Arsenal flip a nook to finish scoring woes vs. Crystal Palace

LONDON — The reply to Arsenal’s goal-scoring issues was there all alongside. Mikel Arteta sought to clarify the difficulty this week by pointing to inside knowledge suggesting they carried extra of a menace than latest outcomes would counsel, and Saturday’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace highlighted one key side: corners.

Arsenal took management of this encounter by way of two Gabriel Magalhães headers (the second later credited as a Dean Henderson personal objective) which underlined the house facet’s efficiency from dead-ball conditions.

It supplied a useful route again into some form of type right here, albeit tempered by Palace’s passivity — solely Eberechi Eze emerged with any credit score from a collectively insipid efficiency that locations supervisor Roy Hodgson’s future below additional scrutiny. The irony is, the Gunners did not even prioritise set items throughout their coaching journey to Dubai throughout their midseason break.

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“The truth is that we educated set items much less within the final week than different facets of the sport,” Arteta stated postmatch. “That is the fantastic thing about it. However we labored on loads of issues that truly occurred and we educated them loads. Set items are a giant a part of us, particularly in opposition to groups that need to defend deeply. It’s a good method to win video games.”

Gabriel’s Eleventh-minute header was Arsenal’s first objective at dwelling in 50 pictures. Earlier than this recreation, Arsenal had received extra Premier League corners this season (158) than another group, and by a long way — Manchester Metropolis are subsequent finest on 141. And so they benefit from them. Arsenal have scored extra objectives from corners than another group within the league this season (10,) and their 10 headed objectives are additionally essentially the most of any facet.

The membership’s set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, labored with Arteta for a number of months below Pep Guardiola at Manchester Metropolis in 2019 and he has helped rework an space of weak point previous to his arrival into certainly one of power. Arsenal had conceded objectives from set items — 4 in six video games previous to their winter break — however right here they turned these moments in each bins again into positives for a outcome that places them again on monitor within the title race after one win in seven video games throughout all competitions.

“That is the second a part of the season, we need to sort out it with loads of aggression and motivation,” Arteta stated. “I want to play three days after, however it’s what it’s. We are going to maintain making ready and we should proceed to do higher and enhance as a group.”

Gabriel has scored at the least three extra objectives than another centre-back since he made his Premier League debut in 2020. He thought he had one other when assembly Bukayo Saka’s Thirty seventh-minute supply however the decisive contact got here from Henderson as he flapped helplessly on his objective line.

“They have been good set items,” Hodgson stated. “However there have been infringements for each of the objectives however we weren’t fortunate sufficient to have these recognised by the referee.”

The objective from open play which Arteta craved got here on 59 minutes. Technically, it got here from a Palace nook. A sweeping counter-attack began with good distribution from David Raya and ended with Gabriel Jesus feeding Leandro Trossard, who minimize inside on his proper foot and thrashed a shot previous Henderson.

Arsenal’s solely concern was damage scares to Declan Rice and Gabriel, who each appeared to endure hamstring points which triggered their instant precautionary withdrawals.

“[Rice] was feeling some tightness,” Arteta stated. “I do not know precisely what muscle it was however when he says that at 3-0, clearly we do not need to take any dangers. The identical with huge ‘Gabi’ as effectively. He had some discomfort, I feel he had a sort out within the first half and he was a bit struggling so it was the suitable second to take him off.”

Arsenal have been so comfy right here that Arteta was in a position to give Emile Smith Rowe a 20-minute run-out as proof he’ll get recreation time if he stays on the membership amid curiosity from West Ham United in taking the midfielder on mortgage. The identical can be true of Eddie Nketiah, afforded the ultimate 9 minutes as Palace proceed to observe his state of affairs. How they want a objective scorer on this proof.

Michael Olise’s absence resulting from a hamstring drawback left Eze as the only creator. His good turns in tight areas and fast talent to dart away from opponents was a flash of sunshine within the darkness of a dismal show which prompted Palace supporters to unveil a banner which learn: “Wasted potential on and off the pitch. Weak choices taking us backwards.” It was exhausting to disagree.

One other substitute, Gabriel Martinelli struck twice in stoppage time so as to add additional gloss to the scoreline as Palace unravelled utterly. After shaking fingers with Arteta and several other members of his backroom workers, Hodgson stood immobile, alone, on the touchline staring within the basic course of the away followers who raised their protest banner as soon as once more.

Arsenal now have one other 10-day break till travelling to Nottingham Forest — loads of time to work on additional innovation with Arteta in a position to replicate on extra optimistic knowledge. Saturday’s show returned their highest Anticipated Targets (xG) of the season: 3.02. This time, they acquired the factors to go along with it.