AFC - New Year's Resolutions

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

The stats say we’ve scored more from set pieces than any other team this season…now either opposition defences have become extraordinary poor from defending set pieces or overall we aren’t doing too bad. Dont get me wrong there are games where it’s been horrendously poor (especially against defences like Newcastle who will eat that shit up all the time) but actually there has been a lot of times where we’ve profited by creating uncertainty at the back post….from Havertz’s goal against Brentford to Jesus goal against Brighton.

You don't even need to pull out the stats to argue this as its obvious when you watch the games. The variation in our set pieces and the danger it generates has been one of the few joys under Arteta for the past year.

Just look at Odegaard's free kick/pass that got to Havertz, which Gabby and Saka couldn't convert. It was so brilliant that not only did it take the whole Loserpool defence by surprise, but even the camera guy and lil old me watching on the tele had no idea that was coming.

Like IBK said, all the set piece guy can do is set them up, he can't be responsible for the fact that they can't get basic things like headers and touches right anymore...that's a confidence thing and I blame the manager 80% for that.