‘Secrets’ of Arsenal’s set-piece goal glut are ‘revealed’ in the French press, hours before they face PSG – and suggests Mikel Arteta’s team will be ‘sanctioned’ for their dark arts tactics

A French publication has claimed that it has revealed the secrets of Arsenal‘s set-piece success just hours before Mikel Arteta‘s side faces off with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. 

The north London club has racked up an impressive number of goals stemming from corners and freekicks, an achievement which has been placed at the feet of not just the club’s head coach, but their set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover. 

The Frenchman joined the club in 2021, but rose to prominence last year as Arsenal scored effort after effort from well-worked routines. 

This season has proved no different, with the Gunners scoring via set pieces in their last two wins, against Leicester City and in last week’s north London derby against Tottenham. 

But ahead of the club welcoming the Ligue 1 big beasts on Tuesday evening, L’Equipe appears to have offered the visitors a look at how and why their hosts have seen so much success from set-pieces – and offered a warning to Arsenal should they try similar moves on the night. 

The Gunners are set to welcome Paris Saint-Germain to London after a string of well-managed league games

Arsenal scored yet another set-piece goal against Leicester to see out a win after initially squandering their early lead

The sports news outlet alleged that Jover drills the squad on perfecting their set pieces using second goal net ‘perpendicular to the goal’ during training, with dummies placed in the second goal. 

Players including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Martinelli are then said to be challenged to shoot at targets, scoring points against one another in a competitive ranking. 

L’Equipe also claimed that Jover has been working on specific runs to sharpen players’ attacking edges. 

Players are thought to be given just two seconds by Jover to run into a specific point to receive the ball, with Jover insisting on repeating and re-repeating the action until it becomes second nature to the squad. 

Arsenal made their opponents pay on both occasions where set pieces have undone rivals this season, but L’Equipe was keen to highlight the winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as an example of Jover’s technique in practice. 

Ben White’s dogged tracking of Guglielmo Vicario proved crucial to allow Gabriel to sprint in from the penalty spot and bury his header from the corner kick, much to the chagrin of rival teams and fans who believe the defender should be penalised for blocking the ‘keeper. 

The French publication highlighted the work of Ben White in unsettling Guglielmo Vicario in time for Gabriel (ringed) to run into space and score

White utilised a similar tactic in an effort to get Kai Havertz (circled by L’Equipe) on the scoresheet versus Tottenham last season

The French publication stressed that while Arsenal have been able to get off the hook for utilising this tactic due to ‘permissive’ refereeing in the Premier League, they should not expect such an easy ride in the Champions League.  

White found himself stymied in the first game of Arsenal’s European campaign against Atalanta, when he sought to gain a miniscule advantage at Arsenal’s throw-in. 

But noticing the player moving slightly further along the touchline, referee Clement Turpin quickly blew his whistle for a foul throw, handing the ball back to the Italian side and winning plaudits for his officiating on social media. 

Arsenal have enjoyed a strong start to their season but have done so amid a swirl of controversy over their suspected ‘dark arts’ tactics. 

White was penalised versus Atalanta when he attempted to move his throw-in last week

Claims of ‘dark arts’ tactics utilised by the squad have ramped up the rivalry between Arteta and his former boss Pep Guardiola (right)

Visiting the Etihad in September, the Gunners saw out a dogged 2-2 draw – and nearly swiped all three points – against Manchester City in a game replete with accusations of time-wasting. 

Mail Sport reported last week that teenage substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly had received a yellow card for instructing David Raya to go down with brief injury from the touchline at the behest of Arteta, and tensions have risen between the manager and his former Man City boss Pep Guardiola in the wake of the feisty clash. 

The latter declared that his club were now at ‘war’ with the side managed by his ex-assistant after Arteta had claimed to have ‘all the information’ about Man City. 

But the Gunners’ head coach was just as quick to attempt to put out the fire his comments had caused, saying on Saturday that he ‘loves’ Guardiola and that the only information he had on his rivals was that they work hard to ‘maintain the hunger’ that saw them equalise at home late on.