Arsenal this season have consistently punished opponents through set pieces, especially corners, making them one of the most dangerous teams in such situations.
Following Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg, Softfootball analysed how Chelsea managed to limit the effectiveness of Mikel Arteta’s corner routines despite the defeat.
Softfootball gathered, Chelsea employed a smart decoy strategy. Three Chelsea players were instructed to remain positioned around midfield, ready for a potential counterattack whenever Arsenal prepared to take a corner.
This forced Arsenal to keep additional players back to avoid being caught on the break. As a result, Arsenal committed fewer bodies into the penalty area, significantly reducing their usual corner threat.
The approach was simple but highly effective — a classic tactical chess move that disrupted one of Arsenal’s biggest strengths.
Although many Chelsea fans were unimpressed due to the club’s failure to qualify for the final, Liam Rosenior’s tactical awareness and adaptability should not be overlooked, even in defeat.
