Manchester City letting Nicolas Jover join Arsenal in 2021 has proven to be a costly decision. That decision is looking worse by the day as the Premier League title race heats up.
The revered set-piece coach is actively working against his former employers this season by boosting the Gunners’ PL title chances. His expert advice was on full display during Arsenal’s win over Tottenham on Sunday.
Jover has become something of a household name for an obscure member of Mikel Arteta’s backroom staff. But it’s for good reason, as Arsenal’s superb performance from set pieces this season has been a key element of their success.
Old mates might halt City’s run
A well-drilled Gunners attack scored two goals from corner kicks in their 3-2 win over local rivals Spurs, with Nicolas Jover lapping up the celebrations. Arteta and the German-born coach first worked together on Pep’s Man City backroom team.
Arteta then left to take the top job at Arsenal in 2019. He came back in for Jover two years later. If City go on to lose this year’s title race, there is little doubt that the Gunners’ set-piece prowess will have played a major role.
The 16-goal haul Arsenal have managed from corners this campaign has not been matched since 2016/17, when West Brom notched the same total.
Gary Neville had an interesting name for Nicolas Jover
Running through Hojbjerg’s own goal on Sunday, Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville jokingly branded Jover a ‘little nuisance’. The Manchester United legend said: “They’ve got the first goal, Arsenal, and it has been the same Arsenal set-up all year, and it’s been good all year.
“He [Hojbjerg] just glances it and the goalkeeper, [Guglielmo] Vicario, it’s past him in a flash. He has no chance. Arteta jumps up and there he is, the set-piece coach. He’s a little nuisance that set-piece coach, but he’s damn good!”
As featured on GoonerNews.com
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