Theory behind Arsenal's 'secret signal’ to decide what corners they take re-emerges after Spurs win

Arsenal have a secret signal to determine which corners they will take during each Premier League game, according to one theory.

The Gunners took a 3-0 lead in their crucial north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday, with the first and third of those goals coming from corners.

Bukayo Saka's set piece was inadvertently heading in by Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for the first goal, while Kai Havertz powered in a header from close range for the third.

While Spurs pulled it back to 3-2, Arsenal managed to hold on - and the corner goals played a priceless role in the win.

The Gunners have scored more set piece goals than any other Premier League side this season - and it is noticeable how most of their corners follow a similar pattern with players surrounding the six-yard box.

After Arsenal's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace earlier in the season, former Swansea and Everton defender Ashley Williams explained his theory as to how the Gunners' corners actually work.

Speaking on Match of the Day, he explained: "There's always a trigger for what the movement's going to be. We can see they have worked on whether it's a front-post corner or a back-post corner.

"If you keep an eye on Martin Odegaard, we feel - maybe we've had too much time on our hands - that maybe he's signalling something to the corner taker.

New post: Odegaard’s socks : Sharing the goals https://t.co/hDfK1V3yPi #arsenal #afc pic.twitter.com/kt57qZW2Ww

— arseblog (@arseblog) January 22, 2024

"He's in the same place for every corner, and he's playing with his socks.

"The reason we're looking for a trigger is because [these things] are worked on. There is synchronicity regarding whether they go to the front or the back.

"Every clip we see here, he is doing the same thing where he's playing with his socks. It might be coincidence.

"I understand we might be reaching for something that isn't there, but it is a big coincidence that he's always there and always doing something with his sock.

"I think [Arsenal set-piece coach] Nicolas Jover has said, 'We have signals on what set piece we're doing'."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked whether the theory was true in a subsequent press conference, and laughed before replying: "I am not going to tell you that!"

It looks like we'll never know for sure - unless Odegaard himself comes out to admit it...