Leeds United have already lost 5-0 to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, and Daniel Farke has taken a subtle swipe at them ahead of Bournemouth.
One area that Mikel Arteta has been able to excel in at Arsenal is via set-pieces. Not including the penalty, two of their goals in the 5-0 win over Leeds United came via set-pieces.
That is despite the fact Leeds’ team is much taller than last season and full of powerful and combative individuals, particularly in central midfield and at centre-back.
Daniel Farke has explained tactical flexibility in the Premier League will improve and the 49ers appear to have done their Premier League research on what it takes to survive by prioritising the solid core they have.
However, despite Anton Stach fizzing a free-kick into the top corner, Leeds are yet to score a corner or free-kick from some sort of cross or intricate delivery into the box.
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Daniel Farke takes swipe at Arsenal’s Nicolas Jover
Arsenal’s set-piece routines are one of the talking points of the recent Premier League era. Teams are looking to emulate the success they have had on that front under Arteta.
As far as that goes for the Whites, even if some final pieces of the puzzle were missed out on, set-pieces will be vital to Leeds this season. They have the height and power to be more effective than they were in the Championship.
Despite wanting a set-piece taker all summer, Leeds will have to utilise Stach’s surprising deliveries instead. Another way they can get more out of him has emerged of late, with Leeds also looking at set-piece coaches.
Nothing has materialised yet, with The Yorkshire Evening Post stating: “The YEP understands that the club’s vacancy for a set-piece coach remains open and their search is still active.
“But it was telling that the manager expressed his dislike for the increasing profile handed to those responsible for dead ball routines at other clubs.”
Per Beren Cross, Farke said the below in the pre-Bournemouth press conference yesterday, stating: “Disrespectful to say we do not have an expert on this. I don’t believe in there being one guy on the TV for every set-piece.”
The full quotes highlight his subtle swipe at Arteta and Nicolas Jover, with Farke saying: “I don’t like, you know, we have the tendency nowadays that at each and every corner, then the broadcasters have the name of the set-piece coach.
“And then always his face is on the camera, and he’s celebrated. I don’t believe in this. It should still be, in general, my responsibility, and sometimes we have the tendency right now to produce some superstars that shouldn’t be too much in the spotlight.
“Not criticising any club, but I don’t believe in this so much. I don’t believe in people who do the hard work behind the scenes and not like just to be in the spotlight each and every set-piece, and jump forward so that everyone can see their face.
“So I don’t believe in this modern hype. Anyhow, if some clubs want to do this and speak too much about this, yeah, then, well done.”
Leeds’ set-piece data after five games
The below, per Opta, showcases Leeds’ need for improvement in the set-piece department. Only five teams have failed to score from a set-piece, with Leeds having just one themselves thus far.
Despite Leeds’ overall xG consisting of 20.02% via set-pieces, they have only managed to generate 0.85xG so far. That is the fifth-lowest in the league for set-piece xG.
Leeds have also given up the seventh-highest xG from set-pieces (2.23 from 18 shots), which is also 32.85% of their overall xG against. That is the fifth-worst ratio in the division.
Be it from Farke, or from a new appointment coming in to join the coaching staff, Leeds need improvement in both boxes for both creating chances of their own but also keeping them to a minimum at their own end.
To the surprise of no one, Arsenal have generated the most xG of their own from set-piece scenarios and conceded the least. Leeds need to take a leaf or two out of their book, truthfully.
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