Arsenal’s worrying 4-3 loss to Liverpool at home on Sunday once again highlighted how vulnerable we are from range.
Philippe Coutinho’s first half freekick given away by Rob Holding was not only very well executed, it was outside the area, making it the 12th goal of its kind since the beginning of last season: 31%. Arsenal have therefore conceded the most goals from distance out of any other team. Wow.
Why could this be? Our lack of pressing, allowing opposition players to have too much time on the ball and take a shot or, as was clear against Liverpool, the fact that we tend to panic and give away soft freekicks in dangerous areas.
12 – No team has conceded more goals from outside the area in the Premier League since the start of last season than Arsenal (12). Distant.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 14, 2016
31% of the goals Arsenal conceded last season came from outside the box – the highest proportion in the Premier League.
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) August 14, 2016
I’m not sure, I’m no expert. All I know is, if we’re conceding that many, why don’t we appear to be doing anything about it? I acknowledge that many are by chance, sometimes players take a risk from long range and it pays off – there’s no accounting for luck. However, if we’ve shipped the most, surely there’s a pattern emerging and if there’s a pattern, surely we’re doing something wrong that needs to be addressed?