Mikel Arteta insists he is not concerned about Arsenal's recent dip in form after open play.
The Gunners have become experts at set pieces – with a record 23 goals from corners in the Premier League since the start of last season – but in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Fulham, 75 percent of the total expected goals came from corners.
Arsenal produced similar figures in the 2-0 win over Manchester United last weekend, with both goals coming from corners. This led to criticism that the Gunners are not producing enough away from set-pieces.
However, Arteta claims Arsenal's expertise comes from efficient open play scenarios to create free-kicks and corners – and during his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Monaco, the Arsenal boss used two bottles of water in a visual explanation.
“I'm not worried because when I went to the [Fulham] Again, the situations we had in open play, what the opponent created in open play, I don't know if we can do much more than that. Especially when I look at Fulham and every opponent they have played.
“And also because set pieces are a consequence of what we do in open play and how we do it defensively. And it is a phase that belongs to you.”
Arteta then grabbed two water bottles and said: “You see it like this: this [one bottle] It's set pieces and this [the other bottle] is open play. And I see it this way [the first bottle] is open play and set pieces. It's all part of every playing style.
“We want to create more from every angle. Also from set pieces we could have created more and we should have scored one or two more.” [on Sunday]. We're always trying to evolve and get better.”
The Gunners have an expected goals rating (xG) of 9.0 from set pieces, which is the highest in the division, but rank 11th in the Premier League for xG from open play this season.
Is Tierney ready to wear down Arsenal as defensive injuries worsen?
Arsenal have suffered an injury at the back after Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber were not spotted in training on Tuesday.
Partey and Timber played as full-backs in the draw at Fulham with Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel and Oleksandr Zinchenko already on the sidelines.
“We have to manage a lot of the players. Some of them won't be fit, some of them are still doubtful. We have 24 hours to make those decisions, hopefully the right ones.”
Asked how difficult it is for Arsenal to play their best football given the number of defensive injuries, Arteta said: “That's what it is. We have to rise to the challenge and there are opportunities for other players to do that.”
“In the ideal scenario we should be in charge of making those decisions, it forces us to make them for the wrong reasons. But we also have to accept reality and move on.
“I'm very happy with the way we're playing. The good thing is that it doesn't condition our team to the point where we have to become a different team.
“I'm very happy with that and the way it's adapting, people making the effort to play in different positions. Hopefully the ideal situation will come soon and we can do what we want.”
The injury dilemma could hand Kieran Tierney a rare Arsenal start after a long-term injury suffered at Euro 2024, with Scotland delaying his start for this season.
The left-back has not started for Arsenal since his 14-minute cameo in the Community Shield win over Manchester City in August last year.
“Yes, he is ready, he is training very well,” said Arteta.
“He will definitely get a chance, the way the team looks at the moment. But he has earned it, he has behaved the way he has been with us. When that happens, you have to give people chances.”
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