If Arsenal go on to win the Premier League title, then the players and the manager Mikel Arteta will be lauded and applauded by all.
But you feel there are members of the coaching staff who deserve more praise for their work.
Darren Lewis was keen to give Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover his flowers and how he is ‘the most underrated member of staff in the Premier League’.
The Gunners have the best set-piece record in the division and they have also scored the most headed goals – Cesc Fabregas shared what he has heard about him at Arsenal.
That’s why the Daily Mirror journalist wanted to give Nicolas Jover praise and how that could give them the edge during these final months to become champions, as he told Premier League Productions (18/03/24 at 2:30 pm).
Post-winter break, Arsenal have decided to put Declan Rice on corners and it’s now working a treat.
That call has been very, very crucial because, during a period when the team weren’t scoring from open play, they have done the job from dead-ball situations.
Nicolas Jover at Arsenal
“If Arsenal are going to win it, I don’t think they need to focus on being the best team aesthetically, in terms of technical brilliance and free-flowing football,” said Lewis.
“They just have to do the functional things well. Nicolas Jover, who is the most underrated probably member of staff in the Premier League.
“He is their set-piece coach. Mikel Arteta goes and sits down and lets him take over at free-kicks and corners, but he does the job! They have scored the most headed goals in the Premier League so far this season.
“He is somebody we sometimes laugh at clubs that get these guys in to try and find the marginal gains. But he has done that particular job and I just think they are the small things in what is going to be a (title) race of very, very fine margins, that could prove to be the difference.”
Set-piece to decide Manchester City v Arsenal?
When Man City recorded a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield recently, both goals were scored from set-pieces.
Pep Guardiola’s side opened the scoring after a well-worked corner, which was converted by John Stones.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty and it was converted by Alexis Mac Allister.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if some sort of set-piece decides the winner at the Etihad because nothing much is going to separate them from open play.
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