What a rollercoaster of emotions! Arsenal just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to defending set pieces. It’s frustrating to see the same issue pop up time and time again, but there’s still hope for the Gunners. Despite conceding two goals from corners, they fought back and managed to secure a draw with home advantage to come.
Arsenal’s performance in the Europa League match against Sporting CP was far from convincing. Despite the Gunners dominating possession, their inability to capitalize on set-pieces proved to be their undoing.
In this article, we will discuss the match in detail and analyze Arsenal’s poor set-piece performances. We’ll also look at possible reasons for their poor performance and suggest ways to improve their set-piece play.
The Match
Arsenal traveled to Portugal to face Sporting CP in the Europa League. The match started on an even footing, with both teams creating chances. However, it was Arsenal who dominated possession, with Sporting CP happy to sit back and defend.
The Gunners were close to scoring on several occasions but were unable to convert their chances. Their lack of cutting edge in front of goal was evident, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both guilty of missing chances.
Sporting CP grew in confidence as the match wore on and started to create chances of their own. However, their finishing was also poor, and the match ended in a goalless draw.
There were some standout moments in the game, like William Saliba’s fantastic header and Gabriel Martinelli’s incredible solo effort. It’s these moments that make football so beautiful and unpredictable – you never know what’s going to happen next.
Arsenal’s Set Piece Weakness Exposed Yet Again
But there were also some individual errors that cost Arsenal dearly. It’s not time to panic just yet, but they need to tighten up their defense on set pieces if they want to progress to the quarterfinals.
Still, there’s a sense of resilience and fighting spirit within the team. They never gave up, and that’s something to be proud of. With the second leg at the Emirates, the Gunners have the opportunity to push for a win and give their fans something to cheer about.
It’s clear that there’s work to be done, but we know the Gunners have what it takes to come out on top. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for a strong performance in the next game. Come on you Gunners!
Wow, what a game! Arsenal just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to set pieces, can they? The Gunners may have secured a 2-2 draw against Sporting Lisbon, but their weakness in defending set pieces was exposed once again.
William Saliba got the ball rolling with a fantastic header in the 22nd minute, but it was short-lived as Sporting responded with a similar goal just 12 minutes later. It’s frustrating to see the same issue pop up time and time again, but it’s not all doom and gloom.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions as Sporting took the lead after the restart, but Gabriel Martinelli almost single-handedly brought Arsenal back into the game with an incredible solo effort that had us on the edge of our seats. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be as Sporting’s defender, Jeremiah St. Juste, made a last-ditch intervention to deny Martinelli.
Luckily, Arsenal managed to restore parity thanks to Sporting’s Hidemasa Morita who had the misfortune of diverting Granit Xhaka’s pass into his own net. It’s moments like these that make football so unpredictable, and that’s what makes it such a beautiful game.
With the second leg coming up next Thursday, Arsenal will need to tighten up their set-piece defending if they want to secure their place in the quarterfinals. It’s going to be a nail-biting match, but we’ll be rooting for the Gunners every step of the way. Come on you Gunners!
Arsenal’s Poor Set-Pieces
Arsenal’s set-piece play was below par, with the Gunners failing to take advantage of their opportunities. They had several corners and free-kicks, but their delivery was poor, and they failed to create any clear-cut chances.
One of the main reasons for Arsenal’s poor set-piece performance was their lack of variety. They seemed to rely heavily on short corners and crosses into the box, which were easily dealt with by Sporting CP’s defense.
Arsenal’s delivery was also a major issue. Their crosses and corners were often overhit or underhit, making it difficult for their players to make contact with the ball. In contrast, Sporting CP’s delivery was much more accurate, and they were able to create several chances from set-pieces.
Possible Reasons for Arsenal’s Poor Set-Piece Performance
There could be several reasons for Arsenal’s poor set-piece performance. One reason could be the absence of Mesut Ozil, who is known for his excellent delivery from set-pieces. Another reason could be the lack of a dedicated set-piece taker in the team.
It’s also possible that Arsenal’s set-piece routines are too predictable, making it easy for opposition teams to defend against them. The Gunners need to work on adding more variety to their set-piece play to keep their opponents guessing.
What a game for Arsenal! Despite making some changes to the starting line-up, they managed to keep their push going on two fronts. It wasn’t the easiest of matches, and they certainly had their fair share of luck – especially with that second equalizer that bounced off Morita via Xhaka’s hopeful aggressive pass. But hey, sometimes you need a bit of luck to come out on top.
It’s crazy to think that just a few months ago, the Europa League was seen as Arsenal’s best chance of success. But now, with a comfortable five-point lead at the top of the Premier League, it’s no surprise that Arteta made some changes to the line-up with an eye on Sunday’s game against Fulham.
The Gunners can be proud of their performance, though. They kept pushing and never gave up, and now they have a real chance of reaching the quarterfinals in front of their home fans. It’s these moments that make football so exciting – the unpredictability, the drama, and the sheer passion of it all.
So let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that Arsenal can keep up this momentum. It’s going to be an exciting few weeks for fans of the Gunners, and we can’t wait to see what happens next!
Mikel Arteta certainly had his work cut out for him with six changes to the Arsenal lineup, including some key players out due to illness or injury. But you’ve got to give it to the Gunners for not letting that hold them back.
Sure, there was a bit less fluidity to their play without Gabriel, Thomas Partey, and Odegaard in the mix, but they kept pushing and didn’t give up. And while Paulinho missed a chance that could have completely changed the complexion of the game, a draw with home advantage to come still puts Arsenal in a strong position to reach the last eight.
It was also great to see Jakub Kiwior making his debut and Reiss Nelson stepping up after his last-minute heroics against Bournemouth. These are the moments that can make or break a player’s career, and it’s exciting to see them seizing their opportunities.
Of course, it’s always a shame when a player like Gabriel Jesus can’t make it due to injury, but that’s just part and parcel of the game. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the pitch soon.
All in all, it was a hard-fought game, but the Gunners held their own and now have a chance to progress to the next round. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for them and can’t wait to see what they’ll do next. Come on you Gunners!
Ways to Improve Arsenal’s Set-Piece Play
Arsenal can improve their set-piece play by working on their delivery and adding more variety to their routines. They need to find a dedicated set-piece taker who can consistently deliver accurate balls into the box.
The Gunners can also work on their movement in the box, making it difficult for opposition defenders to mark them. They should also try to create more confusion in the box by changing their set-piece routines regularly.
It was a bit of a mixed bag for Fabio Vieira in the game against Sporting CP, but there’s definitely something to build on here. With six assists in all competitions this season, he’s certainly shown that he’s got something to offer.
Of course, his latest assist was a relatively simple one – a corner that found the head of Saliba. But his previous assists against opponents like Bodo/Glimt, Oxford United, Wolves, and Aston Villa show that he’s got the potential to make an impact on the pitch.
Now, Vieira was effectively replacing Odegaard in this game, and he wasn’t able to dictate play with the same authority. But it’s important to remember that this was only his 12th start, and there’s definitely room for improvement. He completed 31 of his 39 passes, but only 67% of those were in the final third.
Still, there are signs of encouragement here for the 22-year-old to build on. With a bit more experience and time on the pitch, he could really develop into a force to be reckoned with. And hey, it’s not every day you get to play in a game like this, so kudos to Vieira for stepping up to the challenge.
All in all, it was a decent performance from Vieira, and we’re excited to see where he goes from here. The future is bright for this young player, and we can’t wait to see what he’ll do next. Keep up the good work, Fabio!
Oh no, it looks like set pieces could be becoming a real issue for Arsenal. The two first-half goals from Sporting CP were almost identical – both close-range headers from a corner. And it’s not the first time we’ve seen Arsenal struggle with set pieces in recent weeks.
In fact, this was the sixth goal they’ve conceded from dead-ball situations, and that’s not even counting Bournemouth’s kickoff routine that led to a goal in just nine seconds last weekend. Manchester United, Everton, Brentford, Bournemouth, and now Sporting have all benefited from Arsenal’s weakness on set plays.
There were a series of individual errors in dealing with Sporting’s corner, and it’s clear that Arsenal needs to tighten up in this area. It’s not time to panic just yet, but as Gary Neville pointed out, once other teams start to see this weakness, they’re going to keep exploiting it.
It’s frustrating to see Arsenal struggle with something as basic as defending set pieces, but it’s not all doom and gloom. We’ve got some great players and a great manager, and we know they’ll be working hard to address this issue.
So let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that the Gunners can tighten up their defense before the next game. It’s not going to be easy, but we know they’ve got what it takes to come out on top. Come on you Gunners!
Conclusion
Arsenal’s poor set-piece performance cost them a chance to secure a victory against Sporting CP. The Gunners dominated possession but failed to convert their chances, with their set-piece play being a major letdown.
To improve their set-piece play, Arsenal needs to work on their delivery, add more variety to their routines, and find a dedicated set-piece taker. Only then can they start to capitalize on their set-piece opportunities and improve their overall performance.
Let’s take a look at the best and worst performers from the game between Sporting CP and Arsenal. First up, we’ve got the best performers.
Marcus Edwards was a real menace to Arsenal’s backline and played a key role in both of Sporting’s goals. Sebastián Coates also put in a solid performance, making some vital interceptions to keep Arsenal at bay. And we can’t forget William Saliba, who scored the opening goal and recovered the ball eight times – a great performance from the young defender on his Europa League debut.
Now, on to the worst performers. Unfortunately, Matt Turner didn’t have the best game, looking a bit shaky at times and possibly lacking authority for Sporting’s first goal. Reiss Nelson also had a tough time, failing to build on his stunning winner against Bournemouth. And Jakub Kiwior made a bad error that led to Sporting’s opening goal – though he may have received a call from Turner to leave the ball.
Despite these individual performances, the game itself had some exciting moments. William Saliba’s close-range header to open the scoring was certainly a highlight, and Fábio Vieira’s cross following a corner provided the crucial assist.
All in all, it was a tough game for Arsenal, but they held their own and managed to secure a draw with home advantage to come. It’s clear there’s still some work to be done, but we’re confident that the Gunners have what it takes to come out on top in the end. Here’s to hoping for more exciting moments in the next game!
Wow, what a game! Arsenal fans were left on the edge of their seats as they witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions. The Gunners may have secured a 2-2 draw against Sporting Lisbon, but it was a frustrating game to watch as their weakness in defending set pieces was exposed yet again.
But despite the disappointment, there’s still a glimmer of hope for Arsenal. They showed resilience and fighting spirit, refusing to give up even when they were behind. And with the second leg at home, the Gunners have a chance to make things right.
It’s moments like these that make football so unpredictable, and that’s what makes it such a beautiful game. The ups and downs, the drama, the passion – it’s what keeps us coming back for more.
We may have seen some individual errors and poor performances, but let’s not forget the positives. William Saliba’s fantastic header to open the scoring, Gabriel Martinelli’s incredible solo effort, and Granit Xhaka’s hopeful aggressive pass led to the second equalizer. These moments remind us why we love this game.
And let’s not forget the players themselves. They put their heart and soul into every match, facing criticism and pressure from all sides. But they still go out there and give it their all, for themselves and for the fans.
So let’s keep rooting for the Gunners, even in the tough times. Because it’s not just about the wins and losses – it’s about the journey, the emotions, and the memories that we’ll cherish forever. Come on you Gunners!
FAQs
- Why was Arsenal’s set-piece play poor against Sporting CP?
- Arsenal’s set-piece play was poor due to their lack of variety and poor delivery.
- Who can Arsenal use as a dedicated set-piece taker?
- Mesut Ozil is an excellent set-piece taker and could be used by Arsenal to improve
- How can Arsenal improve their set-piece play?
- Arsenal can improve their set-piece play by working on their delivery, adding more variety to their routines, and finding a dedicated set-piece taker.
- What impact did Arsenal’s poor set-piece play have on the match against Sporting CP?
- Arsenal’s poor set-piece play cost them a chance to secure a victory against Sporting CP. Despite dominating possession, they were unable to convert their chances and had to settle for a goalless draw.
- What can Arsenal do to avoid similar situations in the future?
- Arsenal can work on their set-piece play and improve their delivery and routines to avoid similar situations in the future.
After the game, both Mikel Arteta and William Saliba spoke out about the result. Arteta acknowledged that there were definitely areas that the team needs to improve on, particularly with regard to conceding two very poor goals. But he also highlighted the team’s resilience in coming back from behind and securing the draw. And with the second leg at home, there’s still everything to play for.
Saliba also had a positive outlook on the game, emphasizing the team’s fighting spirit in not giving up despite conceding two goals. He acknowledged that it wasn’t an easy game, but was happy with the result of not losing and still being in the tie. And with the second leg at the Emirates, he’s confident that the team will give everything to win.
Overall, it’s clear that there’s still work to be done for Arsenal, particularly in shoring up their defense on set pieces. But there were also positive moments and a sense of resilience in coming back from behind. With the second leg at home, the Gunners will have the support of their fans and the opportunity to push for a win. Here’s hoping for a strong performance in the next game!
In conclusion, Arsenal’s poor set-piece performance cost them a chance to secure a victory against Sporting CP. They dominated possession but failed to convert their chances, with their set-piece play being a major letdown. To improve their set-piece play, Arsenal needs to work on their delivery, add more variety to their routines, and find a dedicated set-piece taker. Only then can they start to capitalize on their set-piece opportunities and improve their overall performance.
