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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says improvements in coaching, tactical set-ups and the conditioning of players mean open-play goals are now harder to come by.

Following Sunday’s 1-0 win against Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium, in which Eberechi Eze scored from a set-piece, Arteta said: “We are noticing a shift. The moment the physicality increases, methods that are implemented are more efficient and the game is more difficult to play because you can constrain spaces, because physically you are better.

“You have to find ways to score in different ways and that’s what I think everybody’s trying to do.”

There is no doubt other sides are focusing more on scoring from a set-piece, particularly corners, and there has been a significant increase in the number of goals being scored via corners across Europe’s major leagues in comparison to last season.

Among the leading European leagues, the Premier League has recorded the largest share of goals from corners in the past two seasons.

Following Tottenham’s 3-0 victory against Everton on Sunday, Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank said: “Set-pieces are so crucial. Right now, Arsenal is on track for the title from set-pieces.”