Arsenal may be winning ‘ugly’ but they won’t care at all if it ends in the title

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has labelled Arsenal the "ugliest Premier League" team in history - but everyone is doing it and Mikel Arteta will have no issues if their season ends in glory

In years to come no-one will remember how they won it. Just as long as they won it.

That is all that matters for Mikel Arteta this season. Arsenal just need to get over the line and if that means winning ugly then so be it. That is always the story in sport.

It would be Arsenal’s first title in 22 years - the longest they have gone post-war without winning it - and it is little wonder the nerves have kicked in. But they have also become sitting ducks for every Tom, Dick and Harry criticising their style of play. And Chris Sutton, too.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to restore their five point lead over Manchester City at the top and they did it with two goals from corners. Their 30th and 31st goals from set-pieces this season.

No wonder they have been cast as Set Piece FC. It is not exactly free-flowing champagne football. BBC pundit Sutton ripped into Arsenal’s style of play, their tactics and how they are going about trying to win the title this season.

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Sutton said: “Set-piece Arsenal, again. I think they are going to win it. If they get over the line - will they be the ugliest Premier League-winning team in history? The performance wasn't there.”

Sutton is actually one of the best pundits around because he is well-informed, has a deep passion for the game and tells it how it is. But on this one, I think he is being very harsh. Arsenal looked tired and jaded against Chelsea. They were far from their best.

He was not alone, though. Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira said on Sky: “When you are top of the Champions League and Premier League table, you expect Arsenal to go forward.”

However, we should remember it is often the sign of a good team when you win without playing well. Arsenal somehow got themselves over the line.

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But this actually should be more about the state of the Premier League. Football has always been and always will be cyclical. From control to inverted full backs to set-pieces and now long throws.

Everyone is doing it. Everyone is launching the ball into the box, jostling for position and grappling, blocking and shoving has become an art form.

It is not pretty to watch. But football is going through the set-piece era. And Arsenal - Arteta and his set-piece coach Nico Jover - are very good at it.

But, here’s a surprising stat. Only Manchester City have scored more goals than Arsenal from open play this season.

Then, after Liverpool’s win over West Ham on Saturday - two of their five goals came from set-pieces - they made it seven since the turn of the year which was more than Arsenal.

The fact is Arsenal are going through a sticky spell right now. But their second half against Bayern Munich - who they blitzed 3-1 - was pure football and they played brilliantly. Their second half against Aston Villa was another high point.

These are not one-offs. The general performance level has been better than now - and yet the run-in is always about getting the job done.

Was Arsenal’s football better under Arsene Wenger? Unquestionably. Would it be nice to see more expansive, attacking and stylish football under Arteta? Of course.

But this is not just an Arsenal thing. It is a trend which Arsenal have perfected. And it is worth keeping in mind that were Chelsea really exciting under Jose Mourinho?

Some people even claim City were boring under Pep Guardiola. That has to be a joke because he produces sensational teams. Sir Alex Ferguson built teams to entertain.

Going back a few years, Liverpool won titles in the 80s with Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson at their peak and they would play the ball between themselves for 20 minutes before passing it back to Bruce Grobbelaar. They changed the pass back rule especially for Liverpool.

Arsenal have finished twice in the past three seasons. The first season was an unexpected challenge so they did not bottle it. The second season they won eight of nine of their last nine games. They did not bottle it. Last year, they never really pushed Liverpool that closely.

But Arteta had to find a different way to win. Now he has mastered set-pieces, people still complain. He just cannot win. Unless he does.