Arsenal's creativity crisis: Over-reliance on set-pieces raises concerns over title credentials
Arsenal are running out of ideas in front of goal, with growing criticism aimed at their dependence on set-pieces to deliver results.
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Last week, football fans seized on X's accidental rollout of its AI image generator, producing viral pictures that struck a nerve. One notable image showed Arsenal's stars — Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Martin Odegaard — not in their usual red-and-white kits, but instead donning Stoke City-inspired shirts at a sunlit Emirates Stadium.
The parallels weren't accidental. Arsenal's recent victories, particularly the set-piece goals that secured a win over Manchester United, have led to unflattering comparisons with Tony Pulis' famously physical Stoke side. Additional AI depictions of Mikel Arteta shaking hands with Pulis, under Arsene Wenger's horrified gaze, captured the mood further.
While such portrayals may be harsh for a team that has finished as Premier League runners-up two seasons in a row and remains in the title race, Saturday's dismal 0-0 draw with Everton only heightened concerns over Arsenal's inability to score from open play.
Arteta defends his approach
Ahead of last week’s 3-0 Champions League victory against Monaco, Arteta responded to criticism about Arsenal's reliance on set-pieces with an analogy. Using two water bottles, he argued that open-play and set-piece goals should not be seen as separate entities but part of the same system — one larger bottle containing both. “You can’t have one without the other,” he explained.
Arsenal backed up his defense with a commanding display against Monaco, where Saka shone. However, this performance was sandwiched between two uninspiring league games, where the Gunners showed little cutting edge in attack.
Following the goalless draw with Everton — Arsenal's third consecutive Premier League match without an open-play goal — Arteta was visibly irked when asked about the slump. "We scored three from open play three days ago, so?" was his curt response.
Arteta may be shielding his players, but critics suggest his dismissive tone highlights a reluctance to address the team's deeper creative issues.
The concerning statistics
The numbers paint a worrying picture. Arsenal lead the Premier League in expected goals (xG) from set-pieces this season, yet their open-play xG ranks in the bottom half. Additionally, the Gunners are far behind their rivals for live passes leading to goals, managing just 34 — significantly fewer than Chelsea's 49, and behind six other sides, including struggling Wolves.
Their overall goal tally isn’t impressive either. With just 29 goals after 16 matches, Arsenal are on pace to score roughly 69 across the season — a steep drop from the 88 and 91 goals registered in the previous two campaigns.
While dominance at set-pieces is an asset, it cannot become Arsenal’s default game plan. If they are to maintain a credible title challenge, Arteta must find solutions to reignite their open-play creativity and ensure the Gunners’ attack becomes more than just a one-dimensional weapon.
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