‘Offending me every week’ – Gary Neville takes furious pop at ‘overreaching’ Arsenal coach
Gary Neville has launched another furious rant about Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. Manchester United legend Neville previously labelled Jover the ‘most annoying man in football’ over his animated touchline antics. Neville is not happy with Nicolas Jover’s behaviour on the touchlineThe Overlap The 43-year-old has undoubtedly been a key figure in transforming Arsenal. The Gunners are now up there with Europe’s most dangerous teams from set pieces, adding a huge edge to their attacking play. You can often spot Jover positioned next to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, particularly on the touchline during corners or free kicks, visibly engaged in the moment. In the latest episode of Stick to Football, Neville reiterated just how much Jover irritates him. “I called him the most annoying man in football… I’m cementing my position,” Neville asserted. “I’m doubling down. It’s offending me every week. “I’m going to say this really calmly, I think he’s overreaching his importance. “If a goalkeeper makes a save, I don’t see the goalkeeping coach on the edge of the touchline. “If there’s a good combination of passing in midfield, I don’t see the coach that’s next to Arteta going and getting the glory for it. “The manager’s at the front, he can’t communicate from 100 yards away, or 50-60 yards away on the touchline to players that know exactly what they’re doing because they’re so methodical on it. “He stands there… I think he’s overreaching his importance, I genuinely believe that.” Fellow podcast host and former Arsenal star Ian Wright chimed in: “He is important.” To which Neville responded, “That’s how I feel. I get he’s important, he’s doing a great job, but I do genuinely think he needs to sit back a little bit. “I think the players will start to look at him and think, ‘come on’.” Jamie Carragher then added his thoughts: “I think Neville’s made a great point, to be honest. I can’t disagree with it, I thought it was a bit harsh. “The Aston Villa one does the same.” Arteta and Jover have proven to be a formidable force.Getty Jover was appointed as Arsenal’s set-piece coach in July 2021. In the 2023–24 season, with Jover’s help, Arsenal scored twenty set-piece goals (excluding penalties) in the Premier League, the most in the league. Sixteen of those came from corners, matching the record for a single Premier League campaign. Arteta and Jover’s paths had previously crossed at Manchester City. Jover arrived at the Etihad in July 2019 as an assistant to Pep Guardiola, specialising in set-pieces, on the recommendation of Arteta, who was the No. 2 at City at the time. Arteta left Man City for Arsenal’s head coach job in December 2019. Neville may find himself even more triggered over the weekend, as he revealed he’ll be covering the Arsenal vs Aston Villa match. He joked that Arteta and Unai Emery ‘may as well sit the f*** down.’ Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League table, just four points behind leaders Liverpool, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory in the north London derby on Wednesday. Emery’s Aston Villa secured a 1-0 victory over Everton in midweek, they currently sit three points shy of Champions League contention. In the sides’ previous meeting this season, Arsenal won 2-0 at Villa Park on August 24.
Gary Neville has launched another furious rant about Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
Manchester United legend Neville previously labelled Jover the ‘most annoying man in football’ over his animated touchline antics.
The 43-year-old has undoubtedly been a key figure in transforming Arsenal.
The Gunners are now up there with Europe’s most dangerous teams from set pieces, adding a huge edge to their attacking play.
You can often spot Jover positioned next to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, particularly on the touchline during corners or free kicks, visibly engaged in the moment.
In the latest episode of Stick to Football, Neville reiterated just how much Jover irritates him.
“I called him the most annoying man in football… I’m cementing my position,” Neville asserted.
“I’m doubling down. It’s offending me every week.
“I’m going to say this really calmly, I think he’s overreaching his importance.
“If a goalkeeper makes a save, I don’t see the goalkeeping coach on the edge of the touchline.
“If there’s a good combination of passing in midfield, I don’t see the coach that’s next to Arteta going and getting the glory for it.
“The manager’s at the front, he can’t communicate from 100 yards away, or 50-60 yards away on the touchline to players that know exactly what they’re doing because they’re so methodical on it.
“He stands there… I think he’s overreaching his importance, I genuinely believe that.”
Fellow podcast host and former Arsenal star Ian Wright chimed in: “He is important.”
To which Neville responded, “That’s how I feel. I get he’s important, he’s doing a great job, but I do genuinely think he needs to sit back a little bit.
“I think the players will start to look at him and think, ‘come on’.”
Jamie Carragher then added his thoughts: “I think Neville’s made a great point, to be honest. I can’t disagree with it, I thought it was a bit harsh.
“The Aston Villa one does the same.”
Jover was appointed as Arsenal’s set-piece coach in July 2021.
In the 2023–24 season, with Jover’s help, Arsenal scored twenty set-piece goals (excluding penalties) in the Premier League, the most in the league.
Sixteen of those came from corners, matching the record for a single Premier League campaign.
Arteta and Jover’s paths had previously crossed at Manchester City.
Jover arrived at the Etihad in July 2019 as an assistant to Pep Guardiola, specialising in set-pieces, on the recommendation of Arteta, who was the No. 2 at City at the time.
Arteta left Man City for Arsenal’s head coach job in December 2019.
Neville may find himself even more triggered over the weekend, as he revealed he’ll be covering the Arsenal vs Aston Villa match.
He joked that Arteta and Unai Emery ‘may as well sit the f*** down.’
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League table, just four points behind leaders Liverpool, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory in the north London derby on Wednesday.
Emery’s Aston Villa secured a 1-0 victory over Everton in midweek, they currently sit three points shy of Champions League contention.
In the sides’ previous meeting this season, Arsenal won 2-0 at Villa Park on August 24.
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