--- title: "Arsenal set pieces: Corners, routines and Nicolas Jover’s impact" canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/arsenal-set-pieces-guide/" type: "page" language: "en-GB" published: "2026-08-31T22:00:11Z" modified: "2026-08-31T22:00:12Z" --- # Arsenal set pieces: Corners, routines and Nicolas Jover’s impact **Arsenal’s set pieces have become one of the defining parts of Mikel Arteta’s football, with corners and free-kicks providing a major source of goals alongside the team’s open-play attack.** The numbers underline just how important they were to Arsenal’s 2025/26 Premier League title win. Arsenal scored **25 set-piece goals excluding penalties**, the most in the division, and set a new Premier League record with **19 goals from corners**. ([arsenal.com](https://www.arsenal.com/news/27-great-stats-from-our-2526-premier-league-season-ageBS3l8XFZn)) That success is built on much more than simply having tall players. Delivery, movement, blocking, timing and the positioning of players around the penalty area all contribute to Arsenal’s routines. ## Arsenal set-piece record in 2025/26 | Statistic | Arsenal | | --- | --- | | Set-piece goals excluding penalties | **25** | | Goals from corners | **19** | | Premier League rank for set-piece goals | **1st** | | Headed goals | **16** | | Set-piece goals conceded | **7** | | Share of Arsenal goals from corners | **35%** | Arsenal’s official season analysis described the team as **“masters of the set piece”**, with their 19 corner goals setting a new Premier League record. ([arsenal.com](https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-analysed-how-we-won-the-premier-league-aO1ug2E0S5oq)) Their defensive performance was impressive too. Arsenal conceded only seven goals from dead-ball situations, joint-best in the division. ([arsenal.com](https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-analysed-how-we-won-the-premier-league-aO1ug2E0S5oq)) ## Why are Arsenal so dangerous from corners? There is no single routine responsible for Arsenal’s success. The basic ingredients include: - accurate delivery - multiple runners attacking different zones - players creating separation from markers - strong aerial targets - screens and movement around the goalkeeper - good positioning for second balls - enough defensive cover to stop counter-attacks Arsenal can therefore threaten from a traditional inswinging delivery, a deeper ball towards the far post or a short-corner routine designed to change the angle. That variation makes the routines much more difficult to defend. ## Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka’s deliveries Two players have been particularly important. Premier League tactical analysis of Arsenal’s title-winning season highlighted the delivery quality of **Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka**. Eight Arsenal goals followed Rice inswingers during the campaign, while another six came from Saka’s left-footed corners. That gives Arsenal high-quality delivery from either side of the pitch. A right-footed Rice inswinger and a left-footed Saka inswinger also allow the same basic attacking principles to be used from opposite corners. ## Nicolas Jover’s role at Arsenal Set-piece coach **Nicolas Jover** has played a major role in developing Arsenal’s dead-ball routines. Jover joined Arteta’s coaching staff in 2021 and has become closely associated with Arsenal’s success from corners and free-kicks. The club’s own tactical review of the 2023/24 season credited Jover’s work when Arsenal equalled the then-Premier League record by scoring **16 goals from corners**. Rather than relying on one fixed routine, Arsenal regularly adapt movements and delivery according to opponents. That is important because Premier League teams study one another’s set pieces extensively. A routine that works repeatedly will eventually be analysed and countered. ## How Arsenal attack the six-yard box Arsenal frequently look to create congestion close to goal. That can make several things harder for the defending team: - the goalkeeper has less room to attack the ball - defenders have to track runners through traffic - players can lose their marker - first-contact headers can be redirected across goal - loose balls can fall into dangerous areas The first Arsenal goal in a 2026 victory over Chelsea was a good example. Saka delivered deep, Gabriel Magalhães won the first header back across goal and William Saliba converted. Arsenal then scored again from a Rice corner, with Jurrien Timber heading home. It showed two different methods within the same match. ## Why Arsenal sometimes take short corners Supporters do not always love seeing a corner played short, but there is usually a tactical reason. A short corner can: - pull one or two defenders out of the penalty area - change the crossing angle - create a two-against-one situation - move the defensive line - give the delivery taker more space Arsenal’s April 2026 win over Newcastle offered a particularly clear example. Their first three corners were all played short. The third eventually led to Eberechi Eze scoring the decisive goal as Arsenal continued their title charge. The routine initially drew some frustration from the crowd, but Arsenal kept using the planned setup because Newcastle had not adjusted effectively. ## Why Arsenal’s height matters Arsenal’s squad contains several strong aerial players. Centre-backs such as Gabriel provide obvious targets, while other defenders and midfielders can also attack deliveries. That creates a problem for opponents. If a team focuses two defenders on Arsenal’s biggest aerial threat, somebody else may receive a more favourable matchup. Arsenal’s **16 headed Premier League goals in 2025/26** were the highest total in the division. But height alone does not explain the numbers. Getting a tall player underneath a poor delivery does very little. The real advantage comes from combining physical strength with accurate delivery and rehearsed movement. ## Set pieces helped Arsenal score first This may be the most interesting part of the 2025/26 numbers. Arsenal’s set pieces frequently did not merely add a second or third goal. They **opened matches**. Premier League analysis found that **14 of Arsenal’s corner goals gave them a 1-0 lead** during the title-winning campaign. That makes their set-piece strength particularly valuable against deep defensive blocks. A team can spend 20 or 30 minutes preventing Arsenal from creating a clean open-play opportunity and still fall behind from one corner. Once Arsenal score first, the nature of the match changes completely. ## Arsenal’s defensive set pieces The other half of set-piece performance receives less attention. Arsenal were also excellent when defending dead balls. The title winners conceded only **seven set-piece goals** in the Premier League in 2025/26 and had the lowest set-piece expected-goals-against figure in the division at **6.49**. Strong defensive set pieces require many of the same qualities as attacking ones: - organisation - aerial strength - timing - communication - goalkeeper decision-making - second-ball positioning Winning the initial header is only part of the job. Arsenal also need to prevent opponents recovering loose balls around the edge of the penalty area. ## How Bruno Guimarães could add another dimension Arsenal’s 2026 summer recruitment could provide even more options. Premier League analysis highlighted Bruno Guimarães’ set-piece ability following his move to Arsenal, as well as his tendency to draw fouls in dangerous areas. Guimarães was fouled **2.6 times per 90 minutes** during the previous Premier League campaign, second only to Jack Grealish among the players highlighted by the competition’s analysis. Winning more free-kicks around the final third potentially gives Arsenal more opportunities to exploit one of their greatest strengths. ## What to watch at the next Arsenal corner Rather than simply watching the ball, look inside the penalty area before the kick is taken. Useful details include: - who stands closest to the goalkeeper - Gabriel’s starting position - whether Arsenal overload one side - which player makes the late run - whether Rice or Saka shapes for an inswinger - whether somebody moves short - who remains outside the area for the second ball - how many Arsenal players stay back Those movements often explain the goal before the ball has even reached its eventual scorer. ## Arsenal set pieces FAQ ### Who is Arsenal’s set-piece coach? Nicolas Jover is Arsenal’s specialist set-piece coach and has worked as part of Mikel Arteta’s staff since 2021. ### How many goals did Arsenal score from set pieces in 2025/26? Arsenal scored **25 Premier League goals from set pieces excluding penalties**, more than any other club. ### How many corner goals did Arsenal score in 2025/26? Arsenal scored a Premier League-record **19 goals from corners**. ### Who takes Arsenal’s corners? Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are among Arsenal’s principal corner takers, although responsibilities can change depending on the players on the pitch and which side the corner is taken from. ### Why are Arsenal so good at corners? Their effectiveness comes from a combination of delivery quality, aerial strength, rehearsed movement, blocking and variation rather than one single tactic. ### Do Arsenal use short corners? Yes. Arsenal vary their routines and use short corners when they believe changing the delivery angle or drawing defenders away from the penalty area can create an advantage. ### Are Arsenal good at defending set pieces? Yes. Arsenal conceded only seven Premier League goals from set pieces during their 2025/26 title-winning campaign, joint-fewest in the league.