In the Premier League, the talk of the town in recent weeks has been about Mikel Arteta's Arsenal's corner kicks. The Gunners have become one of the most dangerous teams in the league from set pieces. The numbers are clear: of the 59 goals scored in the league this season, 24 have come from set pieces and 16 from corners alone, equalling the league's all-time record with nine games remaining.

This strategy is the result of the work of set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover, who even has a bonus in his contract for every goal Arsenal scores from these situations.

However, the Londoners' tactics have sparked debate in England. Brighton & Hove Albion FC manager Fabian Hürzeler has criticised the long time Arsenal take to execute corners and the blocks that players make in the area to free up teammates.

Former football stars such as Ruud Gullit and Paul Scholes have also joined the criticism, saying that this way of playing is ruining the spectacle and have even stated that, if Arsenal win the title thanks to corners, they would be the weakest team to ever win the Premier League.

On the other hand, Manchester City FC coach Pep Guardiola defends this approach, emphasizing that set pieces are an important part of the game and that more and more teams will try to take advantage of these situations.

Meanwhile, the statistics also show an interesting contrast: in the Arsenal – Chelsea FC match, three goals were scored from corners, more than in all the Premier League matches between Guardiola's City and Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool FC combined in recent years.

The debate remains open: tactical innovation or less spectacular football?