Rice: Our set-piece tactics are part of the game

09/30/2024 04:49 AM

Declan Rice has dismissed claims Arsenal’s tactics at corners amount to cheating.

Following the recruitment of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, the Gunners have established themselves as the Premier League’s most ruthless side from dead-ball situations.

In the last 10 days alone, Arteta’s players have scored three times from Bukayo Saka corners with Gabriel Magalhaes heading in at Sp*rs and Manchester City while Leandro Trossard forced a stoppage-time own goal from Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi. Since the start of last season, Arsenal’s total set-piece goals is 26, five more than Everton who are second on the list.

While prowess in the air has proved important, the Gunners’ ability to manoeuvre space for their intended recipient includes late runners, blocks and repeated attempts to unsettle goalkeepers on their line. Some critics believe Arsenal’s behaviour is unsporting but Rice is having none of it.

"Look, there is always going to be conversations about us blocking and making fouls, but I think the goals we have scored from set-pieces this season, I don't think there has been one foul involved,” Rice told the Evening Standard on Saturday.

"Sometimes people look for a foul or people are mentioning that we are cheating in a way on set-pieces because we are blocking, but it's part of the game. Teams do it to us and we are just trying to exploit other teams' weaknesses. We found a way to do that again [against Leicester]."

Rice also reflected on the importance of securing all three points against the Foxes after securing hard-earned points on the road the week before.

“I think we knew today coming into this game how big it was, that we had to win. When it went to 2-2, it was tough.

"You look up at the clock, you think, 'we've still got time here' – but you have also got one thought thinking, 'we cannot drop points, we cannot drop points today if we want to compete at the end of the season and win the title'.

"Look, we kept going, kept believing and in the end three points was massive. Mentally it is tough. The anxiety is through the roof! You know the pressure of playing for Arsenal, you have to win every game.”

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