Top five factors behind Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years

EXPLAINERTop five factors behind Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 yearsSet pieces, a mean defence and unorthodox motivation methods are some of the key reasons behind Arsenal’s success.Arsenal have ended a 22-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions after Manchester City were held 1-1 by Bournemouth.Mikel Arteta’s men held off the challenge of Pep Guardiola’s second-place City on Tuesday night to seal a long-awaited triumph with one game to spare.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4US to let DR Congo football team in for World Cup despite Ebola restrictionslist 2 of 4Neymar’s surprise World Cup call-up: All to know about his Brazil returnlist 3 of 4Messi mania but no World Cup broadcast deal in India – all to knowlist 4 of 4Ronaldo to lead Portugal at sixth World Cup as Martinez names squadend of listHere are the key factors that helped the Gunners finally get over the line after three seasons as runners-up:Back to basicsArsenal’s title-winning campaign has been ugly at times. For a couple of seasons, Arteta’s Arsenal have been the emblem of a more back-to-basics approach in English football.The era of pretty passing under Guardiola and heavy-metal football under Jurgen Klopp has given way to set pieces, long throw-ins and long balls from the back.It is a world Arsenal have mastered with Gabriel Magalhaes a menace at corners, Declan Rice key with his pinpoint throws and dead-ball deliveries, and Victor Gyokeres a more robust out-and-out striker.Often derided by rival fans as “Set Piece FC” for a lack of creativity, specialist coach Nicolas Jover has devised a series of inventive schemes to give Arsenal an edge.More than 40 percent of the Gunners’ Premier League goals this season have come from dead ball situations. Of their 28 goals from set pieces, 18 have come from corners, a new single-season Premier League record.Meanwhile, the Gunners easily have the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 26 goals in 37 games this season, and it is that solidity and sturdiness that will define this title-winning team.Rice’s leadership, Raya’s saves, Gyokeres’s goalsRice and goalkeeper David Raya have stood out for Arsenal this season, putting them among the favourites for English football’s Player of the Year award.