BREAKING NEWS: “He switched between attacking and defensive duties, and I’m not accustomed to this type of devilish football,” says Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim, who admits that TWO Arsenal players are proving too difficult to handle, as his tactics fail against them.

Ruben Amorim Criticizes Arsenal’s Approach Following Manchester United’s Defeat

Ruben Amorim endured his first Premier League loss as Manchester United manager in a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday. Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, both capitalizing on corner kicks, secured the Gunners’ victory. The result pushed Arsenal to third in the league standings while leaving United languishing in 11th place.

While defensive lapses contributed to United’s defeat, Amorim’s post-match analysis centered on Arsenal wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. He suggested the duo prioritized creating set-piece opportunities rather than attempting to score directly.

Amorim remarked: “Whenever Saka and Martinelli find themselves in one-on-one situations, they opt to go wide and cross. If the delivery is precise, they can score. If it results in a corner, they can score again.”

His observations shed light on Arsenal’s success under manager Mikel Arteta and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. Arsenal has scored 22 goals from corners since the beginning of last season—seven more than any other Premier League side—demonstrating the effectiveness of this strategy.

Notably, Arsenal managed this victory without Gabriel Magalhães, a dominant aerial presence and key player in their set-piece arsenal. Magalhães, who has already scored four goals this season, often serves as a focal point during corners. However, Timber and Saliba’s goals highlighted the depth and adaptability of Arsenal’s system.

Amorim’s comments also hinted at the tactical reasoning behind Saka and Martinelli’s preference for crossing over direct attempts on goal.

With Arsenal excelling at converting corners, their wingers’ focus on creating such opportunities becomes a logical extension of the team’s overall strategy.

This reliance on set-pieces, coupled with the precision of their execution, underscores why Arsenal has become a formidable threat in dead-ball situations.

Even in the absence of certain key players, their ability to maximize these opportunities illustrates the efficiency of their approach and the significant role set-pieces play in their success.

Ultimately, Amorim’s critique points to Arsenal’s calculated emphasis on exploiting set-piece scenarios, a tactic that has paid off handsomely in their campaign thus far.