Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has shared his tactical insight on neutralizing Arsenal’s formidable corner-kick threat, as the Gunners continue to dominate set-piece situations across European football. The former Ivory Coast striker’s analysis comes as Arsenal’s impressive tally of 22 goals from corners since last season remains unmatched across Europe’s top leagues.
Following Arsenal’s commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester United, where defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba both converted from corner routines, Drogba took to Instagram to outline his strategic solution. “Put someone in front of the corner taker 10m away and tell him to jump so the corner taker won’t be able to deliver a good ball,” Drogba explained via Yahoo! Sport, before adding, “Then you ask your goalkeeper to take all the sloppy balls and ask your defenders to protect him.”
The intervention from one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers comes at a time when Arsenal’s set-piece prowess, orchestrated by specialist coach Nicolas Jover, has become a crucial weapon in their arsenal. The pinpoint deliveries from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have proven particularly effective in converting these opportunities into goals.
However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been quick to counter suggestions that his team is overly dependent on set-pieces for their success. We aim to be effective from every phase of play, not just set-pieces,” Arteta asserted, pointing to his team’s record-breaking goalscoring achievements from last season as evidence of their varied attacking approach. Last season, we scored the most goals in this club’s history because of the variety in our attacking approach. We want to create magical, individual moments as well.
Drogba’s tactical suggestion carries significant weight given his extensive experience at the highest level of English football. His proposed method of disrupting the corner taker’s delivery before it begins represents a proactive rather than reactive approach to defending set-pieces, potentially offering opponents a new way to counter Arsenal’s efficiency in these situations.
The timing of Drogba’s analysis is particularly relevant as Arsenal, currently seven points behind league leaders Liverpool, prepare for a crucial London derby against Fulham. The match takes on added intrigue with former Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi, fresh from a midweek double, looking to dent his old club’s title aspirations.
The effectiveness of Arsenal’s set-piece routines has become a talking point in the broader context of their title challenge. While some view their prowess from corners as a sign of tactical sophistication, others, including Drogba, suggest there might be straightforward solutions to neutralizing this threat.
Arsenal’s continued success from set-pieces raises interesting questions about the evolution of modern football, where marginal gains from set-piece situations can often prove decisive in tight contests. Drogba’s tactical insight not only provides a potential solution for opposing teams but also highlights the increasing importance of set-piece specialists in contemporary football.
As Arsenal continue their pursuit of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, their ability to maintain their set-piece effectiveness while also developing other aspects of their attacking play could prove crucial. Whether opponents will adopt Drogba’s suggested approach remains to be seen, but his analysis adds another fascinating tactical dimension to the ongoing Premier League season.
