Arteta sharply responds to the issue of Arsenal being labeled "Set-Piece FC" after their win over Chelsea from set pieces.
On 2 March 2026, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, spoke after the English Premier League big match of the week, where Arsenal narrowly defeated London rivals Chelsea 2-1 at home in an intense game.
All three goals in this match came from corner kicks. Arsenal took the lead 1-0 through William Saliba in the 21st minute. Chelsea then equalized 1-1 with a headed own goal by Piero Inkapie in the 45+2 minute. Finally, Jurriën Timber scored the winning header in the 66th minute.
Arsenal has now scored 16 goals from corner kicks this Premier League season, matching the highest record set by Oldham in 1992-93, West Bromwich in 2016-17, and Arsenal's own previous record in the 2023-24 season.
Additionally, Arsenal has scored nine winning goals from corner kicks this Premier League season, the most ever, surpassing Manchester United's record of eight in the 2012-13 season.
However, Arsenal's proficiency in scoring from corners has led fans and critics alike to sarcastically nickname them "Set-Piece FC," as they often rely on this tactic to secure victories.
In response to Arsenal being tagged as "Set-Piece FC," Mikel Arteta said, "We understand the importance of one-on-one duels in set-piece situations because Chelsea is a top team both offensively and defensively."
"Honestly, every Premier League team is very skilled in set-piece play. It’s extremely important. We have dropped points from long throw-ins, and recently we haven't scored many goals from set pieces. Today, we managed to do so. Having these options is a good thing."
Arsenal still has a chance to win all four major trophies this season, currently leading the Premier League by five points over Manchester City, having reached the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Carabao Cup final, and the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The Arsenal manager spoke about their pursuit of four trophies: "We are very happy because we know we had two tough games this past week. I’m satisfied with our attitude and determination to attack and control the game. In March, we are still in every competition and remain among the top."
