Manchester United Coach Ruben Amorim Criticizes Arsenal For Winning Through Set Pieces

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim criticized Arsenal for securing their victory through set pieces. This was during their recent matchup, which ended in a 2-0 win for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal scored both goals in the second half from corner kicks. Jurrien Timber found the net after connecting with Declan Rice’s corner.

This was followed by William Saliba heading in a ball from Thomas Partey from a Bukayo Saka corner that went past Onana after deflecting off his back.

Ruben Amorim stated that set plays significantly impacted the match and limited his team’s strategy. He noted that Arteta’s squad positioned numerous players around the goalkeeper. This complicated the challenge of dealing with incoming deliveries.

“The set pieces transformed the match. They have hindered our game,” he commented. “Arsenal positioned many players close to the goalkeeper, making it nearly impossible to contest the ball. We must improve our defense against such scenarios, and we acknowledge the need for better performance.”

Arsenal has demonstrated considerable success in scoring from set pieces since the previous season. It’s boasting the highest tally of goals from dead-ball situations. However, the team faces criticism for relying on these plays for victory. Some suggest it makes their wins less exciting.

It’s worth noting that the Gunners have netted 16 goals in their last four matches. Nevertheless, they were largely contained throughout the game and managed only two shots on target. If Arsenal had converted their opportunities, they might have triumphed by a far larger margin.

Despite the win, Arsenal fell from second to third place in the standings after Chelsea rose to second place due to a decisive 5-1 victory over ten-man Southampton. Meanwhile, league leaders Liverpool dropped two points in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Newcastle.