Gary Neville has reignited criticism of Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, claiming his touchline antics could alienate the team.
Jover, instrumental in making Arsenal the Premier League’s most formidable team from set-pieces, is accused of “overreaching his importance” by Neville, who labels his behavior as “offensive.”
Neville, a former England defender, first called Jover the “most annoying man in football” after Arsenal’s win over Manchester United. On the latest episode of Stick to Football, Neville stood by his remarks. “I’m doubling down on what I said.
It’s offending me every week. He’s a good coach, but his touchline behavior is excessive. Coaches don’t need to steal the spotlight when players execute their plans. It’s over the top.”
The 43-year-old Jover joined Arsenal in 2021 after working with Mikel Arteta at Manchester City. His impact has been evident, with Arsenal scoring more set-piece goals this season than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues.
Yet, Neville insists that Jover’s visible celebrations undermine his credibility, adding, “At some point, the players might start questioning him.”
While Arsenal legend Ian Wright dismissed Neville’s critique as “very harsh,” Jamie Carragher sided with his fellow pundit. “I can’t disagree with Gary,” Carragher admitted.
Despite the controversy, Arsenal continues to impress on the pitch. Though they suffered back-to-back defeats last week, including an FA Cup exit and a Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Newcastle, they bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the north London derby.
The win cut the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points, though Liverpool still have a game in hand.
After the derby, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team’s resilience. “The boys were outstanding,” Arteta said.
“To deliver such a performance after playing 120 minutes just 72 hours ago shows incredible character. We made things harder for ourselves but still came through.”
As Arsenal eyes Premier League glory, the debate over Jover’s methods continues, dividing opinions among fans and pundits alike.