Arsenal had an amazing 2023–24 season, accumulating 89 points, which was 5 points higher than their previous season. This truly demonstrates their impressive resurgence.
Most of Arsenal’s stats from last season are pretty impressive, but there’s one particular statistic that’s a bit embarrassing for them.
Arsenal’s ability to score 16 goals from corners is ia massive improvement on previous seasons, but there is still concern about their efficiency in set pieces. It might surprise some to learn that Arsenal failed to score from a direct free kick last season. Actually, Arsenal hasn’t scored a goal from a direct free kick for the second season in a row. The last time they scored from a free kick was in September 2021, when Martin Ødegaard did it against Burnley. That was three years ago!
Arteta and his technical bench should really focus on improving the team’s set-piece threat, especially when it comes to free kicks. The fact that Manchester City managed to score three goals from free kicks is not particularly encouraging, as it further exposes our Gunners’ vulnerability.
It would have been awesome to have a deadball specialist to really amp up Arsenal’s game in this area. The Gunners’ long-term midfield target and Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz would have been an amazing addition to Arsenal’s midfield, even though his signing is unlikely. He could have really spiced up their game, given how great he is at hitting free kicks and shots from a distance.
Anyway, let’s hope Nicolas Jover can work his magic with players like Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to make Arsenal deadly in free kicks.
Daniel O
I think Rice’s ability on indirect fee kicks is pretty good and he will only get better. For the left footers,Odegaard is impressive as well,but Fabio Vieira is the best in the squad in my opinion. The technique,power,height,placement and weight of his indirect deliveries are unbelievable. It’s unfortunate other aspects of his game are lacking. We can’t just start a player for good free kick deliveries.
As for direct free kicks,I don’t think we have a standout player in the squad currently. Xhaka was the one player who looked like he could test goalkeepers with his shots. Odegaard definitely has the ability. Perhaps he could do more practice to fine tune this aspect of his game. Ultimately,I think a good direct free kick taker is something that we should look for in the market. I still remember THAT Cazorla free kick that got us back into the game that won us the FA Cup. Sometimes a free kick goal is all you need when all tactics are not working against a stubborn defense.
I think Nicholas Jover the Arsenal’s coach for dead-ball situation to score goals from it.
Has much work on his hands to do if the Gunners are to improve on their average dead ball and semi-deal goals scoring deficiencies generally next season.
This will include scoring from throw-ins, free-kicks corner-kicks, goal-kicks and penalty takings.
In which from them the Gunners can get much goals scored in their matches next season. But if they attach much seriousness to it to achieve the gains that can come from dead-ball and seni-ball situations in matches.
And for the purpose to profit from the potential gains yielding of the dead-ball situation. The Gunners and their dead ball coach SHOULD devote much time in training sessions to general dead ball practice that will enable they the Gynn to be scoring goals in their numbers for Arsenal from dead and semi dead ball situations.
This is the reason I wish Arsenal would bring James ward Prowse this window. Our free kick stats are horrible.