Would Arsenal Be Ugliest Title Winners in History? What Stats Say

Arsenal’s Set-Piece Dilemma: Winning Ugly or Beautiful?

Would Arsenal be the ugliest title winners in history? The question has been posed after their recent performance, with a reliance on set-pieces to score goals. Critics like Chris Sutton and Paul Scholes have labeled them as “boring” and “ugly,” but is this fair?

The Numbers Game

So far this season, Arsenal have scored 59 goals in 30 Premier League games – an average of 1.97 per game. While this might make them the lowest-scoring champions since Leicester City a decade ago (averaging 1.79), it’s a higher scoring rate than 12 previous title winners, including five Manchester United sides and Mourinho’s Chelsea.

However, when we look at how these goals are scored – from open play or set-pieces – Arsenal’s critics have more of a point. Of the 59 goals that the Gunners have scored so far, 24 (41%) have come from set-pieces – a higher percentage than any Premier League champion.

Arteta’s Perspective

Mikel Arteta has defended his team’s approach. On Friday, he said: “It’s about playing the best possible football you can, and that the game demands, to give you the best possibility to win the game. That’s it.” This is a direct challenge to those who see style over substance.

Expert Opinions

Wayne Rooney disagrees with the criticism. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show this week, he said: “I’ve heard a lot of people talking about Arsenal and how they’re playing. I think Arsenal have been brilliant.

I actually enjoy watching them play. Set-pieces are part of football – why would you not use it?”

Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton’s manager, has also had a good exchange with Arteta via text messages. He shared his opinion and defended Arsenal’s approach.

Past Champions

Leicester City’s 2015-16 title win was not always pretty either. Ten of their 68 goals came from the penalty spot, they had the fewest shots and touches in the opposition box on record, and 14 of their 23 wins were by a single goal (61%). Yet, “1-0 to the Arsenal” is a well-known chant, but only five of their 20 wins this season have been by that scoreline – far fewer than the 11 Chelsea eked out in 2004-05 or the 10 Manchester United achieved in 2008-09.

Conclusion

While Arsenal are hardly Barcelona 2008-09, their football and goal-scoring methods are not a huge departure from some previous title-winning sides. Even those that some of the fiercest critics played in. Winning ugly is a valid strategy, as Arteta points out – winning is what matters most.