Arsenal teammate says he does all the ‘dirty work’ to help Gabriel Magalhaes score from set-pieces

Arsenal are the best set-piece team in the world.

The Gunners have been incredible in that department since Nicolas Jover took charge. The Frenchman has completely transformed the club and made them a nightmare to defend against.

Arsenal have scored so many goals from set-pieces in recent years, and their biggest threat inside the box is Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazil international gets all the plaudits, but one of his teammates has now taken some credit: William Saliba.

Are Arsenal the best set-piece team in Premier League history?

Has there ever been a better set-piece team than Arsenal in the history of the Premier League? Sam Allardyce and Tony Pulis would say ‘yes’, but what do you think?

Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

William Saliba says he does the ‘dirty work’ to help Gabriel Magalhaes score for Arsenal

Arsenal’s set-piece routine is simply incredible.

The delivery from Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice is almost always on the money, and one player – usually Gabriel – attacks the ball with everything he has got.

What many people miss during these situations is the role other players – like Saliba – play.

Half of Arsenal’s players inside the box act as blockers. They get in the way of the goalkeeper and opposition defenders to make space for Gabriel.

Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

That has worked brilliantly in recent years.

Now, Saliba has expressed his desire to score more goals, but he pointed out how he helps Gabriel.

In an interview on Canal+, the Arsenal star said: “I think I can still do better. Offensively, for example, I can score more.

“I’ve started scoring a bit, like Gabriel does. He scores because I help him too – I do the dirty work! But of course, I need to start scoring myself. I want to help the team offensively.”

What rival managers have said about Arsenal’s set-pieces 🔥

“As difficult as it is to prepare to defend against us. It’s how difficult it is to prepare defend set pieces against them, they’ve got every other aspect of the game as well. But that’s something that they master more than anybody else.”

Vincent Kompany – November 2025

“Arsenal is the best set-piece team, not only in the Premier League but in the world right now.”

Thomas Frank – December 2024

“They have set pieces with Nico [Jover], who was here, in every department we know it. I know the quality they have.”

Pep Guardiola – September 2025

“They [Arsenal] are very good because they have a lot of time working on that [set-pieces]. Especially on that, they have big players for that, so it is a strategy.”

Ruben Amorim – August 2025

William Saliba could get his wish at Arsenal

Saliba is not wrong to dream of scoring more goals.

The Frenchman is big, strong and good in the air, which are all the qualities you need to be successful in set-piece situations.

Gabriel’s aggressiveness makes him a better fit to attack the ball at Arsenal, but with the Brazilian unlikely to play again until the end of this year due to injury, Saliba could get his wish.

The former Saint-Etienne star should ask Jover and the coaching staff to let him be the one to attack the ball during corners. If they agree, the defender could cause a lot of problems.

However, the ‘dirty work’ he is doing at the moment is really benefiting Arsenal, so we don’t see the need for a change.

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