The narrative surrounding Arsenal's current campaign has taken a peculiar turn, with manager Mikel Arteta's side facing what can only be described as embarrassing criticism despite their formidable position across multiple competitions. The Gunners sit top of the Premier League, finished first in their Champions League group, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and remain active in the FA Cup. Yet, a persistent caveat accompanies any praise: their perceived over-reliance on set-pieces and a more direct style of play.
The Elland Road Statement: A Response Under Pressure
Arsenal arrived at Leeds United's Elland Road facing significant pressure, having collected just two points from their previous three league outings. The situation worsened during the warm-up when talismanic forward Bukayo Saka was ruled out through injury. In response, Arteta's men delivered a resounding 4-0 victory away from home, inflicting only Leeds' third domestic defeat on their own turf this season.
Promoted from the bench to the starting lineup, Noni Madueke delivered an exceptional performance, contributing an assist and a corner that resulted in an own goal. Crucially, only one of Arsenal's four goals originated from a set-piece, with the others flowing from open play. This comprehensive victory represented a significant statement, yet the post-match discourse quickly returned to familiar criticisms about their style.
The Inescapable 'But': A Curious Reluctance to Credit Success
Despite their commanding league position and continental prowess, Arsenal continue to face qualifications to their achievements. Comments about Manchester City playing more attractive football or suggestions that set-piece proficiency diminishes their accomplishments have become commonplace. Even Pep Guardiola himself humorously referenced parking the bus against Arsenal earlier this season, highlighting the tactical respect they now command.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes' description of Arsenal as potentially the "worst champions in Premier League history" seems particularly harsh when considering their squad's international pedigree and consistent performances across multiple fronts. This reluctance to offer unqualified praise appears increasingly disconnected from the reality of their results.
Arteta's Tactical Evolution: Addressing Past Shortcomings
The criticism becomes particularly puzzling when examining Arteta's clear strategic reasoning. After finishing as runners-up in three consecutive seasons and developing a reputation for surrendering leads, the Spanish manager consciously adapted his approach. The statistics reveal a telling story: while 57% of their goals came from set-pieces earlier in the campaign (placing them 17th in the league for this metric), this represented a deliberate tactical adjustment rather than a deficiency.
European competition provides illuminating context. According to CannonStats.com data sourced from Opta, Arsenal won all eight of their Champions League group stage matches with a +19 goal difference. Seventeen of those goals originated from open play, second only to Bayern Munich across the competition. This demonstrates their capability for expansive football when opponents provide the necessary space.
The Premier League Conundrum: Adapting to Defensive Setups
The fundamental difference lies in domestic versus continental approaches. Premier League opponents frequently employ low defensive blocks against Arsenal, limiting space for their traditional possession-based game. While Manchester City have demonstrated exceptional proficiency in breaking down such defenses, Arteta has pragmatically developed alternative methods to secure results.
This tactical flexibility represents intelligent management rather than a compromise of principles. The manager has worked with the resources available, with sporting director Andrea Berta perhaps warranting more scrutiny regarding recruitment than Arteta deserves for his utilization of the squad.
Statistical Reality Versus Narrative Perception
Examining the numbers reveals significant discrepancies between perception and reality. Arsenal rank as the Premier League's second-highest scorers, with Liverpool actually registering more set-piece goals than the Gunners. Their expected goals (xG) from open play stands at a respectable 15.2, indicating they create quality chances through multiple avenues.
The 4-0 victory at Leeds perfectly illustrated this balance, with three goals originating from open play despite the subsequent focus on their single set-piece conversion. Martin Zubimendi's headed goal from Madueke's excellent cross after a cleared corner demonstrated quality in transition rather than simple set-piece reliance.
A Winning Formula Deserving of Recognition
While most supporters would prefer the free-flowing "champagne football" that made Arsenal neutrals' favorites during Arteta's earlier campaigns, the reality is that those approaches yielded second-place finishes. The manager has identified a formula that delivers results across multiple competitions, blending defensive solidity with multiple attacking threats.
Should Arsenal ultimately fall short in their title pursuit, criticism will be justified and inevitable. However, until that potential moment arrives, their current achievements across all fronts warrant considerably more credit than the qualified praise they currently receive. Arteta has developed a team capable of challenging on multiple fronts through intelligent tactical adaptation, and that accomplishment deserves recognition without constant caveats.
