Arsenal is on the brink of potentially surrendering the Premier League title to Liverpool. Once seen as frontrunners for the championship this season, the Gunners have suffered through a string of injuries and controversial officiating that has hampered their campaign.

With Liverpool’s recent victory over Leicester City, it appears they need just one more win – or for Arsenal to stumble – to officially secure the title.

Arne Slot Praises Arsenal's Set-Piece Prowess

Following the match, Arne Slot shared his insights on Arsenal’s key strengths during a press conference. The Dutch coach acknowledged that the Gunners excel at set-pieces, attributing this success to the relentless efforts of manager Mikel Arteta and set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover.

Under their guidance, Arsenal has sharpened its skills in set-piece execution, capitalizing on the brilliance of players like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, whose corners and free-kicks have been outstanding throughout the season.

Slot described Arsenal as a ‘great example’ of how long-term coaching can drastically improve a team's game. He emphasized that Arteta’s extensive tenure of over five years has allowed Arsenal to evolve into a ‘world-class’ team, particularly in set-piece scenarios.

The Road to Set-Piece Excellence Takes Time

Slot explained, "Our training and meetings have intensified, but it’s clear that improvement in set-pieces won’t come over night. A team that executes set-pieces flawlessly indicates a manager who’s been there for a substantial time, building a solid foundation first before mastering the finer details like set-pieces."

He continued, praising Arsenal’s overall tactical prowess, stating, "Mikel [Arteta] has worked tirelessly, and their excellence is evident across various phases of the game. Their world-class ability in set-pieces is a testament to that work."

Injuries: The Achilles’ Heel of Arsenal's Set-Piece Strategy

Despite their impressive track record, Arsenal’s effectiveness from set-pieces has waned recently, with only 12 goals from set-pieces this season (21% of their total). Several factors contribute to this decline.

Recently, rival teams have tightened their defenses against Arsenal, while injuries have dealt major blows to their set-piece strategy. Key player Saka’s three-month absence significantly dulled their set-piece threat, and after his return, Gabriel's unfortunate season-ending injury left a crucial void in the box.

Yet, even amidst these challenges, Arsenal remains a formidable force capable of striking from set-pieces against any adversary.