Haram Football! Set Piece FC!! Boring, Boring, Arsenal!!! These are some of the labels Arsenal FC have been slapped with over the last few weeks, particularly after Sunday’s win over a hard-fighting Crystal Palace.
That victory, combined with shock defeats for Manchester City and Liverpool a day earlier, has now put the Gunners in a strong position in the Premier League title race.
The noise has been loud, both in mainstream and social media, with many questioning whether Arsenal can keep winning through set pieces. Others argue the Premier League leaders have a history of bottling leads. And for many, it’s simply that Arsenal matches are becoming a bore fest.
They blame Arsenal for the dull and boring games rather than looking at what our opposition do
— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) October 27, 2025
Teams have started doing it to Liverpool and Arne Slot won’t stop complaining about it
Arteta, rather than complaining, has found the most viable solution.
Yet he’s the problem?
Set Piece FC Ole, Ole
Of the 16 goals the Gunners have scored this season in the Premier League, 11 have come from set plays, with only five from open play. Rivals are questioning the sustainability of this approach, insisting Arsenal’s luck will soon run out.
But a lot of these conversations lack nuance.
Set pieces don’t just fall from the skies — many come from sustained pressure. Take the Fulham game last week: the corner came after a last-ditch tackle from a Fulham defender to stop a through ball from Eberechi Eze reaching Viktor Gyökeres.
Or the third goal against Atletico last week — another corner forced because defenders blocked a pass into the striker.
The Premier League looks different this season 👀 Less tiki-taka, more long balls, more set-pieces. What are your thoughts on this change?
— Nigeria Info FM 99.3 (@NigeriainfoFM) October 27, 2025
It’s working for Arsenal, can set-pieces carry them to the title? pic.twitter.com/2QJvW3IFLJ
It’s the same story when Martin Zubimendi scored his screamer against Nottingham Forest or when Jurriën Timber powered in a header against Leeds. Most of these corner-kick goals come after Arsenal have pinned teams back for long spells.
Here’s another angle: many teams now defend with all 11 players behind the ball against Arsenal. Even Pep Guardiola’s side came to the Emirates with a defensive setup. Arsenal have simply identified a potent weapon to break down compact teams — and once they score, the game opens up. Like against Atletico in the UEFA Champions League last week: once the first goal went in, three more followed within 14 minutes.
Do Arsenal need more open-play goals? Yes.
Can they do with more creativity? Absolutely.
But even this season’s chief moaner, Liverpool’s Arne Slot, had his players launching long throws when chasing an equaliser against Brentford.
Boring, Boring Arsenal
We are all hypocrites and tribal as football fans.
The same critics calling Arsenal boring, despite the results that have put them four points clear at the top and crucially six ahead of City and seven over Liverpool, are the same people who mocked them for playing beautiful football without winning trophies.
And on the flip side, Arsenal fans now cheering these sometimes dull wins — like the Palace game or last week’s grind at Fulham — are the same ones who couldn’t stand Tony Pulis’ Stoke or Sam Allardyce’s Bolton two decades ago.
It’s also the same set of Gooners who never rated José Mourinho’s Chelsea despite their success.
We only call football boring when it wins and it’s not our team winning.
We’ll all have to live with this so-called “Haram Football” from Mikel Arteta’s side for now.
Spanish Tony Pulis pic.twitter.com/EAk5s7RShe
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) October 26, 2025
For me? If it ends Arsenal’s 21-year title drought and possibly delivers the club’s first UEFA Champions League, I couldn’t give a rat’s a** how it happens.
Will Arsenal Bottle It Again?
Listen, Arsenal fans, until this team finally gets over the line and lifts the title, the “bottlers” tag won’t go away.
It stops only when the drought stops.
Still, for rival fans and pundits — whether speaking from spite or honesty — here’s the simple answer: this Arsenal team is far better equipped, experience-wise and squad-depth-wise, to handle whatever comes.
The Gunners are four points clear at the top of the table after defeating Crystal Palace, with Eberechi Eze scoring the winning goal against his former club.
— Nigeria Info FM 99.3 (@NigeriainfoFM) October 26, 2025
Is this the season for Arsenal football club?#ARSCRY #EPL pic.twitter.com/jr3WCKlNOy
In 2022/23, Arsenal crashed the title race and were unprepared. Two key injuries to Gabriel Jesus and William Saliba derailed an unexpected push.
The following season, you could argue the Gunners bottled it… or simply lost to a flawless Manchester City. From January 2024, Arsenal won 16 of 18 games, drawing against City and losing to Aston Villa. But City won 17 of 18.
Last season, there was no real title race. With 27 injuries, it was a miracle Arteta’s side even finished second and made the UCL semis.
This season’s turning point may be the summer window — eight quality signings added to an already competitive team.
This is an insane stat.
— Ufuoma Egbamuno (@Foskolo) October 26, 2025
Last time was Luton scoring 3 in that 4-3 win. https://t.co/w1fa0AmIgR
Unlike 22/23, Saliba missing is no longer panic time. Instead of Rob Holding, there’s a fantastic 21-year-old Mosquera who looks right at home. If Bukayo Saka has an off day as against Palace, they can conjure a set-piece routine to win the game. When Martin Ødegaard is barely playing, Eberechi Eze can step up with superb technique.
This team has already survived long spells without Saka and Saliba this season. Kai Havertz has barely played 20 minutes all season. And Noni Madueke has missed a month and may miss more. Gabriel Jesus could return around December or January to contribute too.
Again, just for emphasis, the doubts will persist until the trophy is finally won!
But with Arsenal at least six points clear of their main challengers — City and Liverpool, who play each other in two weeks — the Gunners can stretch the lead to possibly nine if they beat Burnley and Sunderland next.
No one wins the title in October; so, Arsenal fans, breathe. Relax.
Best of the Rest
At last, Real Madrid Win El Clásico
For the first time in five matches, Real Madrid beat Barcelona. I only caught the second half — I was watching Arsenal-Palace — but Madrid deserved the victory.
It was always going to be tough with Barca’s injury list. Robert Lewandowski may have dropped off, but his presence would have helped. Ballon d’Or contender Raphinha would have offered more. And when Lamine Yamal is largely anonymous, defeat becomes very likely.
Xabi Alonso will be smiling today with Jude Bellingham finding form, Kylian Mbappé scoring freely, and Vinicius Junior looking back to his best after a slightly underwhelming last season.
Igor Tudor Gets the Boot
No surprise Juventus have fired Igor Tudor. When you go eight games without a win, including three straight losses in all competitions, the writing is on the wall.
Juventus have officially dismissed head coach Igor Tudor following an eight-match winless run across all competitions.https://t.co/U3Rnrn5MzD
— Nigeria Info FM 99.3 (@NigeriainfoFM) October 27, 2025
But Juve’s problems go beyond a new manager. The Old Lady are a shadow of the club many respected in the 90s and 2000s. Recruitment has been poor for years. If players like Weston McKennie or an off-form Teun Koopmeiners can walk into your midfield, not even prime Pep Guardiola can save you.
Rising Devils
Back in the Premier League, Manchester United have had a brilliant October. Three straight wins — including at Anfield and against a bogey Brighton side — is commendable.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have shown why United paid hefty fees to get them to Old Trafford, and Matthijs de Ligt has been solid in defence for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Can they win two more so their fan, Frank Ilett, can finally trim his hair after more than a year of growing them?
Special shout-out to Bournemouth, Brentford, and Sunderland who are having monster seasons so far.
Alright, that’s it from me this week. See y’all next time. Hopefully, this column becomes regular now!
