When Mikel Arteta says the critic “doesn’t know what we are trying to do,” the headline writes itself. TNT Sports and others led with his defence of Arsenal’s set-piece tactics: the deflection is the story. The real story is that Arsenal have tied the Premier League record for goals from corners, that they concede from set pieces too, and that the tactical and defensive choices — not the identity of the critic — are what actually matter. Arteta’s line hides the real set-piece problem behind a personality clash.
“He doesn’t know what we are trying to do”, says Arteta, and That Deflection Hides the Real Set-Piece Problem
Arsenal had just beaten Chelsea 2-1 in early March 2026 with both goals from corners. They had reached 16 goals from set pieces from corners alone, tying the Premier League record with nine games still to play. According to the Guardian, ESPN, and TNT Sports, Arteta was asked about the criticism of Arsenal’s reliance on dead balls. He did not engage with the tactical debate. He said he was “upset” that Arsenal do not score more from corners and that they concede from them as well. He dismissed the criticism as “part of the job” and told reporters he did not know how you celebrate one goal differently from another. When pundits like Chris Sutton said Arsenal would be the “ugliest” champions, Arteta suggested that if people want beautiful football they should look elsewhere. The message was clear: the critic does not get it. According to TNT Sports, Arteta defended Arsenal’s set-piece tactics and deflected focus onto the critics rather than on the underlying numbers and choices.
Those numbers tell a different story. Arsenal have scored 21 goals from set pieces in the league, five more than any other side, as reported by CBS Sports and the Guardian. Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been credited with the system; Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka deliver the corners, and Gabriel has scored three and assisted four from them. At the same time, Arteta has admitted he is upset that Arsenal concede from set pieces too. So the real issue is not whether criticism is fair but whether Arsenal’s defensive set-piece organisation is good enough and whether the league’s tactical landscape — man-to-man marking, restarts, and the way teams defend — is the root cause. Arteta himself has pointed to man-to-man defending as the reason open-play goals are harder; he told CBS Sports that if managers agreed to outlaw man-to-man defending, “you’re going to have a different league.” That is a tactical argument. “He doesn’t know what we are trying to do” is not. It shifts the focus from the real set-piece problem to the person asking the question.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said he no longer enjoys watching some Premier League matches because of set-piece dominance. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City score the lowest share of their goals from set pieces in the division. Reuters and the Telegraph have framed it as a culture war between approaches. Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has called Arsenal’s set-piece methods “not in the spirit of the game,” as reported by the Hindu and Sporting News. Arteta’s response to all of them is to deflect: the critic does not know what Arsenal are trying to do. That response does not address whether the tactics are right, whether the defence is good enough, or whether the league should change. The real story is the tactical and defensive choices: how Arsenal attack set pieces, how they defend them, and whether the league’s rules and norms should change. Arteta has given the tactical argument elsewhere; in front of the cameras he often chooses the deflection instead. Arteta’s deflection keeps the spotlight on who is criticising and whether they “get it,” instead of on those choices. That is why the quote works as a headline and fails as an answer.
The deflection works because the headline stays on the quote; the tactical debate stays below the fold.
What This Actually Means
Arteta’s line is a classic deflection. By making it about the critic’s ignorance, he avoids addressing the real set-piece problem: Arsenal’s own defensive vulnerability from dead balls and the broader tactical debate about how the game is played. The story is not the identity of the critic. It is the record, the system, and the choices. Until the conversation stays there, the deflection will keep working.
Who Is Mikel Arteta?
Mikel Arteta Amatriain is a Spanish professional football manager and former player. He has been the manager of Premier League club Arsenal since December 2019. As a player he represented Everton and Arsenal among others. As Arsenal manager he has built a side that competes for the title and has made set-piece execution a central part of their game, with Nicolas Jover leading that department.