Who are the most efficient team from corners in the Premier League? It's not Arsenal as a surprise package set high mark to beat in 2025/26 season

The season has begun in a promising vein for Arsenal. Their backs might have been against the wall for periods against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but they emerged with a valuable three points despite being sub-par, courtesy of another set-piece goal. But are they the most clinical team in the Premier League from dead balls? We have dug into the data, and found some fascinating conclusions.

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"Set-piece again, ole, ole..."
It's the regular refrain of choice for Arsenal fans, and even more so after they started their season with - yes - another set-piece goal.
Altay Bayindir's error that gave The Gunners their win over Manchester United might have been dissected to the nth degree, but just as impressive was the coordination of the attacking routine that saw Riccardo Calafiori bundle in at the far stick.
It was a goal that reinforced the idea that Mikel Arteta's side are the Premier League's set-piece kings - but is that accurate?
TNT Sports has combed over last season's data in a bid to provide some benchmarks for the 20 teams in this season's top flight. And what it shows is something of a surprise...

Surprise package comes top

As we began with Bayindir's blunder, let's start with corners.
Arsenal may have scored the most goals from corners in the 2024/25 Premier League season, but perhaps a truer reflection of a team's prowess in this area is assessing who scores the highest percentage from the total they are awarded.
And... drum roll... the team that were most efficient from corners last season was... Crystal Palace, scoring from 6.4% of the corners they were awarded.
Arsenal did not even make the runners-up spot, with Nottingham Forest coming in at 6.3%, while The Gunners - at 5.6% - ended third, with the full top five below.
TeamCornersGoals from corners% goals from corners
Crystal Palace171116.4%
Nottingham Forest159106.3%
Arsenal251145.6%
Brighton18884.3%
Spurs243104.1%
Data: Opta
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Free-kicks

Looking at total goals scored from free kicks last season, Everton were the big winners, hitting eight goals.
Arsenal, however, could only net the joint-sixth most goals, with three.
That was more than Liverpool and Manchester City, who only scored once each from free kicks.
TeamGoals from free kicks
Everton8
Newcastle United7
Nottingham Forest6
Brighton and Hove Albion6
Aston Villa6
Data: Opta

Total set-piece goals

Lastly, we come to the final tally, with a three-way tie at the top.
TeamTotal SP goals (excl. pens)*
Crystal Palace17
Nottingham Forest17
Arsenal17
Aston Villa16
Brighton15
Everton15
And for those who want a more rounded picture with penalties included, it's Brighton & Hove Albion who take the honour above Palace.
TeamTotal SP goals (incl. pens)*
Brighton22
Crystal Palace20
Nottingham Forest20
Arsenal19
Aston Villa19
Brentford19
Liverpool19
Data: Opta
*includes goals from throw-ins
So, as the 2025/26 season gets going, can any team:
  • Score more than 6.4% of their corners?
  • Score more than eight goals from free kicks?
  • Score more than 22 total set-pieces?
We'll be back in 10 months' time with the answer...
Watch and stream the 2025/26 Premier League season on TNT Sports and discovery+
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