Arsenal need to ‘improve’ set-piece routines

Per Mertesacker has urged Arsenal to sharpen up on set pieces at both ends of the pitch.

Defender Mertesacker said he was frustrated Arsenal had yet to score a goal from a corner this season but had conceded from set plays.

He told the club’s official website: “We need to improve on that this season because we’ve conceded from them already.

“It’s all about reminding ourselves how good we are in the air from set-pieces, but we have to get to the ball and stop opponents getting into dangerous areas. That’s what we need to improve.

“We had a good record throughout last season – we need to find that again quickly.

And with manager Arsene Wenger urging his players to create more danger from corners of their own, Mertesacker added: “The deliveries, the timing … there are a lot of detailed things we have to improve.

“A lot of it has to do with concentration, strictness and good deliveries and good timing. We have to make sure that we are ready and concentrating on every set play.”

Meanwhile, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said he had been convinced Alexis Sanchez would score from another set-piece – the direct free-kick he took against Southampton in the League Cup – after he had dispatched a succession of similar shots in the warm-up.

Sanchez’s 25-yard effort put Arsenal in front, but they succumbed to the Saints’ two-goal response and lost 2-1. “I knew he was going to do that,” Oxlade-Chamberlain told the Arsenal site. “He works harder than I think I’ve seen anyone work. He is so skilful but he also does the defensive work up front and sets the tone.”

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