal from a penalty during the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on June 28, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: David McGoldrick of Sheffield United scores his teams first goal during the FA Cup Fifth Quarter Final match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on June 28, 2020 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Pool via Getty Images)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: David McGoldrick of Sheffield United scores his teams first goal during the FA Cup Fifth Quarter Final match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on June 28, 2020 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Pool via Getty Images) /

3. Defending set-pieces an issue

It is nothing new, but Arsenal still cannot defend set-pieces. This was an issue for Mikel Arteta’s side before lockdown. In all competitions, the Gunners conceded 12 goals since Arteta took over and before play was suspended. Eight of those came from set-pieces.

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These included four successive goals from corners or wide set-pieces against Everton and Olympiakos. Crystal Palace scored from a freekick, Jorginho scored from a penalty in the 2-2 draw and snatched an equaliser after a dreadful Bernd Leno error in a 2-1 win earlier in the year, while Cesar Azpilicueta scored from a corner. On this occasion, Arsenal again looked extremely vulnerable from set-pieces.

John Lundstrum thought he opened the scoring after Arsenal first lost a header at the back post and then failed to track his run to the near post. He was offside and the goal was ruled out, but that had little to do with Arsenal’s defending and was entirely down to good fortune. John Egan then thought he’d scored in the second half from a freekick that was whipped into the penalty area. David McGoldrick, however, was offside from the freekick.

These were not the only uncertain moments in the penalty area. McGoldrick almost scored from a long throw-in. Several other long throw-ins caused panic among the defensive ranks, while United pushed hard from freekicks and corners in the second half. They, of course, scored the late equaliser from a long throw-in, too. Rob Holding was caught under the ball, Sead Kolasinac then kicks it against him, and then McGoldrick pokes home the loose ball. Arteta needs to solve his team’s vulnerabilities from set-pieces. They will be targetted by future opponents if he cannot.