Ruben Amorim suffered his first Premier League defeat as Manchester United manager in a 2-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Arsenal secured the win through goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, both scored from corner kicks, showcasing their dominance in set-piece situations. The result left Manchester United in 11th place, while Arsenal moved up to third in the standings.
While defensive errors played a role in the defeat, Amorim’s post-match analysis focused on Arsenal’s wingers, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
The Portuguese coach criticized their playing style, suggesting they prioritize creating crosses or corners over scoring directly in one-on-one scenarios.
Amorim elaborated, stating, “Whenever Saka and Martinelli face one-on-one situations, they tend to go wide and deliver crosses. They seem to know that a good cross or a corner can lead to a goal, and Arsenal capitalize on these opportunities effectively.”
His remarks highlighted Arsenal’s tactical reliance on set-pieces under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners have become one of the league’s most dangerous teams from dead-ball situations, scoring 22 goals from corners since the start of last season—seven more than any other team.
This success is largely credited to Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s set-piece coach, whose innovative strategies have turned corners into a consistent source of goals.
Even without Gabriel Magalhães, a key aerial presence, in this match, Arsenal demonstrated their depth and adaptability, with Timber and Saliba stepping up to deliver the goals.
Amorim’s observations underscore how Arsenal’s system encourages players like Saka and Martinelli to prioritize creating corner opportunities, leveraging the team’s exceptional set-piece execution rather than focusing solely on individual scoring.
