Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover was lauded during the north London derby - and the former Manchester City man has had an interesting season to say the least
Arsenal laid down a marker to Manchester City after surviving a late Tottenham onslaught in the north London derby.
The Gunners raced into a 3-0 lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after scoring from two set-pieces before a David Raya howler handed Spurs a lifeline. Son Heung-min plundered a late penalty but Arsenal showed tremendous character to grind out a 3-2 win which could prove decisive in the title race.
Mikel Arteta and co will take the plaudits after a statement victory but Gary Neville gave set-piece coach Nicolas Jover his flowers mid-match after Spurs twice succumbed to a corner routine which has become a staple in the Gunners' arsenal game this season.
Lauding the Berlin-born coach during commentary, Neville branded him "a little nuisance" following the afternoon's first goal, adding he was "damn good". And he went even further after Havertz headed home another corner minutes before the interval.
"It’s getting messy for Spurs, but Arsenal are sending a message: ‘Over to you, Manchester City’," the former Manchester United defender said while Arsenal celebrated wildly.
"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 are 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]."
Jover was in the limelight for different reasons earlier in the season following a confrontation involving him, Erling Haaland and Kyle Walker at the Emirates.
Tensions were running high after Gabriel Martinelli scored at the death to seal a huge 1-0 win and Walker refused to shake hands with Jover. That proved to be the catalyst for a huge row which involved Haaland and other players from both teams.
Cooler heads eventually prevailed and opponents were pulled apart. Pep Guardiola would later play down the bust-up and refused to disclose details of the matter.
Guardiola knows Jover all too well: like Arteta, he was part of the Spaniard's coaching team at the Etihad before following his compatriot to the Emirates.
Jover garnered a reputation as an innovator during his two years at the Etihad. He's only enhanced his standing in the game since walking out on Guardiola's all-conquering side to supplement Arsenal's attempts to end a 20-year title drought.
He will have an important role to play if Arsenal are to bring Manchester City's domestic monopoly to an end - and on a personal, it would be an achievement that stands above any other he accomplished during his time with Guardiola.