Ruben Amorim Questions Arsenal Duo’s Approach After 2-0 Defeat to Gunners

 

Ruben Amorim Questions Arsenal Duo’s Approach After 2-0 Defeat to Gunners

Ruben Amorim experienced his first Premier League defeat as Manchester United manager in a 2-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, both scored from corner kicks, sealed the win for Arsenal in a match where Manchester United struggled to handle the Gunners’ set-piece deliveries. The result leaves United in 11th place, while Arsenal sits third in the league standings.

Despite the defensive issues that led to the goals, Amorim focused his post-match comments on Arsenal wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. He suggested that the duo seems more intent on creating chances through crosses or winning corners than attempting to score themselves.

Amorim explained: “Every time Saka and Martinelli are in one-on-one situations, they go wide and cross. They know that if the cross is good, they can score. If it results in a corner, they can score.”

This strategy appears to be effective, as Arsenal has scored 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, seven more than any other Premier League team. Amorim’s observation highlights a key aspect of Arsenal’s approach under Mikel Arteta and their set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover.

Even without Gabriel Magalhães, a key aerial threat who has already scored four goals this season, Arsenal proved their system works. Magalhães’s ability to dominate in the air has often been a focal point of Arsenal’s set-piece success, but Timber and Saliba’s contributions show the team’s versatility in this area.

Arsenal’s reliance on set-pieces, combined with their ability to execute them effectively, underscores why players like Saka and Martinelli might prioritize creating corner opportunities over direct goal attempts. As Amorim pointed out, when a team is so prolific from corners, maximizing those opportunities becomes a logical strategy.