Arsneal and Everton are the joint top scorers in the Premier League from set pieces this term
Sean Dyche claims Arsenal have joined Everton in becoming clinical from set pieces.
Arsenal and Everton are joint top of the Premier League stats with eight goals from set pieces this season. The Gunners are being applauded because they have scored 22 times in the Premier League from corners since the start of last season, but Dyche has always prided himself on his sides being dangerous from dead-ball situations.
All four of their goals in their last game against Wolves came from set pieces and the Blues boss said: “We’ve found that ourselves. Virtually all teams mention set pieces when they play us as being a threat.
“Sometimes it’s just the fact you’re good at them. You can mention psychology, but let’s have it right, if you’re good at them, that brings its own psychology. They’re pretty handy.”
Dyche says he won’t be duped into believing Arsenal are only a threat from corners. He knows it would be foolhardy to think that is their only strength and feels they have the quality to hurt opponents from any part of the pitch.
“I just think because of their strong stats on set pieces, that makes a story,” he said. “I certainly haven’t forgotten about what else they can do. They’ve got some very good players without doubt and they can still open you up, they can find ways of winning. I certainly don’t think they’re a set-play team. I think they’re just a team that can add that in and they’ve done that.”
Dyche isn’t losing any sleep over Arsenal’s corner threat and has left his assistant Steve Stone to work on that with the Blues’ analytics team. “I’ve been in the Premier League for 10 years,” he said. “That means I’ve got 10 years of stats to work with.
“You look through the stats and it’s important to do it right for all of them. We do it right for all of them so why do it just for Arsenal? Also don’t over-complicate it. The players have a lot going on. If you give them too much information, some players are not naturally good at storing so many things.”
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Armando Broja is pushing for his first start after making his debut off the bench against Wolves and Dyche hopes the on-loan Chelsea striker can generate some competition among his front men. Everton have scored just 14 goals in their 14 league games and Dyche said: “Facts are facts, we’ve not been as clinical as we’d like to be.
“The in-house competition is important, with strikers it’s important. It brings that edge because they’re thinking. ‘If I can’t do it, other people might do it’. That’s part and parcel of performing in football at the top level.”
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