Mastermind behind Arsenal’s set piece dominance, Nicholas Jover, cashing in on record setting season 

Another week, another match, another win and another goal off a set piece. It´s becoming the norm at the Emirates these days, and it’s all because of one man. Nicholas Jover is the set piece coach on Mikel Areta´s staff, and the mastermind is cashing in during Arsenal’s run to the title.

The set piece artist

The Gunners pulled five points clear of Manchester City on Sunday afternoon thanks to their London derby victory over Chelsea, and once again, it was the set piece plays that made the difference. With the match level at 1-1 in the second half, Declan Rice served up a corner kick and Jurrien Timber was there to nod it past Robert Sanchez to in what proved to be the winner from North London.

Arsenal earned three massive points to keep their cushion over the rest of the challengers, but for Jover, there was a bit more cause for celebration than just the victory. According to The Athletic, French visionary gets a bonus check for every dead-ball play that results in a goal. The Gunners are on record setting pace and Jover is almost certain to cash in a few more checks before the season is done.

With nine matches remaining in the Primer League, Arsenal have already tied the league record with 16 goals scored from corners this season. Only two other clubs have ever reached this feat from corner kicks. Oldham Athletic set the record back in 1992-93, and West Brom matched that number in 2016-17. Arsenal joined Oldham Athletic and West Brom back in 2016-17 but that was under another coach before Jover joined the club.

All three major cups still in play

Jover joined Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer of 2021, and was a big part of Arteta´s plan once he entered in negotiations when he signed his extension in 2024. Jover, assistant Albert Stuivenberg and goalkeeping coach Iñaki Cana all signed deals that year, keeping them at the Emirates until at least 2027. That investment is paying off tenfold considering the goals off set pieces are proving to be decisive.

On nine different occasions, Arsenal have opened the scoresheet which ties Southampton´s record in the 1994-95 season. It has turned an already potent attacking side into the top scoring team in the Premier League with 58 goals, one more than Manchester City, although they do have a game in hand on City. Even more importantly, Timber’s goal against Chelsea on Sunday was the ninth time a match winning goal has bene scored off a corner. That puts them ahead of the Manchester United’s record setting season in 2012-13 when Sir Alex Ferguson side had eight game winners off corner kicks.

Arsenal are chasing their first Premier League title since “The Invincibles” back in the 2003-2004 season. It would be their first trophy for the Gunners since the 2023 in the FA Community Shield and a first major trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020. Arsenal are not only in the running for the league title, but finished the Champions League league stage at the top of the table, and will take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16 after a fifth round FA Cup tie with Manfield Town this Saturday.

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