‘It’s laughable’ – Ian Wright blasts ‘pathetic’ criticism of Arsenal

Ian Wright has hit out at those fans and pundits continuing to criticise Arsenal’s set-piece approach, insisting the club have every right to find any small ‘margin’ they can to gain an edge over the opposition.

Mikel Arteta’s side have acquired a reputation as the ‘set-piece kings’ after scoring 21 goals from dead ball situations across the Premier League campaign – the most of any team in the English top flight.

Arsenal’s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover has taken on something of a mythical status amongst the fanbase, with a mural of the Frenchman appearing outside the Emirates midway through last season.

But the Gunners’ physical approach at free-kicks, throw-ins and corners has sparked fury with opposition supporters, with officials coming under increasing pressure to clamp down on dark arts and deliberate holding.

However, a defiant Arteta recently admitted he was frustrated that his top-of-the-table Arsenal team had not scored more goals from set-pieces

‘I’m upset that we don’t score more [from set-pieces],’ the Spaniard told reporters last month, before his side were beaten in the Carabao Cup final and dumped out of the FA Cup.

‘And that we concede as well. So we want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game.

‘And that’s the trajectory and the aim of this team. And as a club we want to be the same. So let’s try to do that.’

Arteta dismissed any the criticism that Arsenal had received over their tactical approach as ‘part of the job’.

‘I don’t know how you celebrate one goal different to another one,’ he added.

‘Maybe for YouTube it’s nicer one over another. I don’t know, but the reality of football depends a lot.’

Arsenal legend Wright has been unwavering with his support during the club’s difficult and testing periods over the course of what has been a gruelling season.

And speaking to YouTube channel GO90, the former Arsenal and England striker launched an impassioned defence of Arteta’s tactics from dead ball situations.

‘Can I be honest? You know what’s pathetic about people going on about the set-pieces? We’ve seen Man City, Man City have done really well with their set-pieces,’ Wright began.

‘The fact is, it’s laughable because set-pieces and being able to do set-pieces, it’s part of the game.

‘In 1999, David Beckham, after Manchester United got hammered in that Champions League final [against Bayern Munich]… David Beckham put two corners in the exact same place so they could score.

‘Are you saying that we should give Manchester United stick for being able to have a player that has trained, practiced nearly all his life about putting the ball in the right area?’

Wright questioned why Arsenal wouldn’t make use of the qualities possessed by Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes, who have combined to torment opposition defences this season.

‘Declan Rice when he’s putting the ball in, Bukayo Saka when he’s putting the ball in… do you think that’s easy?’ he went on.

‘People are using as much as they can in respects of the margins that it’s costing to try and win games now that set-pieces have become a big part of the game.

‘It might not be a big part of the game years ago but when you’ve now got players who are capable of putting the ball into areas where somebody else can take advantage, like Gabriel Magalhaes for Arsenal, then you’re going to do it because it’s a way of scoring a goal.’

According to Wright, Arsenal’s second-highest goalscorer in history, fans ‘underestimate’ the work that goes into refining set-pieces on the training ground.

‘Remember the skill element. Gabriel Magalhaes has got to lose a man, Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka have got to put it [in the right area],’ he continued.

‘People underestimate the amount of work that goes into trying to get these set-pieces right.

‘It means so much to win games, win points in this league, that you will take any margin to get it done.’

Arsenal return to Champions League action on Tuesday night in what promises to be an intriguing quarter-final first leg against Sporting in Lisbon.

The Gunners then have just four days before attentions turn back to Premier League matters, with Arteta’s men playing host to Bournemouth in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

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