Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Spurs: The good, the bad, the ugly – Defenders falter again

By Nikesh Teckwani

Arsenal, Shkodran Mustafi (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Shkodran Mustafi (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Tim Goode/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Tim Goode/Pool via Getty Images) /

The Bad: Defending set-pieces

Per Opta, 45% of the goals Arsenal that have conceded this season have come from set-pieces, which is the highest percentage in the Premier League. Lapses in concentration, poor marking, and an inability to effectively clear the ball have all contributed to this statistic.

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We saw this at Brighton from a short corner, at Sheffield United from a long throw-in, and once again in the North London Derby. Tierney, who is only 5-foot-10, was man-marking the 6-foot-3 Toby Alderweireld, who powered in a header to give Spurs the win. Alderweireld is Spurs’ best aerial threat alongside Harry Kane and Davinson Sanchez. Why Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz or Sead Kolasinac did not handle his threat is confusing.

This susceptibility to set pieces is certainly nothing new. Arsenal have never been the most secure from set-plays. They are a smaller team that lack defensive organisation and focus at key times. It is a bad combination when dealing with crosses into the box.

As Arteta looks to continue improving his team, it ist is something that he and his staff will surely be looking to clean up in the final few weeks of the season and into next year. Such an obvious vulnerability will be exploited.