Arteta ignores criticism of Arsenal’s tactics

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remained defiant on Tuesday amid criticism of his team’s setpiece tactics. He rejected accusations of wasting time while expressing frustration that his side are not scoring more from corners.

The Premier League leader has scored 16 goals from corners this season to equal the league record with nine games remaining, but the feat has also sparked debate over the tactical evolution of set pieces.

It has also drawn criticism from Wednesday’s opponents Brighton & Hove Albion, whose coach Fabian Huerzeler took aim at Arsenal’s corner, claiming the London side sometimes «take more than a minute» to take a corner.

But Arteta had little sympathy for such complaints, telling reporters: «I’m angry that we don’t score more (from corners) – and we also concede. We want ‘to be the best and most dominant team in every aspect of the game.’

The Spanish coach shrugged off the criticism as «part of the job» given football’s tactical transformation, arguing that teams are increasingly neutralizing open play opportunities.

READ: Rodrygo suffers a cruciate ligament injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season and the World Cup for Brazil

“Back in the day, when you made a game plan and you turned a full-back or brought an extra player into midfield or a false nine, four against three inside, two against one inside, everyone behind the ball,” Arteta said.

“Teams adapt; teams know after every turn of play – whether it’s a throw-in, a set piece or an open field situation – that they know exactly what to do, and everything is almost man-to-man.

«So it’s not going to be a different game unless we change the rules, because that’s the evolution of the game.»

However, Huerzeler called for clearer rules around time management, arguing that supporters deserve value for money.

“Any supporter who pays a lot of money to go to the stadiums and watch our matches should see the same net playing time because they pay a lot of money,” the German coach said.

“We have a net playing time of 50 minutes (with the ball in play) instead of sometimes 65 minutes, so the game changes so much.”

Arsenal are five points clear at the Premier League summit after playing a game more than second-placed Manchester City.

Published on March 3, 2026