Arteta says Arsenal can ‘still be’ set-piece kings in north London derby

Mikel Arteta does not think that the absence of Declan Rice will affect Arsenal’s prowess at set pieces as they attempt to repeat their success in last season’s north London derby.

Arsenal scored 22 goals from set pieces in the previous campaign – considerably more than any other side – including two in their 3-2 away victory over Tottenham in April. Much of the credit for transforming their fortunes has been given to specialist set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who was recruited from Manchester City in 2021.

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But with regular free-kick and corner taker Rice suspended for their trip to Spurs on Sunday after being sent off in the draw against Brighton before the international break, Arteta still thinks that his side will remain a threat.

“It’s a very specific phase of play but if we were only dependent on one player, then we have a problem,” he said. “We haven’t built our methodology or our way of attacking or defending any phase of play in that way. So we are going to adapt to whatever players that we have and we will still be very efficient. Hopefully we can continue to do that.”

With new signing Mikel Merino already sidelined and doubts over captain Martin Odegaard’s fitness, Arteta must shuffle his pack against Tottenham after enjoying a relatively injury-free run last season.

But while the Arsenal manager said that it has not been an ideal start to the new campaign, he is confident that his squad can cope. “I don’t know, I think it was a lot of work done in the right way,” he said in reference to last season.

“All the staff and the way we have things around the team internally to give the players the best possible. To have that robustness in the squad was great. I think we have started this season very unlucky, with some injuries that you cannot control. We will have to wait and see at the end of the season how well we have done. Certainly we will put everything that we can into being as good availability-wise as last year.”

Kai Havertz’s emergence as a central striker was part of the reason that Arsenal decided against recruiting a new no 9 in the summer and Arteta admitted he has become one of his key players.

“That shows the consistency and performances that he has shown over the last year or so,” he said. “That’s what we need from our players, that’s why we brought him here, to be one of the main players and be a very prolific goalscorer, regardless of what position that he plays in. He’s added that and he’s added many other things to the team that you probably don’t even notice.”