Gary Neville has called one Arsenal figure 'the most annoying bloke in football'
he was crucial to Arsenal's 2-0 win over Neville's beloved Manchester United
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By LUKE POWER
Published: 05:38 EST, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 05:38 EST, 5 December 2024
The man responsible for Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester United is 'the most annoying bloke in football,' Gary Neville has claimed.
Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba provided a harsh reality check for Ruben Amorim at the Emirates as he suffered his first loss managing United on Wednesday night.
And Neville was quick to revive his commentary on a man he once branded a 'little nuisance' in the wake of his former side being outdone.
That man is none other than Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who must have been delighted that both of their goals came from deal-ball routines.
Arsenal have now scored 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, more than any other side.
'The set-piece coach at Arsenal, he’s got to be the most annoying bloke in football,' Neville said on The Overlap's watchalong of the game.
Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been branded 'the most annoying bloke in football' by Gary Neville
Arsenal scored two set pieces to put Neville's old side Manchester United to the sword 2-0
Neville has previously called Jover a 'little nuisance' due to his gift at organising corner routines
‘He’s got to be, hasn’t he? He’s got to be though, hasn’t he?’
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said: ‘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? You couldn’t get rid of him.
‘You know, if he said, “I want 25 grand a week,” you’d have to give it to him, wouldn’t you?’
Jover is becoming a much-loved figure at the Emirates as his set-piece wizardry has helped Arsenal gain an edge on their rivals - including in the 3-2 derby win over Tottenham in April.
He made the headlines in October last year when Manchester City's Kyle Walker appeared to snub a handshake from Jover after Arsenal beat them 1-0 at the Emirates.
There is history there because Jover worked in the same role for Pep Guardiola at City between 2019 and 2021, before linking up again with Arteta at Arsenal.
And Neville has previously voiced his exasperation at just how good Jover is. At the Spurs-Arsenal match in April, he said: 'It's been the same Arsenal set-up all year and it's been good all year.
Ruben Amorim was handed a reality check as he suffered his first defeat as United manager
'He's a little nuisance that set-piece coach, but he's damn good!'
Berlin-born Jover began his career as a video analyst at French club Montpellier and briefly served in a similar role for the Croatia national team.
He came to England in July 2016 to work as an assistant coach to Dean Smith at Brentford and continued under Thomas Frank when the Bees were in the Championship.
His talents were recognised by Guardiola and in 2019, Jover joined City's coaching staff to work on set-pieces.
While at the Etihad, Jover worked in his first few months with Mikel Arteta, Guardiola's No 2, before he left to take the Arsenal job.
Arteta persuaded Jover to take a similar role at Arsenal in July 2021 after previous set-piece coach Andreas Georgson returned to Malmo as sporting director.