White up to usual tricks in Vicario’s set-piece misery
Ben White did not score either goal, and the records will show that he did not register an assist either. But for both of Arsenal’s set-piece goals, the right-back played a crucial role.
White is Arsenal’s master of the “dark arts” and he was up to his usual tricks yesterday, when his sly work in the six-yard box helped his side to take control of the match.
Sneaky, cunning, clever. Whatever word you want to use for it, there can be no denying that White’s antics had a significant impact as Arsenal struck twice from inswinging corners in the space of just 23 minutes.
Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal White’s dark arts
Arsenal clearly decided to target Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from set-pieces, and White – as he has done all season – was deputed to make himself a nuisance. Normally, he simply backs into goalkeepers, but on this occasion he did so in an unusual fashion: by trying to take off the goalkeeper’s gloves. Vicario shook him off, but it certainly caught the eye before White backed away as the corner was about to be delivered.
The delivery, movement and end result
Arsenal almost exclusively deploy inswinging corners, with Bukayo Saka providing on this occasion. The movement was from far post to near, but the key man largely stayed still, with Takehiro Tomiyasu remaining where he was to ensure Pierre-emile Hojbjerg could not get a proper contact on the ball. The Danish midfielder still tried to clear but could only succeed in deflecting the ball into his own net with Vicario – on his line – helpless.
Tottenham 0-3 Arsenal White’s dark arts
There were two moments where White got under Vicario’s skin. In the first, the goalkeeper threw an arm at the defender, to force him away. White accepted the push, but bided his time – and then, shortly before the corner came in, he barged the goalkeeper, with Vicario ending up behind his goal line. That ensured the Italian was in no position to make a save if required.
The delivery, movement and end result
Declan Rice delivered another inswinging corner just beyond the near post. Arsenal’s players had gathered at the back post but rushed forward, with Kai Havertz among them. The volume of players moving forward meant Dejan Kulusevski, who appeared to be marking Havertz, was blocked off by his own team-mate, Ben Davies. That ensured Havertz had a free header which, with Vicario behind his own line, he could not miss.
The end result
Arsenal’s success from corners was based on three things – inswinging delivery, clever movement and White’s dark arts. It was a potent combination that has done so much to boost their title charge.