Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

If you win the league, who cares if you’re loved? Arsenal have scored the most goals and have the best defensive record. Call it what you like- functionally, they’re the best team.

It feels like every time they get a corner it’s a huge moment. But if it works, why does it matter what it looks like?

You can listen to the best bits of the Monday Night Club in the Football Daily podcast.

Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

I joked that if Arsenal win the Premier League, which I think they will, they would be the ugliest team to win it? It was tongue-in-cheek.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you win it. Arsenal fans just want the title. When I played at Blackburn, we weren’t everyone’s cup of tea. We were direct, 4-2-2, streetwise, but we were effective. It’s similar with Arsenal.

They use set plays as a weapon. Why wouldn’t they? They’re the best in the business at it.

On Sunday, Sutton had said on BBC Radio 5 Live that the Gunners could become "the ugliest Premier League-winning team in history."

If you still want to make your voice heard in more ways, head to the poll at the top of this page.

We’re asking: Is the reliance on set‑pieces ruining the enjoyment of the Premier League?

Cast your vote and let us know where you stand on the set-pieces debate.

You all had the chance to have your say as well, with plenty of you writing in with your opinions and concerns:

• One Arsenal supporter said "I honestly don't understand where the notion that Arsenal are somehow big time wasters has come from?", so we did a little bit of digging on some metrics.
• According to Opta, the average time the ball has been in play across Arsenal's 29 league matches this season is 56 mins 3 secs, which is 55.7% of their total game time and ranks them seventh out of all the Premier League teams. Take a look at the full table here.
• However, the numbers say Arsenal do top the table in terms of the length of time it takes them to restart a match from a corner...

The debate over what might be described as a 'set-piece obsession' in the Premier League has continued to rage on today:

• Where did this all stem from? Well, Liverpool boss Arne Slot weighed in on what he believes is an over emphasis on set-pieces yesterday, adding that his "football heart doesn't like it" and most Premier League games are no longer a "joy to watch".
• Fabian Hurzeler said his piece on the matter in his news conference this morning, stating: "Sometimes [Arsenal] spend one minute to take a corner if they are leading." He added: "For me, the main topic is to make a clear rule around how much time you can waste for a corner, throw-in or free-kick because no-one recognises it."
• Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wouldn't be drawn too much on his thoughts just now. In his news conference, he said: "Set-pieces have started to be important, it was different when I started as a manager. You can sit and complain but you have to adapt. It's part of the game."

Well Arsenal's fixture list includes the same number of games, just maybe not the same level of opposition.

Both clubs are still in all four competitions and will meet at Wembley on 22 March in the EFL Cup final.

Could be a case of last team standing, as Harry suggests...

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are heading into a demanding spell of fixtures as they juggle the Premier League title race, a Champions League last‑16 showdown with Real Madrid, and an FA Cup tie against Newcastle - all before their Carabao Cup final clash with Arsenal on 22 March.

With fixtures coming every few days, it is sure to test the depth and resilience of Pep Guardiola's squad.

Manchester City

A final word from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on his side's busy run of fixtures: "It is a privilege to be in March and we are in all the competitions. It's a dream. It is a privilege.

"Last season, we fought but were out of the Champions League and FA Cup. Next Saturday against Newcastle, two games against Real Madrid. If you win, you continue, if you don't win, holidays in that competition.

"I am only concerned about that."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked again about set-pieces and how referees can officiate them: "You create a different press conference. I have a specific opinion about that and it remains to me. It is up to the referees. I cannot answer that question. I know my opinion perfectly about that.

"When you are on that subject normally, you lose your focus. The focus is Nottingham Forest and Vitor Pereira. If I start to talk about that, I will be in trouble tomorrow.

"I have a completely detailed and precise opinion about that, but you'll have to ask the referees. Not to me."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Here's the full quote from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on whether he enjoys set-pieces: "Yeah. It is what it is. It is the business I am in. I am a manager. I can't say 'I don't like set-pieces'. I adapt and do it.

"Football has been played in so many ways since it was created. How it is played in England is different in the way it is played in Spain or Italy. Every manager plays in different ways. How boring would it be if all the managers played in the same way. I have to adapt.

"If I don't like, I don't watch but I have to adapt."

Alec, Wales: Back to my earlier comment, this is why Pep has been the best in the game for the last 10 years. He adapts. It kills me to say it, but you have to respect the only man manager out there.

Manchester City

More from Pep Guardiola on excessive pushing and pulling in the box during corners: "I have my own opinion on that but I will keep the opinion of what happens in the box to me. I won't share with you. I have shared it with the players a long time ago."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on use of set-pieces in Premier League: "Set-pieces have started to be important. It was different when I started as a manager.

"When I was a young boy we said the people in England celebrate corners and free-kicks like a goal. I remember perfectly, so nothing has changed in that way.

"Arsenal dictate how they do it and it is an important aspect. Four years ago in the NBA, the three-shot point was not involved as much but now so many teams do it. It is part of the dynamics.

"You can sit and complain but you have to adapt. It's part of the game. You have to adapt and especially adapt in the way it is conducted in the Premier League. Every country has a specific way to do it and every club have specific ways they play. I understand completely why [Arne Slot's comments] and in some ways I agree."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Notitngham Forest counterpart Vitor Pereira: "I remember him from Porto. It was the Super Cup in Monaco, I remember perfectly. I remember playing Wolves last season, they outplayed us in the first half, we were incredibly lucky.

"A top-class manager. They were alive against Brighton and Liverpool. When we played them with Sean Dyche, they have quality players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi. They have top, top players and a big squad.

"They play for important things [battling against relegation] like us and this is starting to be decisive part of the season. We have two games in the Premier League before the international break. We can't drop points because we are five points behind Arsenal."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola accepts that set-pieces are "part of the game" and all teams have to adapt to that.

But he added that he understands why Liverpool manager Arne Slot says the over-emphasis on set-pieces was taking the joy of out the game "and in some aspects I agree".

Guardiola was also asked about jostling between players at set-pieces but refused to share his views on that, saying he preferred to keep his opinion to himself.

More to follow.

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking before facing Nottingham Forest, on Erling Haaland's availability: "He feels much better but yesterday we didn't train. Today, we are so we will decide after that."

"We will do the same for Nico [O'Reilly] after the training."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland: "He feels much better but we decide today."

Full quotes to follow.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

You can bet Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be asked about this when he faces the media later this afternoon.

For now, though, we will turn our attention to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who is about to hold his news conference before Wednesday's match at home to Nottingham Forest.

However, where Arsenal do rank highly is the length of time it takes them to restart a match from a corner.

They comfortably lead the way in this stat, with an average of 44.35secs...