Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat at home against North London derby rivals Arsenal exposed a major issue that dogged Spurs all season. But Ange Postecoglou steadfastly refuses to follow a clear trend in modern football that could address his team’s significant weakness.
Two of Arsenal’s goals came from inswinging corners, the first an own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the 15th minute before a Kai Havertz close-range header before the interval.
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His goal marked the first time Spurs had fallen to a 3-0 deficit at home to their North London rivals since 1959.
But when Spurs fought back in the second half, Arsenal’s ability to defend corners at the death was crucial to preserving their lead.
Arsenal have scored 22 goals from set pieces and conceded six this season – including 16 goals from corners, the most from a Premier League team since West Brom under Tony Pulis in 2016-17 (16).
Spurs, meanwhile, have scored 11 from set pieces this season but conceded 14. The differential between the two sides’ set pieces this season is a whopping 19 goals.
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Tottenham’s defence for the opening goal was particularly problematic – with Spurs players ‘ball-watching’ and allowing attackers to run past them.
Paul Merson said on Sky Sports: “If you look every Arsenal player is behind. The Tottenham players are all watching, it’s the worst thing you could ever do as a defender.
“I wasn’t a defender, but I know the game. You can’t let those players get goal side of you, and every one of them virtually ends up on the other side of the player.
“They end up being in behind them. It’s unbelievable.
“You wouldn’t see this happen in an under-12 football match. Look at every one of them is behind them now they’re all goal side. It’s unbelievable.”
A key figure on the touchline for the match was Nico Jover, Arsenal’s set piece coach who has been a major part of their title challenge this campaign.
In the final minutes, he paced the sideline, screaming instructions as the Gunners repelled corner after corner from Spurs.
Postecoglou, as per usual, stood alone. He has steadfastly refused to hire a specialist set piece coach, even as the role becomes the norm at many elite clubs.
In March, Postecoglou explained that decision by saying he didn’t want to “separate set pieces from everything else we do”.
He said: “I’ve never had a specific set-piece coach. I’ve always had someone who’s responsible for that. I always think it’s better if that’s somebody who’s a part of the coaching staff because then that’s an extension of how we play our football.
“I don’t separate set pieces from everything else we do, in terms of the team we want to be. It all hopefully links in.
“Here we’ve split the roles between Mile [Jedinak] and Ryan Mason in terms of attacking and defensive set pieces and they put a lot of work into it with the analysis staff. I’m sure every club does. Some have gone down the specialised route which I understand. It’s just it’s not how I work.
“I always try to create a collective environment for everything we do, so that nothing is separated. I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing in specialists for one particular area. Just for the way I work more than anything else.”
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After today’s defeat, Postecoglou admitted that set pieces remained a problem but once again downplayed the issue.
“If I thought fixing defensive set pieces was the answer to us bridging the gap then I’d put all of my time and effort into that. But that’s not where we’re at,” he said.
“For us it’s about focusing on the details of, not just set pieces, but a lot of moments in games where we don’t sense that you give good opposition the time and the space to do that are going to hurt you.
“I don’t think it’s about one part of it, I think it’s a bigger, broader picture than that, but our defensive set pieces for those two were very poor.
“But there’s a lot more than that to fix. It’s about now over the course of time getting from where we are to where we want to get to.
“To do that we’re still not absolutely laser focused on the details, the small things that get you from where we are to become a team that contends.
“Credit to Arsenal, they’re there now. They’re a team that does deal with the details well and we don’t.”
Postecoglou is right to highlight that Spurs need to improve in many ways – as their inability to hold off Arsenal on the counter-attack for the second Gunners’ goal showed.
But the statistics show that set pieces are a major weakness for Tottenham all season, and it could cost them a top four berth and lucrative Champions League qualification.
Spurs currently sit fifth, seven points off Aston Villa – and with a goal differential six worse – but with two games in hand.
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Part of Arsenal’s success at set pieces this season has been down to Ben White becoming something of a menace in the box – and he was up to his usual tricks against Tottenham.
At one corner, he attempted to undo keeper Guglielmo Vicario’s gloves. For Havertz’s headed goal, White pushed Vicario into the Tottenham goal.
Vicario has shown a weakness against set pieces all season, unable to effectively marshal his six-yard box. Teams are clearly targeting him.
But most teams have attempted to nullify White’s influence in dead ball scenarios by deploying a player to deny him access to the six-yard box, or to shield their goalkeeper from the Arsenal man. Spurs failed to do so, and paid a heavy price.
Speaking about the Havertz headed goal, Arsenal legend Ian Wright said on Optus Sports’ Matchday Live: “They couldn’t deal with it. The balls in were amazing, but when you look at them at the back there, no-one’s protecting Vicario because I think when you look where this header is, if he’s got some protection he might be able to get himself in a position to get close to the front post.
“Second half they put Pape Sarr on [to shield Vicario] but it’s too late, it’s a big mistake for me from the coaching staff.”
Emmanuel Adebayor, who played for both teams, added: “For me, you can’t concede two goals like that, it’s not normal.”