Colin

if this is accurate, it would explain a lot

and it should get a big rethink, from analysts, of the way Arsenal have to play!

That won't stop the low blocks. Without set pieces to open games up the league would be absolutely unwatchable.

💯

Sounds like we're on the same page then. It's not Arsenal- as their imperious European form shows- it's scientific coaching and the best defenders in Europe from top to (almost) the bottom of the League, that create the game in England right now.

I don't agree that they are 'optimised' to win from set pieces. The difference this year is that they aim to win and score in all circumstances.

What is boring isn't set pieces, it's low blocks. In fact set piece goals *open up* the game.

Yesterday and the Man United games both good egs of that.

Low blocks are ugly. Tell everyone else to be braver and come out and attack Arsenal, then you'll see how many beautiful open play goals Arsenal score. Martinelli is their top scorer in Europe but only has one in the Prem - that tells you everything...

Because it's a solution to low defensive blocks. No one does the delivery like Arsenal or has the elite wing play to create the free kick and corner opportunities, which is why they have the most set piece goals

I know everyone wants Arsenal to just be kicked out of the game like the old days...

If that's all it was everybody would do it. It's about incredible delivery. It's a strategy to break low blocks though brilliant wing play. No one wants to concede a free kick or corner to Arsenal yet they give away loads. In Europe Arsenal get almost all their goals from open play.

Calm Arsenal. And other contradictions in terms.

Although 4th for *number* of goals scored from open play. That's what matters. All those stats show is that Arsenal are very good at scoring all kinds of goals, but *especially* set piece goals

Yeah - all of a sudden United at Hime looks tough

Agree with that, but Everton haven't won in weeks; Villa were at home.

This happens in this league all the time. This season we have coped better with adversity than the rest. We are the most consistent.

That grit is Arteta.

Friday 6 points clear, now we're 7.

Got to be happy with that.

Looks like the whole top four might be deflated- Everton unlucky not to be in front against Villa in Birmingham!

Forget winning the league, we should go back to Arsene's Jazz football. I'm sure Özil and Alexis could still do a job!

We have the depth this year to not fall off.

Invicibles had 12 draws (31.6%) including Fulham, Birmingham (twice), Spurs (twice), Portsmouth and Leicester - this year 5 draws (22.7%).

We beat rivals Villa 4-1 just a couple of weeks ago.

This is just a season in contention...

Tough competition that

He should be blushing that Arsenal don't fall off in quality the way the other top teams do?

Sesko has made United worse and Goykeres has made Arsenal better. Objectively, he and Zubimendi are the two players that have made a difference between this year and last for Arsenal.

They've made other players better.

Everything else is just noise.

Arsenal are top of the fair play league this year.

That was a bonus #AFC #MCICHE

Rudolf Reindeers scored an goal. Poor old plucky relegation strugglers, Chelsea.

That was sloppy

Brilliant by Ødegaard

Take that ref!

The ref is bad

😁

Gabi made it happen 🙄

Madueke must score there

Two totally different jobs. Arteta transformed Arsenal as Emery could not have.

I know, right? did you see that Isak screamer, tho'?