Set pieces are an incredibly important part of football, with between 25% and 33% of goals scored coming from a set piece. They are equally important in Fantrax EPL, and in these articles we will highlight the trends in set pieces that will lead to player value fluctuation.
Be sure to check out our other Inner Circle features, including the Fixture Difficulty Tracker and Weekly Projections.
Check out @DraftLad's article on why set pieces matter so much and our Set Piece Tracker for more set piece data.
Gameweek 10 Set Piece Takers
Arsenal
Same as last week: with Pepe not featuring and Odegaard only coming off the bench, Smith Rowe and Saka split corners. This week it was Saka assisting Gabriel from a near-post corner cross. Saka also took the 1 free kick of the game. With the 4-4-2 working well for Arsenal, Odegaard looks to remain out of the starting XI, and ESR and Saka will continue to prosper from set pieces in his absence.
Aston Villa
Another strange set piece work from Villa, with 5 different players each taking 1 set piece. Buendia, Bailey, and Targett all took 1 corner, and Young and McGinn each took 1 free kick. Douglas Luiz did not play, but if he did maybe it would have been more straightforward.
Brentford
Jensen took Brenford's 1 corner before being subbed off for Janelt who then also took 1 corner. Ghoddos took 1 shot from a free kick. It appears that its either one or the other from Jensen and Janelt, both in terms of set pieces but also playing time. Going forward, Janelt looks to be the preferred option for playing time, and thus set pieces.
Brighton
Last gameweek's early substitution and a midweek start for Gross were good indicators that he wouldn't start in GW10, and indeed that was the case. In his absence Solly March prospered and took 2 corners and a free kick. After subbing on, Gross resumed his duties, and took a corner. If Gross continues to not start in future gameweeks, March, Mac Allister, and Cucurella will likely be the set piece beneficiaries.
Burnley
Westwood and Gudmundsson split corners for Burnley, with previous takers McNeil and Cornet taking none. McNeil did get 1 free kick shot though and Westwood crossed the other.
Chelsea
Only 2 corners for Chelsea and Ziyech and Chilwell got 1 a piece. Ziyech also got Chelsea's 1 free kick. Nothing for Hudson-Odoi or Reece James, and Mount did not play due to sickness. Jorginho also took and scored a penalty kick (with Lukaku not on the pitch).
Crystal Palace
With Milivojevic not selected for the XI this week, it was back to being a Gallagher monopoly week. Olise also only played 5 minutes but may have factored in if he played more.
Everton
Townsend and Gray split corners once again, and Townsend took 2 free kicks. Digne missed the game due to injury.
Leicester City
"Has Maddison reclaimed control of Leicester set pieces?" we asked last week. It appears he mostly has. He took 5 corners this week, to Tielemans 2, and also had 2 free kick shots, 1 of which was only stopped by an amazing diving save from Aaron Ramsdale.
Leeds
Only 2 free kicks and 0 corners for Leeds this week, of which Raphinha took both. Rodrigo looks to lose out entirely when Raph is on the pitch as we predicted last week.
Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold and Robertson split set pieces once again.
Manchester City
Foden and De Bruyne split corners and free kicks evenly this week.
Manchester United
Luke Shaw took United's only set piece, a corner.
Newcastle
Ritchie took 2 free kick crosses, and those were the only set pieces Newcastle had all game.
Norwich City
Just like 1 game earlier in the season, Kieran Dowell and Milot Rashica started and split pieces (both corners and free kicks), 1 from the left and 1 from the right. Normann is clearly down the pecking order from those 2 attackers, so loses his set pieces if they start.
Southampton
JWP was back, and completely unsurprisingly took all of Southampton's set pieces (8 corners, 2 free kicks). The Redmond hype train has sadly died down, at least mostly.
Tottenham
Lo Celso got a rare start, and thus split set pieces with Son in this one. Going forward, with a new manager in Conte incoming, it'll be interesting to see who starts and also who takes set pieces.
Watford
Cucho again took corners and free kicks (2 and 2) but unfortunately for his managers was subbed off at half-time for Cleverly who then proceeded to take corners. Masina also chipped in 1 corner. Cucho appears to still be atop the chart, but will he be in the XI going forward?
West Ham
Bowen, Fornals, and Cresswell all took corners (3, 2, and 1 respectively). Cresswell, Rice, and Lanzini (in a sub appearance) all each took 1 shot from a direct free kick.
Wolves
A new set piece taker has emerged in Rayan Alt-Nouri! He took 2 left footed corners as Moutinho also took 2. Consequentially, Trincao missed out on his previous left footed corners and had 0. Neves took Wolves 1 free kick shot of the game as he's generally favored too.
Things to Watch Out For From This Week
Will Aston Villa's set piece takers ever stabilize?
Will Milivojevic regain his starting XI spot or will Gallagher continue to take set pieces in his absence?
Will Alt-Nouri continue to start and take set pieces?
Things to Watch Out For From Previous Weeks
Was Bruno's lack of set pieces just a blip? TBD
Will Maddison take more set pieces off Tielemans? Yes! It seems likely as of now
Can Cucho keep a majority of set pieces? Yes, if he manages to stay in the XI
Will Pepe continue starting for Arsenal and thus take set pieces away from Odegaard? We could be without both of them going forward, and Smith-Rowe and Saka would prosper.
Will McGinn stay on corners for Aston Villa? And will Buendia stay off them? Last week it was yes and yes, this week it is no and no. Still up in the air
Will Cornet be involved in set pieces going forward? Sometimes
Is Podence the preferred corner taker over Moutinho? Still need to see him start
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