Arsenal coach Nicolas Jover, the mastermind behind their set piece quality, made sure to include a bonus clause when he negotiated his most recent contract with the club
Nicolas Jover continues to be a key figure in Arsenal's staff
Nicolas Jover continues to be a key figure in Arsenal's staff
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Arsenal's set-piece genius Nicolas Jover has a contract clause that includes bonuses for goals scored from set pieces as they continue to lead the club's path to the title.
On Sunday the team's prowess from dead ball situations helped them overcome Chelsea and re-establish their five point lead at the top of the Premier League. William Saliba came up trumps from a corner in the first-half and then Jurrien Timber scored from a similar situation in the second 45 minutes to settle the contest.
Both of those instances see Jover rewarded financially with the Athletic reporting that the coach, who followed Mikel Arteta from Manchester City, sought to include such a clause when he renegotiated his contract recently.
Jover was one of a number of Arteta's lieutenants who committed to the club after the Arsenal boss signed his most recent contract in September 2024. Assistant Albert Stuivenberg and goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana both extended their spells with the club as they look to end their trophy drought.
Arsenal's quality from corners and free-kicks is no secret to their rivals, yet they remain unable to contain the side from north London. The two goals on Sunday mean that the Gunners have now scored 16 goals from corners this season. This is the joint-most by any side in a single campaign, alongside Oldham Athletic in 1992-93, West Brom in 2016-17 and Arsenal themselves in 2023-24.
They have also gone 1-0 up from a corner on nine occasions in the Premier League this season. That is the joint-most by a team in a single season, along with Southampton in 1994-95, but they have several more weeks to own that record outright.
Several years ago Arteta was asked whether he considered Jover the best in his field and he replied: “In his field, in other fields and as a person. And the relationship that we have — that’s why I made the decision to bring him to City when I was there and then to Arsenal.”
William Saliba prospered from an Arsenal corner in the win over Chelsea
William Saliba prospered from an Arsenal corner in the win over Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
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Jover's contributions have been recognised by the club's fanbase and two years ago the set-piece guru was memorialised by supporters with his own mural being created outside the Emirates. It sees him wearing an Arsenal coach with the images painted in black and white.
Gabriel has been among those to thrive as a result of Arsenal's excellence from corners. He's come up with key goals and is among the most prolific scorer of headed goals over the past half a decade in the Premier League.