Sean Dyche gives honest opinion of Arsenal’s corner threat as Everton boss prepares to get one over Mikel Arteta in the set piece derby

Everton’s derby against Arsenal on Saturday has been years in the making for manager Sean Dyche, who says he used primitive technology to make marginal gains as youth coach at Watford.

No one has scored more goals from corners and free-kicks than Saturday’s warriors at the Emirates, but Dyche insists studying how to maximize set pieces is nothing new.

“People have been analyzing set pieces for years and years,” he revealed. ‘I remember I first did it as a youth team manager in 2007, when you needed two different screens.

“It was called Final Cut Pro. You sat there laboriously learning how to do it and transfer information from one screen to another; lift, drag, drop, stop-in, timeline. It was a pain in the ass!

“Then comes the coding on a laptop, you can buy it straight from the store and boom.”

The Merseysiders score half of their goals under Dyche from set pieces and are the only team as intimidating to stop as Arsenal, with James Tarkowski named alongside Gunners’ Gabriel as the Premier League’s biggest aerial threat.

Dyche’s Everton are preparing for the significant threat Arsenal pose from corners

“We’ve probably laid the foundation for our regular games at Everton in pre-season,” Dyche added.

‘Maybe Arsenal have a psychological advantage because they are so good at it, but we have discovered that too.

“Almost all teams mention them as a threat when they play against us. That brings its own psychology!’

Arsenal have scored seven times from set pieces in the Premier League this season and Everton six times, accounting for almost half of the total goals scored.

These days Dyche hands the responsibility over to coaches Steve Stone and Ian Woan, and a team of analysts, but admits it still depends on the players keen to win headers.

“Delivering and attacking the ball will never go away,” he said.

“Brian Clough talked about that in 1987 when I first went to Nottingham Forest. ‘Put the ball in the penalty area and someone has to go in and attack it.’

‘Over time, delivery improves, movement improves, players’ physical strength improves and their jumping ability improves. But that one thing you need; just the sheer will and desire to score a goal.’

Dyche insists that chasing the title at Arsenal involves much more than just set pieces

Dyche says his side are preparing against any team, not just Arsenal, who have specialist coaches and are known as the best in the country.

However, the Everton boss, who should once again have fit striker Armando Broja in his squad, does not view Mikel Arteta’s title challengers as a one-trick pony.

‘Just because they have strong stats on set pieces, I haven’t forgotten their other threats. They can still open you up and have some really good players,” he said.

‘I certainly don’t think they are a regular playing team. They’re just a team that can add that, and they did.”