[THREAD] Why set pieces will be key for Brighton to beat Arsenal.

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Arsenal have conceded 12 goals from set piece scenarios this season - the joint 2nd most in the league.

Dead from dead balls.

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Arsenal defending set-pieces (league ranking)
• 29 shots conceded (3rd worst)
• 3.57xGA (2nd worst)
• 5 goals conceded (= worst)

Arsenal defending corners (league ranking):
• 73 shots conceded (5th worst)
• 8.3xGA (6th worst)
• 6 goals conceded (Joint 4th worst)

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Leno is a relatively passive ‘keeper when defending crosses. Although he has faced the joint-7th most crosses in the league (266), he only ranks 13th for cross-stop rate (6.8%).

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It is important to note that Brighton are outstandingly efficient at creating from set pieces - though less so at converting.

It is an added extra for Potter that a strength of his side is a weakness of the opposition.

#BHAFC https://twitter.com/albionanalytics/status/1259995915596836864

How do Arsenal set up from corners?

A combination of man-to-man and zonal markers - typically 4 of the latter inside the 6-yard-box, though two are staggered closer towards the front post.

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The zonal defenders typically hold their position and rarely advance out of space to attack the cross, meaning any crosses into the ‘second 6 yard box’ area are of serious threat if attackers can lose their marker(s).

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So which zones should Brighton attack?

These heatmaps highlight the concentration of locations where Arsenal have conceded shots/goals/assists from corners.

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Corners from the right:

Second 6-yard box the primary area given their holding zonal markers. The back-post seems a more fruitful destination than the front post.

Important - right-footed corners from the right are inswingers and account for most corners from this side.

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Corners from the left:

Much more central concentration of shots, but again the second 6-yard box appears to be key for generating shots.

You’ll notice that on both sides they have also conceded shots from corners to the edge.

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Players between the player striking and the goal will unsight the goalkeeper and potentially deflect the ball.

Though, they could block the ball entirely and it’s incredibly tough to finish from these distances - especially on the volley - xG is low from here.

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Summarising points RE Arsenal’s set-up:

• Attack the second 6-yard box
• Back post rather than front
• Vary corner routines to be unpredictable - short corners, play to edge

A short compilation of Arsenal conceding chances/goals from set pieces this season.

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Corner delivery will need to be pinpoint between markers to be successful.

Not that Brighton are incapable of putting deliveries between zonal markers - Gross did just that at United in November, which is included in this compilation.

#BHAFC https://twitter.com/albionanalytics/status/1273589435955924992

Of course, Arsenal are going to be without key centre-backs tomorrow due to injury and suspension.

This gives Brighton an even bigger incentive to maximise set piece scenarios given Arsenal’s top aerial dueller’s won’t be on the field.

#BHAFC https://twitter.com/david_ornstein/status/1273686072405504000

Brighton’s set piece threats:

Brighton have the luxury of having 4 genuine set piece takers on the field - Gross, Trossard, Mooy and now Mac Allister.

The first 3 were covered in depth in this article:

https://medium.com/@albionanalytics1/war-and-set-piece-brightons-outstanding-ability-to-create-but-not-convert-from-set-pieces-aa773535f58f?sk=e16761653053a77c57152fa47ce3d616

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Some visual analysis of Mac Allister’s set piece threat.

#BHAFC https://twitter.com/albionanalytics/status/1271040804170141697

End of thread.

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