Toppers Arsenal converted two free-kicks to beat Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday and set a Premier League record. Arsenal’s 16 goals from corners this season are equal to the most by any team in a single Premier League campaign.
It is the same figure as Oldham Athletic in 1992/93, West Bromwich Albion in 2016/17 and Arsenal themselves in 2023/2024.
For every goal, Arsenal set-play specialist Nicolas Jover receives a special bonus. His expertise is certainly paying off, with the Gunners opening the scoring from a corner nine times this season.
If records are anything to go by, former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said Arsenal’s rugby scrum-style approach to set pieces is ‘not in the spirit of the game’.
Arsenal have been under the radar for using aggressive blocking techniques, or often leaning into opposition goalkeepers and pushing them during set pieces this season.
«All the goals we’ve seen now, all the pushing, shoving and pulling of players, I think we have to go to the referees now. Every time this happens, give a goal kick or free kick and start again.»
«For every corner you get about six or seven fouls. That’s not good,» Schmeichel said on the post-match broadcast after Arsenal’s win over Chelsea.
Former Arsenal and Mumbai City FC winger Freddie Ljungberg also said that the amount of physical contact during Arsenal’s set pieces this season is not something fans want to watch as they come to watch the ‘beautiful match’.
Schmeichel also made a strong statement that championships cannot be decided on corner kicks.
READ ALSO: Liverpool manager Arne Slot is not happy with the Premier League’s focus on set pieces
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta shrugged off the reaction, saying: “It’s not ugly, you have to play the game in front of you and against Chelsea you know exactly what game you are going to play.
«For me it is a beautiful game to play because there is so much quality and you have to adapt so much to what they do. And they have to do the same against us. So the margins are very small and the duels at the end determine these kinds of games,» he said after the win against Chelsea.
Former Dutch national football team coach Jaap Stam, however, had a different perspective. “When teams play against you, you have to find ways to score differently, which is why set pieces can help win titles,” said the former Manchester United player.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot said on Monday he no longer finds most Premier League games a pleasure to watch as the “new reality” of set-piece goals dominates the competition.
«Do I like it? My football heart doesn’t like it. Now most of the matches I see in the Premier League are not enjoyable for me to watch,» he said.
Arsenal are on a two-match winning streak and face Brighton and Hove Albion later this week, while title challengers Manchester City host Newcastle United.
Published on March 2, 2026
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