Gary Neville brands Mikel Arteta's trusted ally 'a nuisance' after Arsenal heroics at Tottenham
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville singled out Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover for praise after a trademark corner routine helped break the deadlock in the north London derby
Gary Neville lauded Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover after watching Mikel Arteta 's men strike first in Sunday's north London derby.
The Gunners headed into the match intent on piling the pressure on Manchester City, who face struggling Nottingham Forest later this afternoon. And Arteta was left leaping for joy on the touchline after a set-piece helped break the deadlock early in the first-half.
A devious delivery from Bukayo Saka was accidentally diverted past his own goalkeeper by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the 15th minute to spark jubilant scenes on the Arsenal bench.
Amid the celebrations, Neville promptly paid tribute to Jover, branding the ex-Manchester City coach a "a little nuisance". The Sky Sports commentator said: "They’ve got the first goal, Arsenal, and it has been the same Arsenal set-up all year, and it’s been good all year.
" Ben White the nuisance, the five big lads at the back getting across that near-post and [Takehiro] Tomiyasu does just enough. He just blocks Hojbjerg and he can’t get a full head on it. He just glances it and the goalkeeper, Vicario, it’s past him in a flash. He’s no chance.
"Arteta jumps up and there he is, the set-piece coach. He’s a little nuisance that set-piece coach, but he’s damn good!"
Things got even better for Arteta and co just minutes later when Saka doubled Arsenal's lead with a trademark finish following a swift break.
And Jover was singled out again by Neville after Kai Havertz converted another corner into a goal with a pointblank header to nudge the Gunners into a plum 3-0 lead just before the half-time interval.
Speaking after Havertz's goal, Neville added: " It’s getting messy for Spurs, but Arsenal sending a message - ‘over to you, Manchester City’.
"Set-pieces, Arsenal have been outstanding at them all season. In parts of the season where they weren’t playing great football it was the attacking set-pieces such a big factor. They’ve just got options. The delivery is perfect but there’s four or five of them in there all looking like they could get a glance on it. Havertz does. He’s on a dream run, the German. There he is again, the set-piece guru gets a hug [from Mikel Arteta]."
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