It was another rollercoaster night at the Emirates, where Arsenal fans found themselves both celebrating and sighing — all within the span of 90 minutes.
While the Gunners got on the scoresheet through yet another successful set piece, it was what happened at the other end that had Jamie Carragher cracking wise on live TV.
From Scoring to Slipping — Arsenal’s Set-Piece Paradox
Arsenal kicked things off in style against Crystal Palace, bagging their 16th goal from a set piece this Premier League season.
A pinpoint delivery led to Jakub Kiwior heading them into an early lead, and for a moment, it seemed like another dominant night for Mikel Arteta’s men.
But just as quickly, cracks started to show. Palace hit back before the break when Eberechi Eze — left criminally unmarked at the edge of the area — volleyed home from a corner to level it.
Despite a spirited goal from Leandro Trossard just before half-time, the lead vanished again late on thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who snatched a point with a stunning equaliser.
Carragher Aims a Playful Jab at Arsenal’s Set-Piece Coach
After the final whistle, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher couldn’t resist taking a light-hearted swipe at Arsenal’s much-praised set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover.
While Jover has received accolades for the Gunners’ attacking prowess from dead-ball situations, Carragher pointed out the irony.
“Only Man United have conceded a higher percentage of goals from corners this season,” Carragher noted.
“So when we talk about Arsenal’s set-piece genius — well, he’s clearly world-class going forward, but they’ve got real issues at the back.”
He didn’t stop there. “Should they be cutting his wages in half?” Carragher joked.
“Maybe bring in a second coach just to handle defending corners?”
Jover’s Season of Highs and Lows
Despite Carragher’s jabs, there’s no denying Jover’s impact this season.
Arsenal’s set-piece efficiency has turned into a genuine weapon, and earlier this year, fans even painted a mural in his honor — a rare tribute for a coach who rarely sees the spotlight.
But this isn’t the first time Jover has been the target of playful criticism.
Fellow pundit Gary Neville previously called him the “most annoying bloke in football” during a watchalong, thanks to his intense sideline antics during Arsenal’s set pieces.
Still, even Neville had to admit the results spoke for themselves.
Back then, Carragher had actually defended Jover, saying, “If I were Arsenal, I’d give him whatever he wants — 25 grand a week, no problem. You couldn’t sack him even if you wanted to!”
A Title Race Slip and Some Defensive Questions
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Wednesday night’s draw meant more dropped points — 18 this season from winning positions, to be exact.
That stat stings, especially considering they now sit 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
With Liverpool only needing a draw against Tottenham to secure the title this weekend, Arsenal’s hopes of catching up are slipping further away.
And while their set-piece scoring record remains a silver lining, it’s clear the defensive side of the coin still needs some serious polish.