Martin Ødegaard says Arsenal criticism over set-pieces is actually ‘funny’ to him

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has defended his team’s success with set-pieces, despite some recent criticism. Since the start of last season, no Premier League team has scored more goals from set-pieces than Arsenal, and Ødegaard believes their impressive performance in this area deserves recognition.

Arsenal’s set-piece success has come from their ability to take advantage of corners. Declan Rice has been praised for his accurate deliveries, while Bukayo Saka has also been key in sending dangerous balls into the box. With strong aerial threats like Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, and Kai Havertz, Arsenal have a solid team of players capable of converting these opportunities into goals.

However, some critics have suggested that Arsenal relies too much on set-pieces, particularly after a game against Fulham where they struggled to create chances from open play. Even more recently, Arsenal’s set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, was labeled as the most “annoying” man in football by pundit Gary Neville. Despite this, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended their tactics, and Ødegaard has now joined in, saying:

“It’s funny to watch. Suddenly people start to criticise you for being good at something – that’s a bit funny. I think Mikel said we want to be the best at everything we do, and set-pieces are an important part of football.”

Martin Ødegaard on Arsenal's set piece criticism:

"It's funny to watch. Suddenly people start to criticise you for being good at something – that’s a bit funny.

"I think Mikel said we want to be the best at everything we do and set pieces are an important part of football." pic.twitter.com/ypOovtplGL

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) December 11, 2024

Ødegaard’s comments reflect a belief that being good at set-pieces should be celebrated, not criticized. And he’s right — being effective at set-pieces requires more than just luck; it’s the result of well-executed tactics and teamwork.

While Jover has earned praise for his role as set-piece coach, Arsenal’s set-piece success is the result of many factors coming together. First, the delivery has to be perfect. Players like Rice and Saka consistently provide accurate crosses into the box, which set up the next key element: timing. The players attacking the ball must time their runs perfectly and find the right space to outjump defenders. Teammates also play a crucial role in creating space by making decoy runs or blocking defenders.

For these efforts to come together, everything must be done at the right moment. A well-delivered cross, combined with intelligent movement and precise timing, is what allows Arsenal to score from set-pieces. They’ve mastered this craft, and Ødegaard is right to defend the team’s approach.

Instead of seeing set-pieces as a weakness, they should be viewed as an important strength in Arsenal’s game, one that has helped them achieve impressive results. Far from being a reliance on a single tactic, Arsenal’s set-piece success is a reflection of the team’s versatility and attention to detail.

Ødegaard, Arteta, and the rest of the team are showing that when a team works together and executes the details well, set-pieces can be a game-changer — and Arsenal have become masters at it.