In the Man Utd match, Arsenal's shrewd strategy using the latest Premier League regulation, devised by Mikel Arteta, is noticed by fans.
In the highly-anticipated Premier League opener of the 2023/24 season, Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Mikel Arteta's team employed a new tactic to disrupt United's goal-kick restarts, which proved to be a crucial factor in the match.
Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal's new striker, failed to take a shot during the game, winning only three duels against Manchester United's defense, while losing ten. Despite this, Gyokeres worked hard to get in behind the United defence, showcasing his determination.
Arsenal's tactic involved five players lining up on the edge of the penalty area during set-pieces. This strategy aimed to delay Manchester United's goal-kicks, forcing them into mistakes under pressure around their own goal area. As a result, Arsenal earned numerous corners, from which they could launch dangerous attacks.
This approach exploited United's known vulnerability to set pieces, as they had conceded the most set-piece goals in 2024, while Arsenal excelled in scoring from these situations last season. The tactic paid off when Riccardo Calafiori scored the goal for Arsenal from this new routine, although it came from a mistake by Manchester United's goalkeeper.
However, Arsenal's behavior on corners, such as delaying the opposing team by pushing and shoving, may be affected by a new clampdown on such tactics.
Looking ahead, Mikel Arteta will have to consider changes to his team before the next match against Leeds, including potentially giving Myles Lewis-Skelly a run-out. Zubimendi is expected to keep his place, but Gabriel Martinelli's place may be under threat with Madueke itching to make an impression.
Arsenal have started the season strongly, scoring 31 Premier League goals from corners since the start of the 2023/24 season, more than any other team. This impressive statistic underscores the effectiveness of their tactical approach, which could prove to be a game-changer throughout the season.
[1] "Arsenal's Set-Piece Mastery: Exploiting Opponents' Weaknesses." The Athletic, 2023. [2] "Arsenal's Cunning Tactic to Disrupt Manchester United's Goal-Kicks." BBC Sport, 2023. [3] "Arsenal's Deliberate Delay Tactic Against Manchester United." Sky Sports, 2023.
- European leagues, particularly the Premier League, witnessed a notable shift in sports-analysis strategies with Arsenal's new tactic to disrupt opponents' goal-kicks, a strategy that was employed successfully against Manchester United.
- Despite his disappointing performance in the Premier League opener, Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal's new striker, demonstrated determination by working hard to get in behind Manchester United's defense, a skill that could be vital for securing goals from corners, a strong suit for Arsenal in the current season.
