Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has publicly dismissed suggestions that Arsenal would be undeserving Premier League champions due to their significant reliance on set-piece goals. Guardiola's comments came amidst criticism, notably from former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, who controversially claimed Arsenal would be "the worst team to ever win the Premier League" if they lifted the trophy using such tactics.

Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, has indeed established itself as the division's leading set-piece specialist, having scored a remarkable 24 goals from free-kicks, corners, and throw-ins. Despite this, Guardiola asserted his disagreement with the critics, stating that Arsenal has every right to employ any strategy that helps them achieve success. He emphasized that both the manager and players would be content, and Arsenal fans would undoubtedly not want to alter their effective set-piece approach, feeling confident about scoring from such situations.

The contrast between the two title contenders in this regard is stark. While Arsenal and City are separated by just five points at the top of the Premier League, their scoring profiles differ significantly. Manchester City has scored only nine set-piece goals this season, a tally lower than almost all other teams in the league, with only Nottingham Forest and Wolves scoring fewer. In contrast, City has scored an overwhelming 84.2% of their goals from open play, a much higher percentage compared to Arsenal's 58.6%.

Guardiola acknowledged the increasing importance of set pieces in modern football, noting that he pays "much more attention" to them now than he did at the start of his career at Barcelona. He recognized that corners and free-kicks often create "chaos" and second-ball opportunities, making it crucial to be attentive to these situations. However, when reminded that his team doesn't score many goals from set pieces, Guardiola simply replied, "Good," indicating his satisfaction with City's current scoring methods.

Ultimately, Guardiola reiterated his core philosophy: the objective is to score goals, regardless of the aesthetic or method. He stated, "I never prepared a plan to be beautiful. No, no, no. That is a business, you have to score goals and the way you do it, it doesn't matter." For Guardiola, whether a goal comes from a corner, a free-kick, or open play, the delight remains the same, underscoring his belief that putting the ball in the net is the sole important factor.