Mikel Arteta says he is “upset”. Arsenal Neither scored much from a corner, as he dismissed criticism from rival managers over his side’s set-piece approach.

Arsenal continue to lead the way from dead-ball situations, with them 2-1 win against Chelsea For the ninth time this season they have scored a match-winning goal from a corner.

However, his physical presence and blocky routines at set-pieces have drawn scrutiny. David Moyes labeled the Arsenal trailblazers for using the “dark arts”, while Fabian Herzeler called for stricter rules and criticized the league leaders for wasting time.

Herzeler, whose Brighton side face Arsenal Premier League Wednesday, claimed the Gunners wait “more than a minute” before taking corners.

Arteta dismissed criticism as part of an elite competition and insisted his focus remains on maximizing every advantage.

“I’m upset we didn’t score more and we conceded too,” he said. “We want to be the best and most dominant team in every aspect of the game. That’s the path and aim of this team.”

Arsenal have scored 58 goals in the Premier League this season and conceded just 22, giving them the best goal difference in the division. They have also scored 21 goals from set-pieces, including penalties, more than any other side.

Sixteen of their league goals have come from direct corners. While Tottenham have scored a high proportion of their goals from corners, Arsenal’s overall output has been decisive in tight matches.

Arteta argued that the increased emphasis on set-pieces reflected the wider tactical evolution of the modern game.

“Teams are adapting, teams know after every sequence of play – whether it’s a throw-in, a restart of play, an open-pitch situation – after that, they know exactly what they have to do and everything is almost man-to-man,” he said.

“So it’s not going to be a different game, unless we change the rules, because that’s the evolution of the game.”