LONDON: Mikel Arteta said Arsenal are happy to embrace their ‘Set-Piece FC’ nickname after using their deadly corner routines to seal a vital 2-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday.

Arteta’s side moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to headers from William Saliba and Jurrien Timber at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have scored 16 goals from corners this season — equalling the Premier League record set by Oldham and West Bromwich Albion.

No wonder Arsenal’s jubilant fans celebrated by chanting “set-piece again, ole, ole”.

Chelsea also scored from a corner when Piero Hincapie headed Reece James’ delivery into his own net on the stroke of half-time to cancel out Saliba’s opener.

That was a rare blemish for Arsenal when it comes to dead ball action as set-piece coach Nicolas Jover underlined his growing reputation with another masterclass.

As they chase a first English title since 2004, Arsenal’s prowess at set-plays has emerged as their defining characteristic.

But not everyone is enamoured with the set-piece barrage fuelling their title charge.

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton was scathing about Arsenal’s reliance on the tactic.

“Set-piece Arsenal, again. I think they are going to win it,” Sutton told BBC Radio Five Live.

“If they get over the line, will they be the ugliest Premier League winning team in history? The performance wasn’t there.”

Yet Arteta has no qualms about emphasising the value of set-pieces.

“We knew the importance of the individual duels at set plays because Chelsea are a top side attacking and defending them,” the Gunners boss said.

“Every team to be fair. There is so much quality at set pieces in the Premier League.

“It’s very important. We have lost points to long throws and lately we haven’t scored from many set-pieces. Today we did it. To have these options is great.”

Manchester City, who have a game in hand and host Arsenal in April, are still firmly in the title hunt.

But Arteta’s faith in set plays is understandable given Arsenal are in contention to win the quadruple after recovering from a damaging wobble by beating Tottenham and Chelsea in successive games.

“We are really happy because we know we had two difficult games in the last week or so. The attitude and willingness to go for it and be dominant, I am happy with it,” he said.

“In March, we are in every competition, we are right up there.”

Chelsea have conceded nine goals from set-pieces in Liam Rosenior’s first 13 matches and five of those have been against Arsenal.

The Blues also had Pedro Neto sent off for two second half bookings, extending a poor disciplinary record that Rosenior said they must “eradicate”.

Rosenior was frustrated with his players’ failure to contain Arsenal at corners despite working on a new plan for the occasion.

“To concede two goals from set plays, that ultimately cost us the game, is very disappointing,” Rosenior said.

“We conceded from a corner against Burnley last weekend as well. It’s something that has come into our game and is costing us points. We worked on a certain new scheme and it didn’t work today.

“Arsenal are probably the best team in the world at them. It’s a combination. The marking, the zone players. The goalkeeper is involved. I won’t single out. I will address it on the training ground.”

Chelsea appealed in vain for a foul before Timber’s winner and Rosenior said football’s lawmakers might need to change their rules to combat teams like Arsenal, who have perfected the art of holding the opposition before the ball is delivered.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026

KOLKATA: India on Monday hailed Sanju Samson as a “game-changer” after the opener’s batting masterclass in Kolkata took the defending champions into the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Samson’s unbeaten 97 led India’s chase of 196 against the West Indies in the last Super Eights match to set up a semi-final against England in Mumbai on Thursday.

Samson paced his innings to perfection and had more than a billion India fans erupting in joy on Sunday night when he hit Romario Shepherd for a six and four to complete the chase at Eden Gardens.

“Handling the final overs well in both innings gave us the edge,” India’s batting great Sachin Tendulkar wrote on X. “Sanju Samson’s calm presence at the crease was wonderful to watch. That kind of presence lifts a side. Brilliant effort from everyone. On to the semi-finals!”

Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif said: “Sanju Samson the man for India in a do-or-die game. Focus is never on him but he proves to be the game-changer.”

The 31-year-old Samson has been in and out of the Indian team and played just one group match against Namibia in the absence of opener Abhishek Sharma.

India brought back Samson in their Super Eights match against Zimbabwe to break up the all left-handed opening partnership of Sharma and Ishan Kishan.

India’s media were lavish in their praise for Samson, who saved India from a humiliating early tournament exit on home soil.

“Superman Sanju rescues India,” blazed the Times of India.

India coach Gautam Gambhir called Samson “world-class”.

“We all know how good a player Sanju is and it was all about backing him,” Gambhir told reporters. “Today was a day where he probably showed his true potential.”

Following early dismissals of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, Samson steadied India’s innings against the Caribbean attack.

He registered the highest individual score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup chase, surpassing Virat Kohli’s knocks of 82 against Australia and Pakistan.

“I actually felt that he never accelerated the innings. It was just very normal cricketing shots and I never saw him muscling the ball as well. That is the kind of talent he has,” Gambhir said.

Samson’s form had been in question after struggles earlier this year, including a poor outing in January’s five-match T20 international series against New Zealand where he scored only 46 runs including a golden duck.

“He had a tough series against New Zealand, so sometimes it’s important to give him a break as well, because you want to get the guy off that pressure situation as well,” the 44-year-old coach said.

“We always knew that whenever we needed him in the World Cup game, he’ll come and deliver it for us.” Gambhir highlighted the team’s philosophy of valuing collective efforts over big individual performances. He credited Shivam Dube’s late cameo, including two crucial boundaries, as well as Tilak Varma’s flexibility in batting positions.

“For too many years, we’ve only spoken about certain contributions. This is a team sport. And this will always remain a team sport,” Gambhir said.

“Those two boundaries are as important as Sanju’s 97. Because had Shivam not been able to hit those two boundaries. You wouldn’t have even spoken about Sanju.”

Samson, who made his debut in 2015, has played just 60 Twenty20 matches for India since.

“I always say, good things happen to good people who wait, who have a lot of patience,” said India captain Suryakumar Yadav.

“It’s all his hard work.”

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026

KOLKATA: South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has urged his side to embrace the pressure of being labelled favo­urites as they prepare for a high-stakes semi-final against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.

The Proteas remained unbe­a­ten in the tournament after registering an emphatic five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in New Delhi on Sunday and will now face the Black Caps on Wednesday, with a place in the final at stake.

Despite the added intensity of a knockout fixture, Conrad backed his players to handle expectations and continue their winning momentum.

“There’s always pressure. It’s about what you do with that pressure and how you shift it,” Conrad said. “It’s really about embracing it. We’re going to prepare exactly the same way for New Zealand.”

South Africa enter the contest as the only unbeaten team left in the competition, a factor Conrad believes naturally places them among the favourites but does not add extra burden.

“The semi-final itself is pressure enough. Playing a top side like New Zealand is pressure enough,” he said. “I’m glad that we’re favourites because as a South African team you want to play as favourites. It’s easier being an underdog when expectations aren’t as high.”

Conrad added that consistency and a measure of luck would be key as his side aims to reach the final, scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad.

If South Africa are to extend their winning run, captain Aiden Markram is expected to play a pivotal role following an outstanding tournament with the bat.

Markram currently leads the run-scoring charts among players from the four remaining semi-finalists, and Conrad believes the skipper has grown significantly since South Africa finished runners-up to India in the 2024 edition of the tournament.

“The guys are richer for that experience,” Conrad said. “They’ve learned a lot about themselves and Aiden has been fantastic both with the bat and as a leader.

“You’re only as good as your troops, and he’d be the first to admit that. But Aiden has been at the forefront of everything we do.”

Conrad also highlighted the importance of regularly reaching the latter stages of major tournaments.

“If you continually make semi-finals and finals, eventually you’re going to win one,” he said. “Now we’ve given ourselves a 25 per cent chance, and hopefully by Wednesday evening that will rise to about 50 per cent.”

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026