Arsenal expose set piece weakness again in Europa League draw to Sporting CP. Is it a problem?

Arsenal exposes set-piece weakness again in Europa League draw to Sporting CP. Is it a problem?

 Intro:

 Arsenal's Europa League campaign continued with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Sporting CP in Portugal. While the Gunners dominated possession and created chances, they were unable to find the back of the net. Once again, though, it was their set-piece defending that raised eyebrows.

Main Body:

Set pieces have been a problem for Arsenal for some time now. Last season, they conceded 16 goals from set pieces in the Premier League, more than any other team in the division. And it seems that the problem has not been fully addressed this season either.

Against Sporting CP, Arsenal's set-piece defending was shaky once again. They struggled to deal with the Portuguese side's aerial threat and were lucky not to concede from a number of dangerous situations. In fact, the closest either team came to scoring was from a Sporting CP corner, which saw Coates' header hit the crossbar.

So why is Arsenal struggling so much with set pieces? There are a few possible explanations. One is simply that they lack height and physicality in their defense. With Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis Papastathopoulos both injured, Arsenal was forced to play a relatively small backline against Sporting CP. This made it easier for the Portuguese side to win aerial battles and create chances.

Another explanation is that Arsenal's zonal marking system is not working effectively. Unai Emery has implemented a zonal marking system for set pieces, which involves players marking areas rather than specific opponents. However, this system relies heavily on good communication and organization, and it seems that Arsenal is still struggling to get it right.

But is this really a problem for Arsenal? After all, they are still unbeaten in the Europa League this season and are currently top of their group. It could be argued that the occasional set-piece goal conceded is a small price to pay for an otherwise solid defensive record.

However, it's worth remembering that set pieces can be a crucial factor in tight games. In the latter stages of the Europa League, when every goal counts, Arsenal could find themselves vulnerable to conceding from set pieces. And in the Premier League, where the margins between success and failure are often slim, conceding unnecessary goals from set pieces could cost them dearly.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Arsenal's set-piece defending remains a concern. While it's too early to say whether it will be a decisive factor in their season, it's clear that Unai Emery needs to work on improving his team's organization and communication on set pieces. Whether this involves tweaking the zonal marking system, or simply bringing in more physical defenders, remains to be seen. But if Arsenal wants to be successful this season, they will need to address their set-piece weaknesses sooner rather than later.

facts :

• Arsenal conceded 16 goals from set pieces in the Premier League last season, which was the most by any team in the division.
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• In the current Premier League season, Arsenal has already conceded 7 goals from set pieces, which is the joint-highest in the league along with Newcastle United.
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• Arsenal has kept just two clean sheets in their last 15 away games in all competitions, which highlights their defensive vulnerability.
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• Unai Emery has previously stated that he is working on improving Arsenal's set piece defending, and has implemented a zonal marking system to address the issue.
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• Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are two of Arsenal's most experienced and physical defenders, but both have been injured recently, which has left the team lacking in those areas.