Premier League set-piece table uncovers truth about Arsenal’s dead-ball success

Arsenal scored their 30th and 31st set-piece goals of the season on Sunday as William Saliba and Jurrien Timber netted in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea

Arsenal’s set-piece expertise has persistently been used as a stick to beat them over the past few seasons.

On Monday morning, Liverpool boss Arne Slot bemoaned that Premier League games are no longer a joy to watch because of the growing emphasis on dead-ball situations.

Slot claimed that his “football heart doesn’t like” the trend, even though the Reds have scored the most top-flight goals from set-pieces in 2026 outside of penalties.

Arsenal have been both praised and scrutinised for their efficiency from set-plays and during Sunday’s 2-1 triumph over Chelsea, they netted their 30th and 31st set-piece goals of the season.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page

A whopping 24 have come from corners in all competitions but they are merely maximising a lethal weapon and the stats prove they have not become totally reliant on scoring goals from Declan Rice’s teasing deliveries.

In the Premier League, four teams – including recent opponents Chelsea – have higher set-piece goal ratios than Mikel Arteta’s challengers.

Crystal Palace lead the table as 50 per cent of their 30 goals (15) have come from dead-balls situations. The Eagles scored the opener at Old Trafford on Sunday from a corner when Maxence Lacroix headed home Brennan Johnson’s cross.

Newcastle have also scored 19 set-piece goals, which accounts for 49 per cent of their overall total of 40 in the top-flight this season under Eddie Howe.

Leeds are another side that have profited from set-plays. Daniel Farke’s Whites have netted 17 times from set-pieces having scored 37 goals in total (46 per cent).

Then come Chelsea, who have scored 19 times from set-pieces, accounting for 39 per cent of their overall goals total of 49.

Arsenal are in at fifth. They have statistically the best attack and defence in the entire division and 22 of the 58 goals they have scored (38 per cent) have come via set-pieces.

Basic math tells you that the Gunners have still mustered 36 goals from other sources and ultimately, if teams are struggling to defend against them from set-plays, Arteta and Nicolas Jover would be daft not to continue tapping into one of their key strengths.

Everyone in the Premier League knows Arsenal are among the best sides in the business from corners and free-kicks, yet they are still struggling to devise strategies and plans to not only disrupt but stop them.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings