{"id":5800,"date":"2026-04-06T14:32:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5800"},"modified":"2026-04-06T14:32:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:32:15","slug":"its-laughable-ian-wright-blasts-pathetic-criticism-of-arsenal-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5800","title":{"rendered":"‘It’s laughable’ – Ian Wright blasts ‘pathetic’ criticism of Arsenal | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Criticism of Arsenal\u2019s approach at set-pieces is \u2018pathetic\u2019 and laughable\u2019, says club legend Ian Wright (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ian Wright has hit out at those criticising Arsenal\u2019s set-piece approach, insisting the club have every right to find any small \u2018margin\u2019 they can to gain an edge over the opposition.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s side have acquired a reputation as the \u2018set-piece kings\u2019 after scoring 21 goals from dead ball situations across the Premier League campaign \u2013 the most of any team in the English top flight.<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover has taken on something of a mythical status amongst the fanbase, with a mural of the Frenchman appearing outside the Emirates midway through last season.<\/p>\n

But the Gunners\u2019 physical approach at free-kicks, throw-ins and corners has sparked fury with opposition supporters, with officials coming under increasing pressure to clamp down on dark arts and deliberate holding.<\/p>\n

However, a defiant Arteta recently admitted he was frustrated that his top-of-the-table Arsenal team had not scored more goals from set-pieces <\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m upset that we don\u2019t score more [from set-pieces],\u2019 the Spaniard told reporters last month, before his side were beaten in the Carabao Cup final and dumped out of the FA Cup.<\/p>\n

\u2018And that we concede as well. So we want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game.<\/p>\n

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Arsenal have wreaked havoc from set-pieces this season (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Arteta\u2019s men are battling for honours in the Premier League and Champions League (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018And that\u2019s the trajectory and the aim of this team. And as a club we want to be the same. So let\u2019s try to do that.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arteta dismissed any the criticism that Arsenal had received over their tactical approach as \u2018part of the job\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t know how you celebrate one goal different to another one,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

\u2018Maybe for YouTube it\u2019s nicer one over another. I don\u2019t know, but the reality of football depends a lot.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Arsenal legend Wright has been unwavering with his support during the club\u2019s difficult and testing periods over the course of what has been a gruelling season.<\/p>\n

And speaking to YouTube channel GO90, the former Arsenal and England striker launched an impassioned defence of Arteta\u2019s tactics from dead ball situations.<\/p>\n

\u2018Can I be honest? You know what\u2019s pathetic about people going on about the set-pieces? We\u2019ve seen Man City, Man City have done really well with their set-pieces,\u2019 Wright began.<\/p>\n

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Arsenal are back in action against Sporting on Tuesday (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018The fact is, it\u2019s laughable because set-pieces and being able to do set-pieces, it\u2019s part of the game. <\/p>\n

\u2018In 1999, David Beckham, after Manchester United got hammered in that Champions League final [against Bayern Munich]\u2026 David Beckham put two corners in the exact same place so they could score.<\/p>\n

\u2018Are you saying that we should give Manchester United stick for being able to have a player that has trained, practiced nearly all his life about putting the ball in the right area?\u2019<\/p>\n

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The Gunners are looking to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wright questioned why Arsenal wouldn\u2019t make use of the qualities possessed by Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes, who have combined to torment opposition defences this season.<\/p>\n

\u2018Declan Rice when he\u2019s putting the ball in, Bukayo Saka when he\u2019s putting the ball in\u2026 do you think that\u2019s easy?\u2019 he went on.<\/p>\n

\u2018People are using as much as they can in respects of the margins that it\u2019s costing to try and win games now that set-pieces have become a big part of the game.<\/p>\n

\u2018It might not be a big part of the game years ago but when you\u2019ve now got players who are capable of putting the ball into areas where somebody else can take advantage, like Gabriel Magalhaes for Arsenal, then you\u2019re going to do it because it\u2019s a way of scoring a goal.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Has the criticism of Arsenal’s approach been unfair?<\/h3>\n
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According to Wright, Arsenal\u2019s second-highest goalscorer in history, fans \u2018underestimate\u2019 the work that goes into refining set-pieces on the training ground.<\/p>\n

\u2018Remember the skill element. Gabriel Magalhaes has got to lose a man, Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka have got to put it [in the right area],\u2019 he continued.<\/p>\n

\u2018People underestimate the amount of work that goes into trying to get these set-pieces right.<\/p>\n

\u2018It means so much to win games, win points in this league, that you will take any margin to get it done.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arsenal return to Champions League action on Tuesday night in what promises to be an intriguing quarter-final first leg against Sporting in Lisbon.<\/p>\n

The Gunners then have just four days before attentions turn back to Premier League matters, with Arteta\u2019s men playing host to Bournemouth in Saturday\u2019s lunchtime kick-off.<\/p>\n

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