# Arsenal Set-Piece Scoring Drop Explained

> Arsenal's set-piece scoring has stalled after being set-piece kings last season.
- Title: Arsenal Set-Piece Scoring Drop Explained · Sky Sports
- Summary: Arsenal's set-piece scoring has stalled after being set-piece kings last season. Arsenal scored 25 Premier League non-penalty set-piece goals last season but…
- Keywords: arsenal, set-piece, premier league, mikel arteta, corners, premier league rules, sports, Scoring, Drop, Explained, Sky Sports
- Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/football/news/12040/13601338/arsenal-were-set-piece-kings-last-season-so-why-have-they-stopped-scoring-from-set-pieces-between-the-lines-explains
- Author: Nick Wright, Adam Smith and David Fraser
- Published: 2026-10-20T13:10:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: arsenal, set-piece, premier league, mikel arteta, corners, premier league rules, sports
## Arsenal's set-piece dominance
Arsenal scored a Premier League-high 25 non-penalty set-piece goals last season.
## Current set-piece drought
Seven games into the new campaign, Arsenal are one of only four sides yet to score a non-penalty set-piece goal.
## Set-piece coach impact
The addition of Nicolas Jover to their backroom staff in 2021 coincided with improved set-piece performance.
## Manager's explanation
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attributed the drop to luck and improved open-play performance.
## Opta data shows underperformance
Arsenal rank as one of the Premier League's biggest underperformers relative to set-piece expected goals.
## Expected goal performance
Arsenal's set-piece chances worth 2.50 expected goals, underperforming by a bigger margin than Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
## Recent set-piece examples
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes headed chances over the bar from Declan Rice deliveries.
## Premier League rule changes
The Premier League has implemented rules to reduce grappling, holding and blocking from corners.
## Manager's adaptation strategy
Arteta said they must adjust to rules and give credit to opponents who defend better.
## Corner delivery trends
Arsenal have taken 15 per cent of corners short, up from nine per cent last term.
## Corner volume decline
Arsenal's average of 4.7 corners per game is 17 per cent lower than last season's 5.7.
## Set-piece expected goals drop
Arsenal's set-piece expected goals per game dropped from 0.56 to 0.36.
## Open-play improvement
Arsenal are scoring and creating more in open play despite recent struggles.
## Future set-piece prospects
Arsenal's set-piece scoring may return soon with more corners and better finishing.
## Key takeaway

Arsenal scored 25 Premier League non-penalty set-piece goals last season but have none this season, with manager Mikel Arteta attributing the drop to luck and adapting to new Premier League rules on corner play.