SOCCER: Each to their own, says Guardiola, as set piece debate deepens

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta share a common goal in their battle for Premier League supremacy but are going about achieving it in very different ways.

While leaders Arsenal have become kings of the set piece this season, scoring 33% of their 58 goals from such situations, including 16 from corner routines, City have largely shunned the Premier League's new obsession.

This season, 27% of all Premier League goals have come from set pieces, more than any other league in Europe and the highest percentage in England's top flight since 2009-10.

Corners have led to 138 goals, already more than in the whole of the previous campaign.

Guardiola brought his famed tika-taka style to the Premier League when he arrived at City in 2016 and has remained faithful to an intricate possession-based style during a glittering reign that has delivered six English titles and provided a blueprint that many others tried to follow.

The signing of goal-machine Erling Haaland led to a slightly more direct style in recent seasons, but City's essence remains intact, evidenced by the fact they are second-bottom of the table based on goals scored from set plays at 10.5%.

"Set-pieces have started to be important. It was different when I started as a manager," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday ahead of his side's crucial home clash with Nottingham Forest which they need to win to keep the pressure on Arsenal.

"When I was a young boy we said the people in England celebrate corners and free-kicks like a goal. I remember perfectly, so nothing has changed in that way."

Arsenal are not lacking for flair players and usually dominate possession but were labelled "ugly" by BBC pundit Chris Sutton after a 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday in which both goals arrived via headers from corners.

HOLDING AND BLOCKING

The sight of players grappling, holding and blocking like wrestlers before corners was a feature of the derby but it is what enticed millions across the world to tune in.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said games are no longer "a joy" while Chelsea's Liam Rosenior has demanded a review to control the rugby-like scrums at corners.

City will aim to keep the pressure firmly on Arsenal by beating struggling Forest, but do not expect to see Guardiola demanding long throws or for his side to play for corners.

Not that he was being drawn too deeply into the debate about Arsenal's methods as he addressed the media.

"It is the business I am in. I am a manager. I can't say 'I don't like set-pieces'. I adapt and do it," Guardiola said.

"Football has been played in so many ways since it was created. How it is played in England is different in the way it is played in Spain or Italy.

"Every manager plays in different ways. How boring would it be if all the managers played in the same way. I have to adapt. If I don't like, I don't watch but I have to adapt."

Arsenal, who are five points clear having played one game more than City, travel to Brighton & Hove Albion, whose manager Fabian Hurzeler knows what is coming.

"It is definitely a big strength from Arsenal, they do it in an impressive way this season," he said.

"They have a lot of good takers, they have a lot of physicality, so it is definitely something we have to take care of, but we will stick to our principles."

-Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters