Set pieces (SPs) are becoming more and more important in football. In an increasingly competitive and intense game, this moment of play makes the difference in matches. For this reason, the role of set piece specialists has become increasingly important in recent years. In this article, we will look at the Premier League’s 3 SP specialists and highlight important stats from teams such as Arsenal, Manchester City, among others. *(Stats include data up to Sunday 21 April).
What 6 Actions make up SPs?
What exactly do we mean by SPs? They are all the actions that serve to bring the ball into play – kick-off, throw-in, goal kick, fouls (free kick), corner kicks and penalties. These are game situations that, for the most part, allow for specific, rehearsed planning to try to surprise the opponent and increase the chances of scoring a goal.
Almost a third of the match, between 25 and 28 minutes, is dedicated to ‘set routines’ (as this type of play is also known), as there are between 100 and 130 SP breaks per match. In fact, in the Champions League and Copa Libertadores 2023, 40.2% and 42.1% of goals, respectively, were scored from ‘set pieces’.
Specialists and their influence on Set Pieces
Arsenal: Nicolas Jover
The Gunners are one of the teams that has shown the greatest evolution in the last 10 years. In the 2013/2014 season, they registered a total of 68 goals, of which 11 (16.18%) came from set pieces. Five years later, in the 2018/2019 season, those records improved to 73 goals, of which 17 were from set pieces (23.29%).
And in the current season, with five games left to play, the team coached by Mikel Arteta has made a tremendous leap in this area: 27 of the 77 goals scored have been from set pieces.
A lot of credit goes to Nicolas Jover, the French coach who is part of Arteta’s technical staff, and who is in charge of leading these actions. He arrived at Arsenal in June 2021, coming from Manchester City, where he worked alongside the Spanish coach on Josep Guardiola’s coaching staff. Jover is not only in charge of these attacking plays, but he also analyses how opponents execute them, in order to find out how to defend them in the best possible way.
One of the curiosities that has attracted attention this season was Martin Odegaard’s socks. It is suspected that the Norwegian adjusts his socks in some particular way, to indicate to the executor whether the ball should go to the near post or to the far post. Undoubtedly, the French coach’s work has had an extraordinary impact on the club’s results in recent years, but especially in the current season.
A great example was in January 2024, when after 36 minutes of the first half against Crystal Palace, they were already 2-0 up, with two goals from Brazilian centre back Gabriel, following two well-taken corners at the far post, behind the goalkeeper’s back.
Manchester City: Carlos Vicens
Since Arteta ‘stole’ Nico Jover, Josep Guardiola’s team added another SP specialist: the Spaniard Carlos Vicens, who was coach of the youth teams, having been champion of the U18s Premier League.
City, in the 2018/2019 season, scored 95 goals, of which ‘only’ 14 of them were SPs. In the current season, with games still to be played, they have 76 goals, and 18 (23.68%) have been from ‘set plays’. A considerable increase, for a team that is used to scoring a lot of goals every year.
Here are 2 goals in which Vicens’ work is noticeable, and where Guardiola congratulates him after brilliant executions.
Julian Alvarez vs Burnley
John Stones vs Liverpool
Brentford and Chelsea FC: Bernardo Cueva
“I haven’t seen a better team than this one at set pieces,” said Pep Guardiola after City’s 3-1 win over Brentford. Despite the win, the Catalan highlighted the work of Mexican-born Bernardo Cueva in charge of Brentford’s SPs.
The goal they scored against Man City came from a goal kick and consisted of 3 steps: first, Flekken (goalkeeper) had to take a long central kick. Then, striker Ivan Toney had to ‘screen’ Nathan Aké, to prevent him from getting to the ball. Finally, Neal Maupay was to run into the space created behind the defenders and shoot. It was the first goal of the match.
In the current season, 1 in 4 goals (25%) for Brentford have come from set pieces. Thanks to Cueva’s great work and the good results already proven, Chelsea are very close to signing him for their technical staff.
English Premier League
Overall, the English Premier League has been increasing the number of SP goals in recent years: 299 in the 13/14 season, 319 in the 18/19 season, and projected to reach over 330 in the current 23/24 season. Everton are the leaders in this respect: over 47% of their goals have been scored from SPs.
It is clear that set pieces have become increasingly important. Teams pay special attention to this aspect, as it can make a significant difference if planned and executed correctly. On many occasions, matches are very evenly matched, with no team taking too many risks, and at such moments a set piece can completely change the course of the game. As a South American commentator eloquently put it: “When you can’t play, when you can’t work it out…set pieces, always set pieces”.
