Arsenal's set piece goals: Pundit suggests defensive strategies for opponents

Former Scotland and Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley believes opponents should think outside the box to limit Arsenal’s threat from set pieces. 

Thanks to set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, Mikel Arteta's team have become menacing since the Frenchman joined the Gunners from Manchester City in 2021. 

According to Opta, 24 goals since the start of the previous campaign have been from such situations, with Gabriel's header in Sunday's North London derby victory the latest in the growing list of first-rate execution from dead-balls.

Speaking on ESPN, the former player advised opposition managers to leave a few attacking players outside the defending box to declutter the 18-yard area and have possible counter-attacking threats. 

“You have to try to thin out the penalty area to stop that,” suggested Burley. “And that is thinking of maybe leaving three players up the field to attract at least four back.

“If Tottenham left three of their quick players up the field, Arsenal are not going to leave two back, are they? They probably aren’t going to leave three on three. You just can’t take the risk.

“When you drag everybody back, Arsenal are going to push as many as they can forward, and there are going to be bodies in there.”

Arsenal travel to Atalanta on Thursday to begin their Champions League campaign before facing Manchester City this Sunday.