Is Arsenal’s Defensive Set-Piece Crisis Undermining Their Title Challenge?

Arsenal's hopes of challenging for the Premier League title suffered a setback as they surrendered a two-goal lead against Crystal Palace, ending in a 2-2 draw. The result has raised further questions about the Gunners' form, particularly surrounding their defensive frailties from set-pieces, which have been highlighted by pundits and fans alike. In a match that showcased both the attacking prowess of Arsenal, through goals from Jakub Kiwior and Leandro Trossard, and the resilience of Palace, who levelled through Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, the concerns about Arsenal's defensive strategies were brought to the forefront. With this draw, Arsenal has now dropped 18 points from winning positions this season, raising eyebrows about their ability to close out games effectively. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher did not hold back in his analysis. Following the match, he pointed towards Arsenal's alarming record of conceding 6% of their goals from corners — the highest in the top half of the Premier League. He made a cheeky remark about the Gunners’ set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, questioning whether they should "cut his wages in half" due to their defensive shortcomings despite his notable successes in attacking set-pieces. Carragher stated: “It’s been one of the stories of the season and rightly so, it’s unbelievable. You think Arsenal are going to score a goal from every set piece... he’s had a huge impact. But it’s funny that on the flip-side of that, they’re having problems themselves.” For context, under Jover’s tenure, Arsenal have excelled offensively, netting the highest goals from corners in the league. Yet, the irony lies in their vulnerability during opposing set-pieces, a duality that might be costing them critical points in the title race. Furthermore, Arsenal's tactical setups may need re-evaluation. Carragher’s critique extends to club captain Martin Ødegaard, who has struggled to replicate his previous seasons' form, contributing only two goals and six assists compared to 19 and 22 in the prior campaigns. Carragher noted that Ødegaard often settles for an “easy position” rather than influencing the game in areas that could turn matches in Arsenal’s favour. The pressure is mounting on manager Mikel Arteta, who Carragher believes is “furious” about the results. Arsenal are set to face a challenging fixture list, including a crucial match against Liverpool shortly after their encounter with PSG in the Champions League. With four league games left to play, the team must resolve its consistency issues quickly to avoid slipping further behind title contenders. As fans hold their breath over Arsenal's prospects, the looming question remains: can Arteta galvanise his squad enough to address these defensive deficiencies and revive their title hopes? With psychological pressures intensifying, the answers may well define their season and challenge the narratives that pundits are keen to voice. Only time will tell whether Arsenal can overcome their set-piece struggles and transform their fortunes before the final whistle blows on another season.

• Arsenal
• Jamie Carragher
• Mikel Arteta

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