Mikel Arteta shoves raging set piece coach Nicolas Jover away from official as set piece routine fails
Mikel Arteta reverted to physical action to calm down his set-piece coach during Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to PSG on Tuesday night. In added time Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover voiced his frustration to the fourth official when Mikel Merino was penalised for a foul on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Jover was shoved away by Arteta after being infuriated by the eventsRex Arteta, who has earned a reputation for his touchline antics, had to intervene, sternly talking with Jover before the manager pushed the set-piece coach back to the bench. The full-time whistle blew shortly after concluding a disappointing result for the Gunners. Arteta prior to the semi-final Champions League tie called for all fans to play their part on Tuesday but they were soon helpless as PSG opened the scoring. Four minutes in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia teed up the unmarked Ousmane Dembele who rippled the net after his shot crashed in off the far post. PSG continued to dominate, popping the ball around Arsenal’s ineffective press, cutting through with incisive passes. Luis Enrique’s side seemed near perfect in the first-half but PSG’s weakness remains Arsenal’s strength…. Set-pieces. This season 38 per cent of their conceded goals are from set-pieces and Arsenal have scored 27 from dead ball situations. A record much helped by Jover who joined the Gunners in 2021 and rose to fame coordinating American football like routines from the technical area. Quickly after half-time Jover’s tactics shone on the pitch as Merino headed in a lofted Declan Rice free-kick. But the joy was short-lived as Merino was confirmed offside following a VAR review. Arsenal saw their set pieces fail against PSGRex Jover had a mural painted of himself by Arsenal fans who have become infatuated by the Frenchman who previously worked at Brentford and Man CityGetty It is evident Gabriel Magalhaes who suffered a hamstring injury is a big miss for Arsenal on corners and free-kicks. The centre-back has netted five goals this season. Talking about Jover last season, Arteta said: “He’s a very special person. Obviously someone very, very close to me. “I got to work with him at [Manchester] City when I thought that there was a big room for improvement in that department and I contacted him and I suggested to Pep [Guardiola] that he come and help us. “Since then we’ve been extremely close. We share a very clear vision about how we want to put everything together. “It’s not about open play or set pieces, it’s how everything is connected, aligned and can work efficiently in our team. “There are a lot of other people that put a big effort and thoughts and hours into that but, for sure, he’s someone that is very very important for the team.”
Mikel Arteta reverted to physical action to calm down his set-piece coach during Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to PSG on Tuesday night.
In added time Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover voiced his frustration to the fourth official when Mikel Merino was penalised for a foul on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Arteta, who has earned a reputation for his touchline antics, had to intervene, sternly talking with Jover before the manager pushed the set-piece coach back to the bench.
The full-time whistle blew shortly after concluding a disappointing result for the Gunners.
Arteta prior to the semi-final Champions League tie called for all fans to play their part on Tuesday but they were soon helpless as PSG opened the scoring.
Four minutes in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia teed up the unmarked Ousmane Dembele who rippled the net after his shot crashed in off the far post.
PSG continued to dominate, popping the ball around Arsenal’s ineffective press, cutting through with incisive passes.
Luis Enrique’s side seemed near perfect in the first-half but PSG’s weakness remains Arsenal’s strength…. Set-pieces.
This season 38 per cent of their conceded goals are from set-pieces and Arsenal have scored 27 from dead ball situations.
A record much helped by Jover who joined the Gunners in 2021 and rose to fame coordinating American football like routines from the technical area.
Quickly after half-time Jover’s tactics shone on the pitch as Merino headed in a lofted Declan Rice free-kick.
But the joy was short-lived as Merino was confirmed offside following a VAR review.
It is evident Gabriel Magalhaes who suffered a hamstring injury is a big miss for Arsenal on corners and free-kicks.
The centre-back has netted five goals this season.
Talking about Jover last season, Arteta said: “He’s a very special person. Obviously someone very, very close to me.
“I got to work with him at [Manchester] City when I thought that there was a big room for improvement in that department and I contacted him and I suggested to Pep [Guardiola] that he come and help us.
“Since then we’ve been extremely close. We share a very clear vision about how we want to put everything together.
“It’s not about open play or set pieces, it’s how everything is connected, aligned and can work efficiently in our team.
“There are a lot of other people that put a big effort and thoughts and hours into that but, for sure, he’s someone that is very very important for the team.”
