Arteta rues 'small margins' but how reliant are Arsenal on set-pieces
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have dismissed comparisons with Stoke City earlier this week, but once again, the Gunners relied on set-piece brilliance to secure a hard-fought point in their 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage. The orchestrator of their success in this department, set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, continued to demonstrate his value to the team.
William Saliba's second-half equalizer came from a well-executed corner routine. Declan Rice's delivery was nodded down by Kai Havertz, allowing Saliba to tap in from close range. It was another example of Jover’s impact since joining Arsenal from Manchester City in 2021, transforming the Gunners into one of the Premier League’s most effective sides from set plays.
Despite dominating much of the game, Arsenal were unable to find a winner. Their persistence seemed to pay off when Bukayo Saka headed the ball into the net with just two minutes left on the clock. However, the celebrations were cut short when a VAR review ruled the goal out for offside, with Gabriel Martinelli adjudged to have strayed in the build-up.
The frustration was palpable for Arteta, who felt his side had done enough to secure all three points. I am gutted that we didn’t win it, he said post-match. We fully deserved to win. We did almost everything that we had to do to win it. But for millimeters, we could have been here with a really dominant win.
Arsenal’s dominance was evident throughout the game, with Fulham often pinned back as the visitors controlled possession and created multiple chances. Yet the decisive moments eluded them, leaving the Gunners six points behind league leaders Liverpool, having played one game more.
Jover’s contributions remain a silver lining in an otherwise frustrating outing for Arteta’s men. Under his guidance, Arsenal’s ability to capitalize on set pieces has added a vital dimension to their game, often proving the difference in tight matches.
While the dropped points at Fulham may dent Arsenal's title ambitions, their continued reliance on Jover's innovative routines underscores the strategic progress made under Arteta. As the season progresses, the Gunners will look to build on these strengths while finding the consistency needed to close the gap at the top.
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