Gary Neville slams ‘predictable’ Arsenal after yet another set-piece stunner against Chelsea
· Yahoo Sports
Arsenal showcased their speciality again, taking the lead against Chelsea with yet another goal from a set-piece to win a crucial match in the Premier League.
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The Gunners have been making a habit of scoring this way lately, and once again it paid off as William Saliba appeared to be the one who got the decisive touch to put them in front.
For Arsenal supporters, it’s become almost routine at this point. Watching from the Sky Sports studio, Gary Neville was surprised that Chelsea hadn’t seemed better prepared for it.
Gary Neville Says Arsenal Have ‘Mastered’ Set Pieces
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty ImagesOnce again, it was the defensive pair of Gabriel and Saliba causing trouble for Chelsea’s back line.
This time, the goal went to Saliba, and from the commentary box, Gary Neville said he saw it coming.
“It was predictable. The art of the set piece has been mastered by Arsenal. It was men against boys. It didn’t look right for Chelsea”, Neville said during his Sky Sports commentary.
“It looks like an own goal in the end”, he added.
How set-pieces have helped Arsenal during the 2026 season
Arsenal’s reliance on set-pieces has divided opinion, but there’s no denying the edge they’ve carved out for themselves through them.
The Gunners have now found the net 23 times across all competitions from dead-ball situations, excluding penalties, with 18 of those coming in the league.
Nine of those goals have also opened the scoring for Arsenal this term – more than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues.
Neville noted a sense of unease within Chelsea’s defence. That tension is becoming familiar for opponents, who know just how dangerous Mikel Arteta’s side can be from set-pieces.
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