Anatomy of a corner kick: How set-piece analysis is reshaping the Premier League

Chelsea, in their Premier League loss to Arsenal, used a hybrid system featuring five players defending in a box-to-box format: Jurel Hato and Trevo Chalupa at the near post, Cole Palmer on the near side of the six-yard box, Pedro Neto from the penalty spot and Joao Pedro at the back of the goal, with five others marking Arsenal’s dangerous threats.

It’s a method that Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s set-piece coach, would have noticed before devising his attacking plan.

Area defenders hold their positions instead of following players under the pretext that they are in dangerous areas of the penalty area that need to be protected.

The near post is often an area where attackers look to pass the ball from, and Pedro’s position is often where teams, including Arsenal, look to get to before he heads the ball home.

Being able to predict some players’ defensive positions from corner kicks helps attacking teams create routines that look to open up and exploit existing space.

With three Chelsea players near the near post, Arsenal knew the back post would be outnumbered.