Postecoglou haunted by critical decision as Arsenal dig out Tottenham’s weak spot
Ange Postecoglou’s decision to not employ a set-piece coach has once again drawn attention following the North London Derby.
Arsenal secured a 1-0 lead in the second half when defender Gabriel scored with a powerful header from a Bukayo Saka corner.
The goal likely felt familiar for Tottenham, as this wasn’t the first time Arsenal had capitalized on their corner-taking ability in matches against Spurs.
In fact, two of Arsenal’s goals in their previous 3-2 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium also came from corners.
This recent trend is a cause for concern, as three of Arsenal’s last four Premier League goals against Spurs have now come from set-pieces.
To put this into context, only three of Arsenal’s prior 88 North London Derby league goals had been scored from corners.
This sudden vulnerability for Spurs in defending corners is becoming a significant problem.
Despite this, Postecoglou appears unshaken by his team’s struggles with set-pieces. Back in May, when similar concerns were raised, he stood firm on his stance, even quoting Billy Joel to emphasize his point. “I’m not interested.
Never have been. Not in the least,” he said. “It’s not the first time I’ve been questioned about set-pieces in my coaching career.
There is an underlying reason for that which I’m very, very comfortable with. To quote Billy Joel, you may be right, I may be crazy, but it’s maybe a lunatic you’re looking for.”
His comments reflected a strong confidence in his overall strategy, dismissing the notion that set-piece preparation was vital to his team’s success.
Moreover, Postecoglou made it clear that his focus wasn’t on set-piece drills or the employment of a specialist coach for that aspect of the game.
“Eventually, I will create a team that has success, and it won’t be because of working on set-pieces,” he added.
His conviction has been consistent, and he has stood by his belief that good team performance doesn’t hinge on corner-kick strategies.
Yet, as time progresses, and as Arsenal continues to expose this vulnerability, the narrative around Tottenham’s set-piece struggles refuses to fade away.
Following the latest North London Derby, Dean Ashton, TalkSPORT’s reporter, highlighted how Tottenham’s set-piece issues have become a glaring weakness.
The former England striker pointed out, “It’s Tottenham’s weak spot; every team targets Vicario.”
His analysis pinpointed Gabriel’s dominance from within the six-yard box and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s inability to react quickly enough, often appearing stranded on his line.
Ashton’s observations suggest that opponents are now well aware of Tottenham’s soft spot in defending corners and are actively exploiting it.
After the match, Postecoglou once again stood by his decision to avoid hiring a set-piece coach. “I haven’t brought in a set-piece coach, but people can run any kind of fairytale they want about me,” he stated.
His post-match comments reflected a certain frustration with how his views have been interpreted. “Everything I say has kind of turned into something else,” he remarked.
Despite the growing criticism, he maintained that his team’s set-piece defense wasn’t as poor as some might suggest.
“I thought we handled set-pieces okay today, but they’re always a threat, and we switched off for one. Whether it’s a set-piece or in general play, if you switch off, you’re going to pay a price against good teams, and that happened today.”
Postecoglou’s continued confidence in his approach is clear, but the recurring nature of the problem raises questions about whether his stance on set-pieces could ultimately cost Tottenham crucial points in big games.
While his belief in a broader team philosophy is admirable, the reality is that teams are targeting Tottenham’s weakness, and it has already proven costly in several high-profile matches.
Whether Postecoglou will eventually shift his approach remains to be seen, but for now, it appears that he’s not willing to make any changes regarding set-piece coaching.
As Tottenham prepares for future challenges, Postecoglou’s commitment to his methods will be put to the test. If Spurs continue to struggle with set-piece defense, the pressure to address this issue may only intensify.
Until then, fans and pundits alike will keep a close eye on how Tottenham handles these situations moving forward, especially against teams that excel in exploiting this particular weakness.
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