Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on why he urged the fans to be calm near then end of Sunday's win over Chelsea, when previously he had urged them to bring energy to the stadium: "The players have to make those decisions [when to push or when to calm the play down]. The crowd normally says in this country 'shoot' from 40 yards as well. But we can then shoot all the time and they go 'what are you doing shooting from there?'. So I think we would have a split stadium.

"It's natural that they are pushing, but we need to understand as well that at certain moments we have to take our time to start attacks in the right way."

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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Arsenal's barren sequence of nearly 22 years without a Premier League title stretching back to Arsene Wenger's "Invincibles" has been littered with accusations they were style over substance, a soft touch – lacking with is commonly called "bottle".

The modern-day Gunners now stand nine games from ending that tortuous wait for glory, five points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Arsenal also finished top of the Champions League standings with eight wins from eight games. They play City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, and are overwhelming favourites for their FA Cup fifth round tie at League One side Mansfield Town.

If the cards fall, Arsenal could yet complete the greatest campaign in their club's history.

And yet, the tables have been turned on Arsenal, with Arteta's side now being labelled as dull and over-pragmatic, relying on set piece expertise rather than a purist style in their bid to win the title.

The final judgement on this will be shaped at the end of the season – but if the name of the game is winning then Arsenal are doing it right. Those who do not like it may not be surprised to be told to lump it if it leads to that long overdue success.

Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on whether criticism of the club's set-piece tactics is because everyone is trying to play catch-up: "I don't know. As an opponent you get upset when you concede a goal. I was really upset by the way we conceded the goal against Chelsea and Chelsea looked really good with the quality they have, look at the amount of set-pieces they score. Manchester United, the same.

"When I was at Manchester City we used to work a lot on them, so it's something.

"There are phases when one team has an opportunity to do certain things. The game is evolving and becoming more and more difficult.

"Before, when you used to do a game plan and you would invert a full-back or bring an extra player into midfield or a false nine, 4v3 inside, 2v1 inside, everyone behind the ball.

"Teams are adapting, teams know after every sequence of play, whether it is 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.

"So it is not going to be a different game, unless we change the rules, because the evolution of the game is that."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on what he has said to his players about managing their nerves: "We talk about every aspect of the game - managing a game, managing a result and managing in certain contexts - whether you are 10 men against 11, it's a very important one. So we have discussed about everything."

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on whether it is hard not to get drawn into the pressure surrounding the title race during tight matches: "We had to do much better with the ball in in-game actions [near the end of Sunday's win over Chelsea]. I have got to say all credit to Chelsea as well. They got us into tight situations ans they produced the biggest chance from a cross that is not a shot and David [Raya] has to make a big save.

"Against Spurs we managed to score three goals when drawing 1-1 and won the game more comfortably, so all the time we have to continue to learn."

Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on his side's record on goals from set-pieces and what other managers have said about the tactics they use:

"I am upset we haven't scored more and that we have conceded [from set-pieces] as well.

"We want to be the best and most dominant team in every aspect of the game. That is the trajectory and the aim of this team. As a club we want to be the same, so we will try to do that."

On criticism his side and their tactics have received: "It's part of the job."

Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on players who may be back available to face Brighton: "Especially Kai [Havertz]. He has done part of the session so we will have to wait and see whether he is available and then in what conditions. Martin [Odegaard] is the other one. We will see. We have to wait and see how comfortable he is to do certain actions.

"Ben [White] is not available. Max [Dowman] is available.

On Declan Rice's availability: "I hope so. He was much better today. We haven't really trained because we only have two days to prepare for the game, so hopefully he is going to be better tomorrow."

On goalkeeper David Raya: "David is good, good to go."

Arsenal

Mikel Arta also says midfielder Declan Rice is "going be OK" after being taken off with a knock during their 2-1 win against Chelsea.

The Arsenal manager also reports goalkeeper David Raya is "good to go" while Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard will be assessed.

Full quotes to follow.

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on how long it took him to calm down after Sunday's win over Chelsea: "When the whistle went, done. So I must have a very strong heart. I have [a strong heart], it's been tested since I was two. Since I was born basically, so it has been a few years."

Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been asked about criticism of his side's tactics during set-pieces.

In his reply, the Gunners boss said that he is "upset we haven't scored more" goals from corner kicks.

Full quotes to follow.

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has also been speaking to the media before the Premier League leaders face Brighton.

And you can bet he would've been asked about the set‑piece debate too - especially with the Gunners leading the league for goals from corners this season.

We’ll bring all of his takes and Arsenal team news as we have them.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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Referees do not go into Premier League games blind about each team's tactics. Officials are sent a dossier of information by PGMO which details how each team approaches set-pieces, attacking and defensively.

It is supposed to keep referees ahead of the curve on things like grappling and blocking. But, with the Premier League's high bar on fouls, much of the holding is allowed.

Fans get frustrated by corners being retaken, but former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann says this is because "grappling often begins before the corner is taken" - and it isn't possible to give a foul when the ball isn't in play.

Maybe this could all change? We might be waiting a while for anything to happen, though.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) met in Wales on Saturday to thrash out the law changes for next season.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Ian Maxwell batted away questions about grappling: "It wasn't something that we specifically talked about. I'm not sure it's necessarily getting worse."

It should be remembered that we're only discussing this because players and coaches are always trying to find that extra edge to score a goal.

It might be that a law change really is needed to stop players throwing each other around before corners, or maybe it is just a Premier League problem.

Manchester United

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Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick on grappling during set-pieces: "I think it’s gone too far. It wasn’t long ago we were told you couldn’t lay a hand on anyone in the box and we were told it would be clamped down. It’s crept in, the success of corners and being able to put bodies close together has made more teams do it.

"It’s understandable why there are so many teams doing it and trying it. As a game, it doesn’t feel like we’ve got that balance right. I don’t know what to do about it, it’s not for me to decide.

"In the meantime, you got to deal with what's in front of you, and if it's allowed, then you got to play to it."

Manchester United

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Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick on his sides losing steam towards the end of the season: "I think coming in at the start it was quite quickly, one game at a time again. And I think that's the only way you know it's when you're in it and you live in it, and you've got to perform, and the boys have got to be in a good frame of mind to be able to be able to put performances together. I think the only way to do it and give yourself the best chance is to stay in the moment, and it's for everybody else to get involved in the discussions."

"I didn’t get too far ahead in terms of what was possible at that stage. We had to get to work quickly and put things into practice, give the players the right balance to go into a game.

"I know some of the players, some more than others, it’s a really good group. Talent-wise, ability-wise, the boys have shown what they can do. Good habits, good behaviours, looking after each other, I can’t speak highly enough of the players."

Manchester United

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Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick on Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire's availability: "Still got a bit of time to the game, and we'll just have to see how they feel. So we'll give them every chance."

"We’re working towards it. They weren’t feeling too good, we’ve still got a bit of time to the game so we’ll see how they feel.

"It wasn’t injury, both weren’t feeling too good, so it’s one of those things really. We’ll see how they are.

Manchester United

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Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick, speaking at his news conference before facing Newcastle, has said that grappling during set-pieces have "gone too far."

The former midfielder also added that "it doesn’t feel like we’ve got that balance right."

Full quotes to follow.