The "Set-Piece King" Era: Why Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta are Changing the Game

Liverpool and Arsenal are currently dominating the league via set-pieces. This is actually a massive trend in football especially in the Premier League.The English Premier League has always evolved tactically. This is evidenced by the transformation through the era of the W-M formation, the 4-4-2 formation, the Tiki- Taka obsession in the 2010s and so much more.

 However, in March 2026, we are currently in an era of set pieces. The game isn't mostly played and won with 30-yard screamers or long pass sequences. Nowadays, the corner flag is king Arsenal and Liverpool are serving as its most favourite subjects.

The Death of Open Play? Why Set-Pieces are Winning the 2026 Premier League Title

In the modern Premier League, all teams and coaches have mastered the art of defence. In other words, almost all Premier League teams have a defense line that is extremely hard to bypass.

 This has made it seemingly impossible for the traditional 4-4-2 formation to penetrate the defence line like before. With the integration of AI-driven defensive positioning software and the adoption of the "low-block" by mid-table clubs, finding a loophole in the defensive line is practically impossible.

 Due to this factor, coaches had to adapt because in an era where every defender knows exactly where to be at any given second, a new tactic must be chosen.This is exactly why the emergence of set-pieces was necessary. Because in 2026, the “dead ball” (when the ball is stationary or not moving) is the only moment in a match where a manager has 100% control. 

 During this moment, the ball is immobile, the coach can position his players the way he wants to and the chances for surprises are limited. Statistically, open-play goals have gone down by 12% across the league, while set-piece goals have continued to rise.Two coaches who were able to clock this and master the art of set pieces extremely well. They are Mike Areta and Arne Slot. Their realisation was simple: instead of playing through them, play over them. They stopped seeing free kicks and corner kicks as games of probabilities and chances.

 Instead, they saw them as highly valued opportunities to execute a well-practiced training move and score a goal. In a league where the difference between being at the top or second position is just a matter of a few points, the ability to score goals from set-pieces is what makes the difference.

 To show how much set-pieces have taken over the game, take a look at the table below:

Tactical Breakdown: How Arsenal Equaled the All-Time Corner Goal Record

 As stated earlier, Arsenal is one of the teams that thrives on set pieces. Their set-piece coach (Nicolas Jover’s successor) has actually turned the 6-yard box into a nightmare for keepers. However, it's interesting to note that their dominance in the air is not just about their physical attributes but also the added factor of tactical brilliance and beautiful positioning.

By March 2026, the Gunners had already equaled the all-time record for goals scored from corners in a single season. Let's tell you how below: 

 1. The Tactical Set-piece Block :

Arsenal’s primary tactic involves three specific "blockers." Now these attackers do not look for the ball or have any desire to score. Their sole objective is to occupy the goalkeeper and defenders.

 By blocking (creating a physical wall around) the keeper, they prevent him from moving and catching the cross. This inadvertently creates an opening in the center of the box.

 2. The Near-Post Finish:

Arteta’s side has mastered the art of the Near-post Flick. This just involves kicking the ball to a corner close to a particular player. The player’s job just involves tapping or flicking it in.  Arsenal usually sends a runner to the near post to meet an inswinging delivery. They don't try to score; they simply try to touch it. That slight deflection changes the ball's trajectory and sends it to the goal post. Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz are usually the runners in this case.

 The Gravity of Gabriel:

Gabriel Magalhães has become the most feared man in the air since the prime John Terry. Because of this, teams are now dedicating two players to mark him. Areta wisely exploits this by using Gabriel as a decoy, allowing William Saliba or Declan Rice to finish the job while the defenders are busy elsewhere.

 ​Tactical Breakdown: How Arne Slot helped Liverpool Transition into Set-Piece Specialists

 Arne Slot arrived at Anfield as a traditional man who loved playing football the traditional way. However, when he discovered how difficult it was to score goals this way, he changed his approach. Let's look at the tactics Liverpool uses to achieve a high level of success in their set pieces.

 1. The Hybrid/Combined Approach:

This simply means that Arne Slot still maintains his traditional style of football—the usual precision passes and tactics. However, he uses this in a weaponised way. They use their elite passing to force opponents to where they want them and they intentionally play into wide areas not to cross, but to win corners.

2. The Master of the "Second Ball":

This just means that Liverpool, unlike Arsenal, does not focus on first contact with the ball. Slot positions his midfielders at the edge of the area, so that if their initial header or shot is cleared, they win back the ball and attack the defence line which is yet to recover. Also, he uses Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk and their massive frames to create "running lanes" for Liverpool’s more mobile attackers. 

 ​Betting Strategy: How to Capitalize on "Corner" and "Anytime Scorer (Defender)" Markets 

The betting market hasn't yet caught up to the tactical shift in the Premier League market and you can capitalise on that. Most betting markets are still pricing defenders based on their defensive position, but when it comes to set pieces, defenders have an equal chance of scoring.

 Here are some more tips:

 1. The "Corner Over" Ladder

 For Arsenal and Liverpool matches, the average corner line is often set at 9.5. However, both teams have an average of over 7.2 corners earned per game individually. Betting on the "Race to 5 Corners" or "Over 10.5 Team Corners" provides significantly better ROI than the traditional Match Result markets. 

2. Choosing Defenders in "Anytime Scorer":

Most novice or casual bettors normally pick strikers in this section. However, with teams that are extremely specialised in set pieces, a center-back has equal or more chances of scoring. 

Statistically, in games against the bottom 10 of the PL, a center-back is twice as likely to score the opening goal than a winger. So target Gabriel from Arsenal and Konaté from Liverpool in this category. Then, look for "Anytime Scorer" prices above 6/1. Given the frequency of their set-piece involvement, the "True Odds" are closer to 3/1.

 3. The "In-Play" Corner Sprints

When a huge or top-tier team is still losing or drawing after the 60th minute, their corner frequency rises drastically. This is because they start firing shots into the box to either score a goal or win deflections. This is the best time to bet on "Over 2.5 corners in the next 10 minutes.”

Final Thoughts 

 If you play your cards right and focus on betting on set-pieces, especially during Arsenal’s or Liverpool’s matches, then you would definitely make a whole lot more profit than focusing on the traditional game time. The betting landscape is changing every day, so it's better to adapt, at least before betting sites do.

 Learn more about LigaPredict click here  or join our telegram community.