sportskeeda
Nicolas Jover, the set-piece coach for ARSENAL, now features a unique MURAL outside the Emirates Stadium.
However, fans have voiced their disapproval after the artwork, completed in black and white, was unveiled just before Monaco’s Champions League clash on Wednesday.
4
4
4
4
The colorful mural, situated in the Hornsey Road tunnel adjacent to the Emirates, has been ironically painted on the CORNER of an old brick wall.
A joyful Jover, who is 43, is illustrated sitting next to the quarter-circle marking of the corner on the pitch, dressed in his Arsenal coaching gear.
A video shows a man carefully painting the mural while fans walk past.
The credit for Arsenal’s prowess in set-piece situations is often attributed to Jover, who has now been honored much like the club’s on-field stars.
He shares the historic tunnel with Mikel Arteta, Declan Rice, David Raya, and William Saliba, each of whom has their own featured artwork.
The reason is clear—since Jover’s joining in 2021, Arsenal has achieved the highest tally of goals from corner kicks among all Premier League teams.
The Gunners’ corner tactics have become one of the season’s surprising highlights, with Jover being instrumental in their success.
Arteta’s squad scored their league-leading eighth dead-ball goal of the campaign in a lackluster 1-1 tie against Fulham last Sunday.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
With a total of 48 goals, they are finding the net once every 16.4 corners (six percent conversion rate).
Arsenal has netted 23 GOALS from corners since the start of last season—eight more than any other squad.
Unveiling Arsenal’s CHAOTIC corner tactics that might secure them the Premier League title
Jover, originally from Germany but holding French nationality, always appears to partake in the celebrations when the North London team converts another set-piece.
Arsenal has even been dubbed the ‘new Stoke City‘ by former Manchester United and Tottenham player Dimitar Berbatov following their 2-0 win over the Red Devils.
Furthermore, Old Trafford icon Gary Neville tagged Jover as “the most bothersome person in football“.
Opposing fans quickly mocked the mural.
One stated: “Complete woke nonsense—what has happened to the Arsenal I used to admire?”
Another remarked: “This must be one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen in football, which is fitting since it’s Arsenal.”
A third expressed: “This defines the most Arsenal situation I’ve ever encountered. It’s just tragic 😂😂.
A fourth joked: “This is why everyone regards Arsenal fans as a joke.”
A fifth noted: “This reeks of a small club mentality.”
Another chimed in: “Arsenal fans rank among the most tin-pot supporters in England; they never learn!”
Club legend David Seaman has also pointed out a banner that hangs at Arsenal’s training center in London Colney.
On the Seaman Says podcast, endorsed by Betway, he mentioned, “There’s a massive slogan on the wall – ‘set pieces win games’.
“They highlight the thorough preparation involved in that.”
How to prevent Arsenal from scoring at corners
Arsenal has proven to be a formidable force in scoring from corners.
Since the beginning of last season, the Gunners have scored 22 goals from corner situations—seven more than their nearest contender, Manchester City, and eight more than the Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Two of those goals came against Manchester United, with Jurrien Timber and William Saliba striking in the second half to secure a significant win for Mikel Arteta’s side as they chase Arne Slot’s Reds.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have stood out as exceptional deliverers, each contributing seven set-piece assists this season—more than any other player.
United legend Dimitar Berbatov humorously remarked that Arsenal has become the new Stoke City of the Premier League—renowned for their ability to capitalize on set-pieces against larger clubs under Tony Pulis.
