Arsenal have scored 21 goals this season without finding the net from a set piece, despite their reputation as one of Europe's most dangerous sides from dead-ball situations.
Arsenal continued their perfect start to the Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Lille on Tuesday night, but one statistic has raised an interesting question about Mikel Arteta's side.
The Gunners have scored 21 goals this season, yet none have come from set pieces.
For a team whose success from corners and free kicks has become a defining feature of the Arteta era, it is a surprising statistic, particularly after another convincing win at the Emirates.
Arsenal 3-0 Lille: Seven Minutes of Magic
Arsenal needed patience to break down Lille's organised defence, with the sides going into half-time goalless.
Eberechi Eze doubled the advantage three minutes later, converting Bukayo Saka's pass, before Saka got on the scoresheet himself in the 71st minute after combining with Kai Havertz.
Three goals in seven minutes turned a frustrating evening into a comfortable European victory.
All three came from open play, highlighting the quality Arsenal possess when their attacking combinations click.
But the absence of set-piece goals remains an intriguing subplot to their impressive start.
Where Have Arsenal's Set-Piece Goals Gone?
Arsenal have established themselves as one of the Premier League's most effective sides from dead-ball situations in recent seasons.
Under set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, their routines have become a major weapon, with Declan Rice delivering dangerous corners and Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba providing a physical presence inside the penalty area.
Those situations have helped Arsenal break down stubborn defences and turn tight matches in their favour.
That makes their current record particularly noteworthy.
The lack of goals does not necessarily mean their set pieces have become ineffective, but it does show that the Gunners have not yet translated those opportunities into goals this season.
Should Mikel Arteta Be Worried?
There is little reason for Arsenal to panic while the results continue to arrive.
Their victory over Lille extended their winning start in Europe, while the goals from Timber, Eze and Saka demonstrated the variety of attacking options available to Arteta.
However, set pieces can prove decisive across a long campaign, particularly against opponents who defend deep and leave little space to exploit in open play.
Arsenal's ability to score through intricate passing moves is a strength, but rediscovering their dead-ball threat would give them another route to goal.
With opponents increasingly familiar with Arsenal's attacking patterns, that additional dimension could become important in the biggest matches.
Arsenal Have More Than One Way to Win
The encouraging sign for Arteta is that Arsenal are not relying on a single source of goals.
Against Lille, their second-half burst showed how quickly they can turn pressure into a decisive advantage, with substitutions helping inject fresh energy into the contest.
The set-piece statistic is worth monitoring, but it should not overshadow another strong performance.
Arsenal are scoring freely and winning matches. If their familiar threat from corners and free kicks returns as well, they could become even more difficult to stop.
