After Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday, set-piece expert Nicolas Jover ought to be fired. Senior anchor Richard Keys of beIN Sports, who never seems to be able to mention something positive without pointing out a place that needs work, made the startling assertion.
Given that deadball situations have formed a key component of the Gunners’ strategy over the past two terms, his counsel to them is odd. The north Londoners have scored more goals from set pieces than any other team in the last five years, and this week’s victory at the Emirates Stadium was secured by Declan Rice’s first two free-kick goals as a professional.
However, the man himself has since admitted that he disregarded Jover’s orders to cross it, and Keys has used that enlightening interview as leverage against Mikel Arteta’s right-hand man. View the interview below:
Richard Keys Claims Arsenal Should Sack Set-Piece Coach
The 67-year-old loves to stir the pot one way or another
Almost everyone was left astonished by the Gunners’ performance against Real Madrid. So much so that much of the fallout came the following morning. Keys, after gathering his thoughts following a night that would be remembered by Arsenal supporters for years, posted on X (see below):
“Brilliant night for The Gunners. I’m delighted they didn’t over do it in the end because you never know with Madrid. One other thing – if I had a set-piece coach & we hadn’t scored direct from a free-kick since Sept 21 I’d be terminating him – not rejoicing with him!”
Jover has certainly split opinion in football circles this season. Some have welcomed the attention on a man who generally acts behind the scenes, appreciating the uncommon acclaim for a set-piece coach. Others, however, have pointed out a troubling pattern: the Frenchman is eager to bask in the limelight when routines pay off, but glaringly absent when Arsenal whiff with badly executed plays.
That said, Keys’ recent critique feels more like negativity for negativity’s sake. The numbers speak for themselves – Arteta’s side have been the most successful team in the country from set-pieces this season. To consider removing Jover under those circumstances is just ludicrous, even if Gary Neville dubbed him the “most annoying bloke in football” earlier in the term.
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