'Set piece FC' strike again just as Arteta is tempted to change tack with latest injection of youth

Gtech Community Stadium

- John Brewin

Never forget where you're coming from. On the August 2021 night Brentford made their bow as a Premier League team, Mikel Arteta received valuable, indelible lessons on defending and attacking set pieces. Mads Bech Sørensen, these days back at the Bees' former sister club, Midtjylland, launched the throw-in that led to Christian Nørgaard heading home for 2-0.

By then, Nicolas Jover was by Arteta's side in the Arsenal dugout, having joined from Brentford via Manchester City. They have learned and developed much together since. Set pieces are no longer the refuge of scoundrels and dinosaurs, and with Jover's fussy sideline guidance Arsenal have developed into their current hybrid of restart muscle and creative flair. The former has often stood in for the latter. At Brentford yesterday, it took until the second half for Arsenal's flair to arrive, and only after a Jover special had grabbed the lead.

A homecoming win, then, for Arsenal's breakout star of the season. The now talismanic special teams guru who made his bones at Brentford, a significant destination in Arteta's own journey of personal development. There were distinct wobbles on their first assignment of 2025, Brentford doing what they do best in unsettling their opposition. David Raya, another Brentford-Arsenal brain drain traveller, was guilty of misreading the angles for Bryan Mbeumo's opening goal and only just rescued himself from an even more serious error when fumbling Keane Lewis-Potter's shot.