Arteta outlines importance of set-pieces for Arsenal

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The Football Faithful

·16. September 2025

Arteta outlines importance of set-pieces for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has outlined the importance of set-pieces for Arsenal as his side search for success this season.

Arsenal have established a reputation as one of Europe’s best teams from set-pieces in recent campaigns.

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The Gunners have now scored 40 goals in the Premier League alone from set-pieces since the start of the 2022/23 season, including five in their opening four games of the current campaign.

Arteta has discussed his side’s threat from dead-ball situations and said every detail is important.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League opener at Athletic Bilbao tonight, the Spaniard said: “It’s the evolution of the game. The game is faster, the spaces are smaller and everybody is trying to take advantage of other aspects of the game that are obviously key to winning football matches.

“In the end, you have to dominate everything nowadays in football to give yourself the best chance to win the games.”

In addition to their set-pieces, Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon in the summer to aid their goalscoring threat. The Swedish striker has struck three times in four Premier League games to date, featuring prominently due to injuries elsewhere.

As Arsenal head into a congested period of fixtures, Arteta insisted he has options to rotate the forward despite Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus remaining unavailable.

“Well, let’s see it. Against Forest at the end, Mikel [Merino] played as a nine. We have Leo [Trossard] who can play there, we have other options and other formations that we can adjust to that. At the moment, Victor is doing really well, so I’m really happy with that.”

Read – Arteta wants to change Arsenal history with Champions League win

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