In their first 10 Premier League games, they have scored eight - the most at this stage in the league’s history - and two more than second-placed Chelsea - including one at the weekend in a 2-0 victory over Burnley.
This has helped them to a flying start both domestically and on the continent. They have a six-point lead to lead the pack in England, whilst they have a perfect record in the Champions League.
The Gunners’ set-piece play could be their key weapon to finally breaking their trophy drought.
The killer routine
An inswinging corner to the backpost, a header down, and let chaos reign. This is the playbook that has become so familiar to Arsenal fans this season, to such a point that it is almost an expectation to score.
Under Mikel Arteta, this set play, led by corner takers Declan Rice and centre-half Gabriel, is causing opposition nightmares. You can see it coming, but it feels impossible to stop.
Rice’s delivery is incredibly pinpoint. Take their goal scored by Viktor Gyokeres on Saturday at Turf Moor. Using whip and power, the midfielder is able to get the ball over the goalkeeper as they use two players to restrict his movement to the far post. Gabriel then uses his size and strength to win the header, and their Swedish striker does the rest from point-blank range.
It’s not like you get a breather from the right-hand side. Bukayo Saka is also deadly when swinging in a set play, meaning you have to be on your guard from both flanks.
This is a tried and tested method, and it is possibly the most effective play in the world right now.
One other element to consider is VAR. Since its introduction, the amount defenders can get away with in the box is limited. Although there is still plenty of pulling and grabbing within the box before a corner is taken, players are minded not to do anything egregious in the fear of giving away a penalty. This has only emboldened attacking sides, and Arsenal are using that to their advantage.
Alongside this, you can’t underestimate the psychological impact of this threat. With fans groaning in the stands every time Rice puts the ball down in the quadrant, players from the opposing side must also feel the dread of the cross.
One false move from a defender can lead to a goal. Teams know they must be perfect if they are to swat away the danger, and that in itself can help Arsenal find the path to goal.
‘Never seen anything like that’
Arsenal take on Slavia Prague on Tuesday in the Czech capital as they look to continue their perfect run in the Champions League this season.
Slavia coach, Jindrich Trpisovsky, who faced the north London side four years ago, feels that the team he will come up against this week has not only evolved, but has become one of the most feared from set plays.
Speaking about it in his pre-match press conference, he explained: “Arsenal's standards are astounding. I've never seen anything like it. They have everything coming together - height, power, timing, head play and most importantly, that playmaking from Rice.”
Normally, in football, when a team has a weapon such as this, other coaches will find a way to combat it, which, in turn, leads to others following suit.
However, eight goals in 10 Premier League games suggest that it is incredibly hard to stop.
What can be done?
The first way to stop them would be to stop the corner itself, killing it at the source. This is almost impossible, and you also can’t stop Rice from delivering the perfect cross. So the first way to impact them is to take Gabriel out of the equation. He has three assists this season from the eight goals, whilst his presence alone can cause carnage.
Some teams have put numerous players on him, and that is the best solution; however, committing to that for the full 90 minutes is difficult, as other players like Riccardo Calafiori or William Saliba can become the focal point. Holding your nerve in these situations is key.
Throughout football’s long history, intuitive styles and strategies have always come into play. Using a good taker and a tall defender to create havoc is not new or novel, throughout the decades, this has always been done, but Arsenal are one of the few teams to perfect every facet of the corner.
Stopping them is a hard task, but if you can do that, it could lead to success. Slavia Prague have that as their mission on Tuesday. If they can, could they crack the code and stop the phenomenon?