Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insisted it was a “compliment” to see his side compared to an old-school Stoke City side.
The Gunners' penchant for scoring from corners was on full display as they came home twice to beat Manchester United 2-0 in midweekbringing their incredible total of goals from set pieces to 22 over the last two seasons.
Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov publicly compared the team to 2010s Stoke – a team renowned for their towering centre-backs, long throws and mastery of the ugly side of the game – but even if his comments were intended to criticize ArsenalArteta actually took them positively.
“I understood very well what [Dimitar] Berbatov said, he said. This was said in the best way possible. We take that as a big compliment. I think [Stoke were so good]Yeah.”
Asked about his team's nickname 'Corner Kings', Arteta continued: “We want to be kings of everything. On set pieces, the best in the world. High press, the best in the world. In open spaces, the best in the world. The best atmosphere in the stadium and the best in everything.
“Before we didn't score enough, we were soft in defense, we didn't have mentality, we weren't physical enough, we didn't beat big teams away for 17 years, 20 years , 22 years old We want to be the best in everything. We want to have the best academy, to be the best in player development, to recruit the best players and the best coaches.
Berbatov is by no means the only one to question Arsenal's tactics. Man Utd head coach Ruben Amorim accused wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka of play for cornersbut Arteta insisted they were simply “exploit weaknesses“.
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