Get the word out there – Set-Piece FC are back.
We’re now less than one week away from the start of the new Premier League season but Arsenal are already looking to be a menace.
They may have been pipped to the title by the inevitable Manchester City last term but the Gunners were kings when it came to dead-ball goals.
Manager Mikel Arteta and his coaching crew have carefully crafted an almost unstoppable force at set-pieces.
They scored 20 goals – a Premier League high – from those scenarios last term.
And in their final pre-season game Arsenal are proving they’re going for the crown again.
They hosted Lyon at the Emirates stadium and in the first half-hour it was proof enough they aren’t going to mess around at corners.
With just nine minutes gone, Declan Rice – starting for the first time since his return from Euro 2024 duty – whipped in a lovely ball from the left.
Up rose William Saliba, who briefly distracted goalkeeper Lucas Perri, to nod home the opening goal of the game.
And 18 minutes later, it was almost the same as Rice whipped in another ball, this time slightly further.
It caught out Lyon goalkeeper Perri and Gabriel Maghalaes, with a brilliant bit of movement, powered his header home.
“Set-piece FC is back. Very dominant, could’ve scored a lot more,” roared one confident Arsenal fan.
Another confirmed: “Set-piece FC is back!”
One fan couldn’t shake the memory of Euro 2024 from their mind, adding: “I wonder why Southgate didn’t use Rice for corner delivery.”
A fourth claimed: “The league is not ready. We are about to cook.”
The match in north London also saw summer signing Riccardo Calafiori make his bow from the bench.
Signed after a breakout campaign where he starred for Bologna and then impressed for Italy at Euro 2024, he’ll look to make an immediate impact.
Keep up to date with all the latest news, rumours and gossip with our LIVE transfer blog
News Summary:
- Arsenal fans convinced ‘the Premier League is not ready’ as trusted weapon continues to work wonders in pre-season
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.