Arne Slot explains theory behind Arsenal’s ‘world class’ set-piece record – ‘I always say’

Liverpool look set to claim the Premier League title at the end of the season but Reds boss Arne Slot still believes his side could emulate a major strength of one of their main domestic rivals

Liverpool boss Arne Slot believes it is only a matter of time before his side can emulate Arsenal’s famous set-piece threat. Mikel Arteta’s side have been the Reds’ main rivals for the Premier League title this season.

Despite Slot’s team sitting 13 points clear – and being on the verge of winning the title – there has still been a weakness. According to WhoScored, Liverpool have scored just six goals from set piece situations throughout the campaign – only the bottom three and Fulham having netted fewer.

At the other end of the spectrum, Arsenal have scored 13 having been one of the most threatening sides in the league from set pieces over the past few campaigns. And Slot believes Arsenal’s ability from dead balls is down to the extended period of time that Arteta’s coaches have had to work on their tactics.

Speaking after his side’s slender win against Leicester, the Liverpool boss said: “To be fair, the idea and the plan was to have inswingers already in the first half, but there is a bit of freedom also for players to take an outswinger if they think that’s better or that they prefer that.

“The work that we put in is that we’ve trained a lot, we’ve had a lot of meetings about it, we try every single time to improve the details and I think it’s normal for a coaching staff that’s only for nine or 10 months with that team that it doesn’t come from the first week.

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“I always say that if I am analysing an opponent, if they have their set-pieces perfect I know the manager is already there for a long time because normally you start with bringing the ball out from the back and how to defend and all these kind of things, and the end of that process is set-pieces.

“And I think Arsenal are a great example of that, where Mikel [Arteta] has worked so long and they are so good in all different phases of the game and now they have become world-class at set-pieces.”

Arsenal head coach Arteta has previously been full of praise for the Gunners’ set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. And he explained how they have struck up such an understanding.

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“He’s a very special person. Obviously someone very, very close to me,” Arteta explained earlier this season. “We share a very clear vision about how we want to put everything together. It’s not about open play or set pieces, it’s how everything is connected, aligned and can work efficiently in our team.”

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