Gary Neville stirred a lively debate by labeling Arsenal’s set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, “the most annoying man in football,” during The Overlap watchalong of Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on November 4. Neville’s comment came in frustration after Arsenal scored twice from set pieces, through Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, highlighting Jover’s effectiveness in this area.
Neville’s Take on Jover
Neville was irked by the precision of Arsenal’s set plays, remarking:
“The set-piece coach at Arsenal, he’s got to be the most annoying bloke in football. He’s got to be, hasn’t he?”
Carragher’s Admiration
Jamie Carragher countered Neville’s annoyance with praise, emphasizing Jover’s value to Arsenal:
“I’ll tell you what, give him what he wants. If you were that set-piece coach for Arsenal, you could write your own contract, couldn’t you? If he said, ‘I want 25 grand a week,’ you’d have to give it to him, wouldn’t you?”
Arsenal’s Set-Piece Success
Arsenal’s proficiency in set pieces this season underscores Jover’s influence. Of their 28 Premier League goals, seven have come from corners and free kicks, with another two scored from penalties. Against Manchester United, Arsenal managed seven shots on goal from set pieces compared to just six from open play.
Arteta’s High Praise for Jover
Mikel Arteta has been vocal about Jover’s importance to his coaching setup. Speaking earlier, Arteta described the Frenchman as:
“A very special person and obviously someone very close to me. I went to war for him at City because I felt there was a big room for improvement in that department.”
Arteta brought Jover from Manchester City to Arsenal, impressed by his clear vision and systematic approach to integrating set-piece strategies. Arteta added:
“There are a lot of other people who put a lot of effort and thought and hours into that, but for sure he is someone who is very, very important for the team.”
Arsenal’s Standing in the League
Following their impressive performances, Arsenal sits third in the Premier League, level on points with Chelsea but seven behind leaders Liverpool after 14 games. Their set-piece mastery continues to be a critical element of their success this season.
