Why Arsenal Thrive & Leeds United Struggle: How Set-Piece Tactics Win Games

Across England’s top two divisions, Arsenal and Leeds United could both claim to have suffered the most heartbreaking end to a largely successful 2023/24. 

Arsenal took their title challenge to the final day of the season, but they were unable to pip Man City to the crown which has eluded them for 20 years.

In the EFL Championship, Leeds battled intensely all season in one of the most competitive Championship promotion races of all time. 

At points last season, Leeds were clearly in the driving seat to return to the Premier League. 

However, they suffered defeat in the playoff final, losing 1-0 to Southampton, condemning Leeds to another year outside of the top-flight. 

Both teams have had very contrasting summers. 

Arsenal have bolstered their squad, adding the quality of Raheem Sterling, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino to the squad. 

Leeds spent the window losing their most prized talents, seeing Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter, and Championship Player of the Year Cryscencio Summerville leave for clubs in the Premier League. 

Both teams summer business reflects the starts each side has made. 

Arsenal are currently unbeaten in the league as they look to keep pace with Man City again. 

Leeds have had a mixed start, losing one, drawing two and winning three. 

Yet, could each side’s quest to right the wrongs of last season be found in one important factor? 

Leeds United have failed to score a goal from their last 151 corner kicks. 

This is vastly different from Arsenal, who scored 20 goals from set pieces last season, more than any other side. 

This set piece analysis will analyse Leeds failings from corners and the detrimental impact it could have on them securing promotion. 

Likewise, it will highlight what Arsenal have done contrastingly well as they seek to utilise set pieces to finally get their hands on the Premier League title.

Why Are Corners So Important?

Long gone are the days where set-piece success is deemed as only a strength of teams with perceived lower technical ability. 

The Tony Pulis era, when he used tactics such as throw-in routines and played four centre-backs in his backline, was often scoffed at. 

These are now some of the hallmarks of the world’s elite sides. 

The numbers show how valuable set pieces are. 

Since the start of last season, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool have all been in the top five for most goals scored from set pieces, demonstrating how the top sides in England have used set pieces to help them reach the summit of the Premier League. 

Goals from corners have also been increasing in the English top flight. 

Prior to the 2023/24 season, goals from corners had significantly increased over several campaigns. 

In the 2022/23 season, 151 goals were scored from corners, an increase of 19 goals from the 2020/21 season. 

Teams are also becoming more efficient, with 3.94 goals being averaged every 100 corners in the 2022/23 season.

This proficiency has come after a steady climb from 3.3 in the 2019/20 season. 

This rise isn’t a surprise, considering the investment that top-level teams have put into their technical staff over the past years to gain an advantage on set pieces.

Set-piece coaches such as Nicolas Jover (Arsenal) and Austin MacPhee (Aston Villa) have become some of the most recognisable members of a head coach’s backroom staff. 

More and more clubs are also employing a specific set-piece analyst. 

So what led to Arsenal scoring a Premier League joint record of 16 goals from corners last season, and what has prevented Leeds from turning their corners into vital goals?

Lets get into the analysis.

All In The Delivery 

Leeds have mixed up their approach to corners in the hope of finding a solution to their troubles at set-pieces. 

This season, Leeds have switched between inswinging and outswinging deliveries, taking 16 inswinging corners and 17 outswingers. 

This is an excellent contrast to Arsenal, who delivered just one outswinging corner out of a total of 217 in the 2023/24 Premier League season. 

Stats show that inswinging deliveries are more effective. 

Some academic studies have even found that 80% of corner kick goals come from inswinging deliveries across a league campaign. 

Arsenal are fortunate to possess players such as Bakayo Saka and Declan Rice, who provide the balance of having a left-footed and a right-footed player to deliver inswinging corners on both sides. 

Leeds have had to rely on left-footed Ilia Gruev to take the majority of the corners, delivering 23 of Leeds 33. 

Daniel Farke hasn’t entrusted players such as Joe Rothwell, Daniel James, and Brendan Aaronson with consistently taking corners. 

In this situation, Leeds have delivered an outswinging corner which has reached the head of Matteo Joseph. 

The delivery on the ball lacks pace and has gone considerably high in the air.