Arsenal’s Growing Reliance on Set Plays: How Arteta’s Side Became Europe’s Most Productive Dead-Ball Team

In the modern game, set plays have become one of the clearest sources of competitive edge. Matches are tighter, defensive structures are more sophisticated, and the margins separating elite teams continue to shrink. Within that landscape, Arsenal have emerged as one of Europe’s standout dead-ball sides, climbing to the top of the rankings for set play xG per game in 2025/26.

Their 0.58 set play xG per match currently leads all teams across Europe’s top five leagues. Although this season’s dataset is still relatively small, the early indicators place Arsenal above historically strong dead-ball outfits such as Union Berlin, RB Leipzig and Juventus. When viewed alongside their steadily improving numbers over the previous four campaigns, the trend is difficult to ignore.

This article explores how Arsenal have built their current level of set play performance, what is driving their increasing reliance on these moments, and what it means for their prospects moving forward.

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A Five-Year Trend With a Sharp Upturn

Arsenal’s growth in set play output has not happened overnight. From 2021/22 onwards, their numbers have increased year on year.

Across the same period, the Premier League average has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 0.27 and 0.31. Arsenal’s gap over the field has widened as their own production has grown consistently.

It is important to acknowledge the context of the current season. The 2025/26 dataset is smaller at this stage, and eight sides from this campaign feature in the top twenty for set play xG per game across Europe. In the percentage rankings, which measure how much of a team’s total expected goals come from set pieces, twelve teams from this season appear in the top twenty. This could point to a wider shift across the game. Clubs are investing in specialist coaches, refining processes and placing more emphasis on controllable attacking moments. As more clubs hire dedicated set play coaches, Arsenal’s position at the forefront becomes even more interesting to track as the season develops.

Dependency Rising: A Growing Share of Arsenal’s Total Threat

Alongside the raw xG, the proportion of Arsenal’s total expected goals generated from set plays has climbed sharply.

This places the club fifth across Europe’s top leagues for the current season. The increase shows a clear shift in attacking identity, with set plays now forming a substantial and dependable stream of chance creation. In matches where open play chances are harder to find, Arsenal can turn to a well-drilled and rehearsed mechanism that travels effectively across different opponents and environments.

The People and Processes Behind Arsenal’s Dead-Ball Success

Nicolas Jover: The Hidden Architect

No discussion of Arsenal’s improvement can ignore the influence of set play coach Nicolas Jover. Having joined the club in 2021 after working with Mikel Arteta at Manchester City, Jover has had a transformational impact. Although he rarely speaks publicly, the evidence of his work is visible every week. Arsenal’s attacking set plays now display consistency, precision and clarity unmatched anywhere else in the Premier League.

Movements are choreographed. Delivery points are deliberate. Roles are clear. The team look prepared for every defensive scheme they face.

Recruitment Shaped by Set Play Strengths

Arsenal have also recruited with dead-ball situations in mind. Declan Rice brings high-quality delivery from wide free kicks and corners. Gabriel is one of the Premier League’s dominant aerial presences. Others, from centre-backs capable of blocking to forwards who disguise runs from deep, fit the broader framework.

The result is a squad designed not only to execute routines but to create mismatches repeatedly.

Consistency Over Complexity

One of the most important elements of Arsenal’s approach is consistency. Rather than unveiling entirely new routines each week, the club build a stable foundation of core principles. Inswinging deliveries at pace remain a defining feature. Multiple blockers create separation for key targets. Aerial threats attack from deeper starting positions to generate momentum and disguise their movement.

The changes from match to match are often subtle rather than dramatic. A shift in starting position. A different screen arrangement. A new variation of the same central theme. This consistency is crucial: repetition sharpens timing, and timing is what elevates a routine from functional to dangerous.

Is Arsenal’s Reliance on Set Plays Sustainable for a Premier League Title Challenge?

This is the key question. The numbers clearly show Arsenal are leaning more heavily on set plays than at any point under Arteta. On one hand, this reliance offers stability. Set plays are a repeatable, coachable and controllable source of chances. Teams with strong dead-ball output typically perform well over a long season because they can generate goals without relying solely on open-play fluency.

On the other hand, title-winning sides usually combine strong set play production with consistently high open-play numbers. Arsenal’s challenge will be sustaining this blend across the season. If their set play efficiency remains at current levels, it becomes a powerful foundation rather than a crutch.

The wider trend across Europe suggests more teams are improving in this phase of the game, which makes Arsenal’s early dominance notable. Whether they can maintain it over a full campaign, and whether it becomes the decisive factor in the Premier League title race, will be one of the most compelling storylines to follow.