Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he is dissatisfied with his team’s return from corner kicks and believes they should be converting more frequently from these situations.
Speaking in the context of a wider discussion around the growing importance of set pieces in modern football, Arteta acknowledged that corners have become a decisive part of the game. Many teams now invest heavily in specialist coaches, detailed routines, and video analysis to gain an edge from dead-ball situations, and Arsenal are among the clubs that have worked to improve this area.
Arteta, however, indicated that he feels there is still significant room for improvement. While Arsenal have shown phases of strong set-piece performance in recent seasons, he suggested that the volume of corners the team earns over the course of matches should logically translate into a higher number of goals.
His comments reflect an emphasis on efficiency in both boxes. In attack, corners can provide high-quality opportunities, especially for teams that dominate possession and spend extended periods in the final third. For a side like Arsenal, which often pins opponents back and forces them to defend deep, making better use of each corner is seen as a natural way to increase their goal tally.
Arteta’s stance also highlights how marginal gains at the top level can influence results. A small uptick in conversion rate from corners across a season can have a noticeable impact on a team’s points total and goal difference. The manager’s frustration that Arsenal “do not score more” from these chances underlines his broader demand for precision and consistency in the final third.
Although Arteta did not provide specific figures or single out individual players, his remarks suggest a continued focus on rehearsed routines, delivery quality, timing of runs, and physical presence in the penalty area. The expectation is that Arsenal will keep working on these elements on the training ground in an effort to turn more of their corner kicks into goals as the season progresses.
His view feeds into the ongoing debate about how much of a team’s attacking identity should be built around structured set plays versus open-play creativity. For Arteta, both appear to be essential, and he clearly believes that Arsenal are capable of extracting more from one of the game’s most repeatable scoring opportunities.
