WAYNE ROONEY revealed Mikel Arteta is COPYING his set pieces.
Arsenal have been hailed for their potent approach to dead-ball situations.
In fact, no team can match the Gunners’ tally of 23 goals from set pieces and 16 from corners in the Premier League since the beginning of last season.
But Rooney hinted Arteta could be nicking his tactics – after exposing Arsenal for scoring an identical goal to his Derby side nearly four years ago.
Speaking on the Stick To Football podcast about the importance of set pieces, Plymouth boss Rooney said: “Set pieces are so important, the amount of matches won or lost by them is huge.
“One of the coaches does it then I come in with some weird ideas.
“The Arsenal one they scored with, I did that four years ago against Middlesbrough and we scored from it.”
Rooney was likely referencing Gabriel Magalhaes’ header against Manchester City.
At the Etihad last month, a cluster of Arsenal players started beyond the back post and flooded the six-yard box, allowing the defender to storm in from the penalty spot and nod into the back of the net.
But the positioning of the players struck a familiar chord for Rooney.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Because when managing Derby, the Rams found the net in very similar fashion at home to Middlesbrough in a 2-1 win in February 2021.
Again, at an inswinging corner from the right, the attacking side positioned a host of players way out at the back edge of the area.
And as Martyn Waghorn gave the signal, the Derby men split and four of the five ran at different angles towards the goal, causing chaos for the Boro backline.
Defender Lee Buchanan made the first contact at the back post.
Although unlike Gabriel, he teed the ball up across the goal as team-mate Lee Gregory headed in.
Arsenal have employed Nicolas Jover as their set-piece coach and are reaping the rewards of a dedicated member of staff for a crucial part of football – both offensively and defensively.
It did not work out so well at Wolves, though, who sacked their first set-piece coach Jack Wilson this week following the 5-3 defeat at Brentford.
Since his summer arrival from Manchester City, winless Wolves have conceded from dead-ball situations in five of their seven Premier League matches and scored from one as they sit rooted to the bottom of the table.
Rooney also referenced another of his custom set pieces, where he got a player to stand on the four corners of the penalty area and three in the D and all charged towards the mixer.
And he suggested it nearly paid off with a goal last weekend when Plymouth beat Blackburn in dramatic fashion.
But then Morgan Whittacker grabbed a 97th-minute winner as the Pilgrims picked up their third victory of the season to sit 14th in the Championship table.
