Arsenal legend Tony Adams has acknowledged that his former team “got away with one” during their 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates on Wednesday night. The win saw the Gunners close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to seven points, but Adams, offering his analysis, noted that the game could have been different if not for some controversial moments during the match.
Arsenal’s success was largely built on their dominance in set-piece situations, particularly from corner kicks, which caused significant problems for United’s defense. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba both capitalized on these well-executed corners to score, while the Gunners had seven attempts from corners, more than they had from open play, which totaled six. One of Arsenal’s corners was even cleared off the line by Manuel Ugarte in what was a relentless aerial assault on United’s goal.
Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov, during the coverage, likened Arsenal to “the new Stoke” because of their physical, set-piece dominance. Adams, however, praised the quality of Arsenal’s set pieces, describing them as “brilliant” and highlighting the aggressive nature of their deliveries. He noted that teams are currently struggling to deal with the precision of the corners, with some even resorting to desperate tactics to block Arsenal’s players.
Adams specifically pointed to Timber’s opening goal, which came from a corner delivered by Declan Rice. While Adams admitted that Timber had likely pushed Rasmus Højlund out of the way to create space for his header, he believed the referee was correct not to penalize it, as “referees are not blowing up this stuff now.” On Saliba’s goal, Adams again acknowledged the physicality involved, pointing out how Saliba had pushed United’s defenders to create space.
With 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, more than any other team in Europe, Arsenal’s set-piece prowess continues to be a significant weapon. Adams suggested that opponents may soon need to “block them before they run in” to prevent Arsenal from capitalizing on these situations, as the Gunners continue to prove difficult to defend against in these scenarios.
