OFFICIAL: Arsenal loses the top spot to Manchester United

Manchester United surprisingly overtook Arsenal to lead the Premier League in goals scored from set pieces, demonstrating the clear tactical brilliance and efficiency of manager Ruben Amorim.

Manchester United holds a statistic that has caught the attention of the entire Premier League. Following their 1-0 victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford, The Red Devils officially took the lead in the league for the most goals scored from set pieces, surpassing Arsenal, a team long regarded as the “masters” in this area in recent seasons.

The only goal of the match came from Patrick Dorgu’s volley in the first half, originating from a long throw-in. According to BBC statistics, this was Manchester United’s 13th goal from set pieces in the Premier League this season, excluding penalties. This figure places them ahead of Arsenal, who have 10 set-piece goals based on WhoScored data.

For many years, Arsenal under Mikel Arteta has been recognized as the benchmark for exploiting corners and free kicks. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and center-back Gabriel are key threats, while set-piece coach Nicolas Jover is frequently seen near the touchline whenever the Gunners prepare for dead-ball situations. However, this season, Manchester United has been more effective at capitalizing on these seemingly minor moments.

The biggest impact comes from Ruben Amorim. Against Newcastle, the Portuguese strategist surprised everyone by abandoning his usual 3-4-3 formation in favor of a 4-2-3-1. Patrick Dorgu was pushed higher up on the right wing and immediately made a difference by scoring the decisive goal. After the match, Amorim explained frankly: “I felt that was the only way to create more danger, to have more chances by playing with a back four and more players in midfield.”

Moreover, Amorim surprised experts with his personnel changes during the match. Casemiro, who has scored 4 goals from corners this season, was substituted in the 60th minute despite being a major aerial threat. Towards the end, he also replaced Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez with younger players to strengthen the defense, transforming the defensive system into a six-man block when necessary.

Explaining the decision to play Dorgu higher up, Amorim added: “By positioning him further forward, his defensive duties were reduced and he had more freedom. That helped Patrick perform better.”

Compared to Arteta’s Arsenal, Manchester United under Amorim shows clear flexibility and pragmatism. Without relying on complex combinations, they maximize set-piece situations to decide matches. The stats don’t lie, and Man Utd overtaking Arsenal as the “set-piece champions” clearly demonstrates the superior tactical form Amorim is showcasing at Old Trafford.