Mikel Arteta’s controversial tactic is clearly working wonders for Arsenal

It’s fair to say that Arsenal’s win over Atletico Madrid last night was a statement. A marker sent out to the rest of Europe that the Gunners deserve to be one of the favourites to finally get their hands on European football’s greatest prize this season.

And there were so many talking points as well. Viktor Gyökeres finally unleashing himself fully on Europe’s top stage in an Arsenal shirt, Gabriel Martinelli continuing his strong goalscoring start to the season and the fact that Arsenal scored four against a Diego Simeone side.

But the most pleasing aspect of them all will surely have to be the fact that ‘Set-Piece FC’ isn’t just a sword for other fans to attack Arsenal with - it’s actually a skill that opposition fans wish they had in their armoury,

‘Set-Piece FC’ are now one of the favourites to win the UCL

A lot has been made of Nicolas Jover (Arsenal’s set-piece coach) and how the Gunners are seemingly only one-dimensional.

But, at the Emirates yesterday, it was evidenced why Mikel Arteta has trusted Jover so much.

Two of Arsenal’s goals came from set-pieces, with the bullet header from Gabriel for the first such an indication as to why Arteta and his coaching staff trust Declan Rice’s set-piece ability greatly.

And the fourth goal, despite Gyökeres’ messy finish, was also a brilliantly worked corner from Arsenal’s number 41, that only needed knocking back to Gyökeres who chested in from almost the goal line.

Add to that the creative genius of Myles Lewis-Skelly who, still at the tender age of 19, produced a brilliant assist for Martinelli’s goal - driving through the Atleti midfield before laying the ball off to the left hand side for the Brazilian to just sweep into the bottom right corner.

That balance is key for Arsenal this season - the ability to ensure that their set-piece strengths continue, but also ensuring that there will be no reliance on it (as has potentially been the case in previous years.)

Alas, with the signings of Eberechi Eze, the aforementioned Gyökeres and Noni Madueke (when he’s back fit), Arsenal now have serious depth within their forward line - and many different avenues to ensure goals are still scored even when set-piece strikes are drying up. That open-play creative ability has been sorely lacking in the last few years, particularly with injuries to likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard at key points in the season.