Ian Wright has hit out at critics of Arsenal’s approach, insisting the club have every right to find any small ‘margin’ they can to gain an advantage over their opposition.
Mikel Arteta’s side have earned a reputation as ‘group kings’ after scoring 21 goals from dead balls during the Premier League season – the most of any team in the English top flight.
Arsenal group guru Nicolas Jover has achieved legendary status among fans, with a mural of the Frenchman appearing outside the Emirates midway through last season.
But the Gunners’ physical approach to free-kicks, set-pieces and corners has sparked anger among opposition supporters, with officials under increasing pressure to crack down on the dark arts and deliberate holding.
However, a defiant Arteta recently admitted he was frustrated that his top-of-the-table Arsenal side had not scored more goals from early kicks.
“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 kicked out of the FA Cup.
“And we accept that as well. So we want to be the best and most dominant team in every aspect of the game.
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“And that’s the trajectory and the goal of this team. And as a club we want to be the same. So let’s try to do that.’
Arteta dismissed any criticism Arsenal have received of their tactical approach as ‘part of the job’.
“I don’t know how you celebrate one goal differently from another,” he added.
“Maybe for YouTube it’s better one over the other. I don’t know, but the reality of football depends a lot.”
Arsenal legend Wright has been steadfast in his support during the club’s difficult and testing times during a grueling season.
And speaking on the YouTube channel GO90the former Arsenal and England striker launched an impassioned defense of Arteta’s dead ball tactics.
‘Can I be honest? You know what’s pathetic about people going on around bands? we have seen Man CityMan City have done very well with their set-pieces,” Wright began.
“The fact is, it’s funny, because setting up groups and being able to make sets is part of the game.
“In 1999, David BeckhamAFTER Manchester United got hit on that one Champions League final (against Bayern Munich)… David Beckham put two corners in the same spot so they could score.
“Are you saying we should give Manchester United a stick for having a player who has trained, practiced almost his whole life to put the ball in the right area?”
Wright questioned why Arsenal would not use the qualities possessed by Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes, who have combined to torment opposition defenses this season.
‘Declan Rice when he throws the ball, Bukayo Saka when he puts the ball in… do you think it’s easy?’ he continued.
“People are using as much as they can in terms of the margins it costs to try and win matches now that groups have become such a big part of the game.
“It might not have been a big part of the game years ago, but when you now have players who are able to put the ball in areas where someone else can take advantage, such as Gabriel Magalhaes ABOUT Arsenalthen you will because it’s a way to score a goal.’
Has the criticism of Arsenal’s approach been unfair?
According to Wright, Arsenal’s second-highest goalscorer in history, fans ‘underestimate’ the work that goes into refining set pieces on the ground.
‘Don’t forget the element of skill. Gabriel Magalhaes has to lose a man, Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka have to put him (in the right area),’ he continued.
“People underestimate the amount of work that goes into trying to fix these fixes.
“It means so much to win games, to get points in this league, that you will take any margin to make it happen.”
Arsenal return to the Champions League on Tuesday night in what promises to be an intriguing quarter-final first leg against Sporting Lisbon.
The Gunners then have just four days before attention turns to Premier League matters, with Arteta’s men playing host to Bournemouth in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.
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