Qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals, Real Madrid will face Arsenal. With just a few weeks before this grand fixture, Carlo Ancelotti receives a warning about a well-drilled tactic from the English side to score easily from set-pieces.
Real Madrid’s season is far from straightforward. Between injury problems, controversial refereeing decisions, and inconsistency issues, Carlo Ancelotti’s team is having a turbulent season. Nevertheless, nothing is lost. While in La Liga, they will have to hope for a slip-up from Barcelona to regain top spot, the Madrid side still have a good chance in competitions like the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Speaking of the Champions League, the team will face Arsenal, one of the best teams in England at the moment, in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal’s well-drilled corner tactic
After majestically overcoming Manchester City in the knockout rounds and then narrowly defeating Atlético Madrid in the round of 16, Real Madrid will need to be at their best against Arsenal. Before the first leg of this encounter, which will take place at the Emirates Stadium on April 8, several observers have raised concerns about a key asset of Mikel Arteta’s men when it comes to scoring goals. Just like in the Premier League against Chelsea last weekend, the Gunners secured a victory with a goal from a corner in the 20th minute.
Since 2021, Arsenal have scored 66 goals from corners. Thanks to one of Arteta’s assistant coaches, who works on set-pieces in training, the Gunners have become specialists. To somewhat reveal the strategy behind the English players getting into the best positions in the penalty area for a header, it’s important to note that William Saliba plays a disruptive role.
With his physique, the French defender stays close to the goalkeeper to prevent him from coming out, while at the same time, Rice and Saka deliver excellent deliveries, getting the ball near the goal, with Gabriel and other tall players like Merino and Havertz as the main targets. Last Saturday in the Premier League, it was Merino who scored the only goal of the game against Chelsea with a header. While it might seem simple to counter, Arsenal’s tactic is a real puzzle, well-known yet unsolvable in the Premier League.
A solution is needed
For Carlo Ancelotti, a plan will be required to counter this tactic, which could prove costly for Madrid’s defence. As seen recently against Betis, where the defence struggled to cope with aerial balls, Real Madrid will need to stay highly focused to avoid being caught out by Arsenal’s aerial threat. In any case, if the pair of Antonio Rüdiger and Raúl Asencio play centrally and have a good day, things could go well.
Tall in stature, Thibaut Courtois could still play a key role during the two-legged tie against the Gunners. For now, fingers crossed that the team returns from the ongoing international break with less fatigue. With a packed schedule, the risk of injuries is very high. When the squad is fully fit, the Madrid side will be able to defy the odds that have Arsenal as the favourites.
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