Arsenal have finally scored from a set piece again, with Ezri Konsa ending a run of 153 days without a competitive dead-ball goal in the 2-0 win over Everton.
The Gunners were synonymous with corners and free kicks under Mikel Arteta, scoring 25 goals from corners alone in all competitions in 2025-26. This season, though, Nicolas Jover’s routines had stopped producing.
Konsa struck his first Arsenal goal at the back stick on 24 October, following an episode of penalty-box pinball against Everton. It was Arsenal’s first set-piece goal in all competitions, penalties aside, since the final day of last season against Crystal Palace.
That day, Noni Madueke scored from a corner, and then came 13 games without another goal from a corner or free kick.
How long did Arsenal go without a set-piece goal?
Arsenal had scored 23 of their first 24 goals of the 2026-27 season from open play. The only exception was Bukayo Saka’s late penalty in the 2-0 win over Sunderland in September.
They were also one of just four Premier League teams without a goal from a corner or free kick in the first seven gameweeks, alongside Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.
In 2024-25 the Gunners had bagged 14 Premier League goals from corners alone, so the drought was a real change of identity. We looked at the Gunners in our Arsenal predicted lineup vs Everton piece before the game.
Is Arsenal’s new attacking threat built on open play?
Arsenal used to be criticised for leaning too heavily on dead balls. This term they have found another way, and when deliveries have not been right or first contact has been lost, they have usually picked the lock from open play, through deflected goals or well-worked attacking moves.
The rejuvenation of Martin Odegaard has played a key role in that. Arsenal’s 12 Premier League goals are still the lowest total in the top four, well behind Manchester City (20), Chelsea (17) and Brighton and Hove Albion (23), but they have a league-low five goals conceded.
Konsa’s goal also came with Everton missing defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who was in concussion protocols, and Arsenal used their physicality well. That is the sort of edge the Gunners will be glad to have back as the EFL Cup trip to Fleetwood comes into view.
Author opinion: are Arsenal still evolving under Arteta?
Yes, and that is the encouraging part. Arsenal can now win without leaning on Jover’s corner routines, and the set pieces have started to come back too. Gooners would take that mix every week. With Arsenal level on points with City at the top, Arteta’s side looks harder to stop when they can score both ways.
