Mikel Arteta remaining defiant despite criticism over Arsenal's set-piece tactics

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta on the touchline
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta on the touchlineAction Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, on Tuesday, shrugged off criticism of his team's set-piece ⁠tactics, dismissing accusations of time-wasting while expressing frustration that his side doesn't score even more from corners.

The Premier League ‌leaders have netted 16 goals from corners this season to tie the ‌league record with nine games remaining, but the feat has ‌also sparked debate about the tactical evolution of set-pieces.

It has also ‌drawn criticism from Wednesday's opponents, Brighton & Hove Albion, whose ‌coach Fabian Hurzeler took aim at Arsenal's corner routine, claiming the London side sometimes "spend over one minute" to take a corner.

But Arteta had little ‌sympathy for such complaints, telling reporters: "I'm upset ⁠that we don't score more (from ‌corners) - and we concede as well. We want to be the ​best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game."

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The Spanish coach shrugged off criticism as "part ​of the job" given football's tactical transformation, arguing that teams increasingly neutralise open-play opportunities.

"Before, when you used to do a game ⁠plan, and you ​would invert a full back or bring an extra player into midfield or a false nine, four vs three inside, two vs one inside, everyone behind the ball," Arteta said.

"Teams are adapting, ‌teams know after every sequence of play - whether it is a throw-in, a restart of play, an open-pitch situation - they know exactly what they have to do, and everything is almost man-to-man.

"So it is not going to be a different game unless we change the rules, because the evolution of the game is that."

However, Hurzeler called for clearer regulations around time management, arguing supporters deserve value for money.

"Every supporter who pays a ‌lot of money to go to the stadiums and watch ​our games should see the same net game time ‌because they pay a lot of money," the German coach said.

"We have a net game time of 50 minutes (with the ball in play) instead of sometimes 65 minutes, so the game is changing so much."

Arsenal hold a five-point lead ⁠at the Premier League ⁠summit, having played a game ‌more than second-placed Manchester City.

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