Former Stoke manager Tony Pulis says people finally understand the importance of set-pieces after Arsenal showed him from corners.

Arsenal scored twice from corners as we beat Manchester United on Wednesday to keep our title challenge alive

. They have enjoyed considerable success with set-pieces under Mikel Arteta, with set-piece coach Nicolas Jower at the heart of it. Pulis ‘

Stoke were renowned for their corners, free-kicks and long throw-ins after winning promotion in 2008 and now he suggests people finally understand how important they are.

“They finally understand. What I will say is, and I want to be clear, I thought we were exceptionally good at set-pieces when I was at Stoke. We went to West Brom one season and we scored the most goals from corners,” Pulis said.

“Every team I’ve been in has been good at set-pieces. It’s a very important part of football, as Arsenal have shown and I think it’s becoming more popular now with set-piece coaches all over the country. “

I realise how important those situations are for teams coming into the Premier League and wanting to survive. The quality of their passes on target is brilliant. Then you have to have players who want to get on the ball and score goals. Arsenal have that in abundance. “

If you look at my career since getting promoted with Gillingham, I’ve been promoted in every division. I’ve worked so hard. I know how important set-pieces are. I know set-pieces will be a major factor in the teams I have. “To

do that and remind the players of how important they are is part of my preparation. I prepare my teams in a number of different ways and set-pieces are as important as anything else.