The best way to get out of a corner? Turns out it’s a corner. Nobody knows how much the bonus for set-piece goals is in Nicolás Jover’s contract. Or even, if it exists. Although it would definitely explain why Arsenal’s set-piece coach jumps with such excitement at every opportunity, presumably watching the potential rewards whizzing past his eyes, like the conveyor belt in a 70s game show, a corner sofa, a speedboat, a huge wheel of cheese.
But whatever it is, it is not enough. Or so Arsenal fans must have felt as they watched another step in the most grueling of title chases, another night of football as pain, sport as trauma, spurred only by the sight, 35 minutes in, of Kai Havertz floating in the soft afternoon air, as light as a reed, suddenly alone in front of the Burnley goal as the ball spun gently into his orbit, one of those moments when the day just seems to stand still.
Only two things could happen here for Arsenal. Disaster and not disaster. There has been something endearingly earnest about Mikel Arteta’s attempts to cope with this pressure, to micromanage how to actually be super cool and relaxed. Get on the fun bus. It burst into flames. Bring your lunch. Soak the oats overnight.
But here was a refreshing sense of clarity. Score a goal against Burnley and watch the day progress. Or not, and feel how it melts. Even in victory, the degree of danger remains absurdly intense. A 1-0 win means Arsenal are now just two games away from the best season in the club’s history or a collapse on a horrifying scale; of the immortality of the club’s setup, or the prospect of giving up four different trophies in the space of 14 games.
The Emirates had been a calm and peaceful place at kick-off, the sky over the edge of the stand one of those tranquil shadows of the halls of north London. But of course it was never going to be easy. Half an hour passed before the first real notes of tension appeared. At that moment, Arsenal had a shot on goal and diffuse and endless possession. This was one of those nights where Martin Ødegaard seems to be constantly circling inward, then circling back in, a man convinced that if he can go in enough times he might be able to circle the world and end up circling the other side.
For a while it was hard not to watch as the word “Zilch” scrolled across every illuminated advertising panel, boasting the name of Arsenal’s official paying partner. Given the level of detail here, at a time when the key questions are what can we get out of this, how many trophies can we win, would it perhaps be best to avoid having the word Zilch so ominously present? And now a word from our official indigestion partner, Choke.
It was tempting to look for omens. Havertz started as a center forward. But Havertz had not scored a league goal on this field since February of last year either. Cristhian Mosquera was on the right back, a pass towards Budapest, but not ideal when you have most of the ball. Mosquera is a good defender. But it is also unlikely that he will be confused with Garrincha in the short term.
Leandro Trossard hit the foot of the post. A VAR control for a penalty after a trip on Bukayo Saka came and went. But it came a few minutes later, the only moment that meant anything in the night.
Saka delivered the corner. Havertz headed in from three meters away. And that’s probably how this was always going to play out. Arsenal have so far scored 18 goals from corners, the most decisive contribution to their title fight, and four more than the next top scorer.
It’s tempting to be dismissive about it, but managers have been winning titles by finding a tactical advantage since the birth of the offside trap. Goals from set pieces are not luck or cynicism. This is art, skill, practice and also bravery, the willingness to repeatedly stick your head in the way of this thing. Defending them is also a skill, one that many teams seem to have sacrificed in favor of other benefits, such as ball-playing defenders, goalkeepers, and greater ease of advancing with the ball.
The absence of Crystal Palace is now the last step for this team. There has been a theory that Arsenal will at some point experience The Freeing Up, the needle hitting the slot, that they will suddenly become a team flying with joy juice as the line approaches. Is this really a good idea? Win first. Then maybe we can think about all the fun and fizzy things later. The only thing that really seems certain is that it will probably hurt a little more either way.
