Gary Neville has once again taken aim at Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s set-piece coach, describing him as the “most annoying man in football.”
The criticism comes after Jover’s prominent role on the touchline during Arsenal’s matches, particularly in the FA Cup clash against Manchester United.
While Jover has received widespread praise for Arsenal’s strong performance with set pieces in the 2024-2025 season, Neville believes his behavior could cause friction within the team.
Neville’s Concerns About Jover’s Role and Presence
Neville expressed his frustration on the Stick to Football podcast, saying he was “doubling down” on his criticism.
He emphasized that Jover’s visible and vocal presence on the touchline might be overstepping the boundaries of his role.
Neville pointed out that other coaches, like goalkeeping coaches, do not engage in such attention-seeking behavior, even when players perform well in their respective areas.
He explained, “If a goalkeeper makes a good save, I don’t see the goalkeeping coach on the edge of the touchline.
I don’t see the other coaches going up and getting the glory for it.”
Neville argued that Jover’s actions might be perceived as overestimating his importance within the team.
He believes Jover should step back and allow the players and manager to shine.
Jamie Carragher Agrees With Neville, but Ian Wright Defends Jover
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher shared Neville’s view, admitting that while he found Neville’s comments harsh, he couldn’t disagree with the sentiment.
However, not everyone agrees with Neville.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright quickly came to Jover’s defense, telling Neville, “You’re being very, very harsh.”
Despite differing opinions, the debate has sparked significant conversation about the role of coaching staff in the modern game, especially regarding their visibility and influence during matches.
Arsenal’s Narrow Victory in North London Derby Keeps Title Hopes Alive
On the pitch, Arsenal kept their title aspirations alive with a hard-fought win over rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.
The Gunners secured a 2-1 victory after Leandro Trossard capitalized on a mistake by Tottenham’s goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky.
This crucial win reduced Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to just four points.
The match saw Arsenal come from behind after Heung-min Son’s deflected shot put Spurs ahead.
However, a Dominic Solanke own goal helped Arsenal level the score.
Trossard’s second-half goal sealed the victory, lifting Arsenal’s spirits as they continued their push for the title.
Mikel Arteta Reflects on the Tough Win and the Road Ahead
After the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his pride in the team’s performance, especially after a challenging week of fixtures.
“We are still in the title race, there’s so much to play for,” Arteta said.
“When you have opportunities [to close the gap], you have to take them.”
Arteta praised his players’ intensity and commitment, acknowledging how tough the match was, given the team’s recent hectic schedule.
“We played with a real purpose to hurt them,” Arteta continued.
“We know how important the game is.
It’s a gift we can make the supporters very happy.”
Despite the team’s hard work, Arteta admitted that they had to “suffer more than we wanted” towards the end, but he was delighted with the result, which kept their title challenge alive.
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