- Arsenal did not make a breakthrough from set-pieces of their loss to PSG
- Their set-piece coach misplaced his cool, resulting in Arteta sending him to the bench
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Mikel Arteta needed to step in to settle down his set-piece coach within the closing phases of Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat by PSG on Tuesday night time.
Showing of their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years, Arsenal fell behind early on to an Ousmane Dembele strike, however tried to work their means again into the competition and thought that they had equalised early within the second half when Mikel Merino headed house Declan Rice’s free-kick.
Nonetheless, after a three-minute VAR evaluate, Merino was adjudged to be offside and the aim was chalked off. The Gunners stored pushing for an equaliser, with set-pieces trying to be one in every of their greatest probabilities of discovering it, however Merino fouled goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from a nook in stoppage time to ease the strain on PSG.
Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover was livid with the choice to penalise Merino and began venting his frustration on the fourth official.
He was seen gesticulating on the touchline, and Arteta needed to rapidly step in to stop him from moving into hassle as he had a stern phrase with Jover earlier than pushing him again to the bench.
The ultimate whistle went simply seconds later, with Arsenal now going through an uphill process to achieve their first Champions League remaining since 2006.
Mikel Arteta needed to step in as his set-piece coach Nicolas Jover argued with the fourth official
Arteta pushed Jover again to the bench to stop him from moving into hassle for his protests
Arteta and Jover had a irritating night time as Arsenal have been overwhelmed by PSG on the Emirates
Jover has attracted loads of consideration since arriving at Arsenal in 2021 as a result of his tendency to face within the technical space and provides animated directions when the workforce get a dead-ball scenario.
Arsenal have turn into a feared workforce from set-pieces with Jover serving to from the touchline, however his behaviour has not gone down effectively with everybody.
Again in December, Gary Neville branded Jover ‘probably the most annoying bloke in soccer’ after turn into irritated by the coach’s antics.
His comment got here throughout a watchalong when Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0 on the Emirates, with each of the Gunners’ targets coming from corners.
Jamie Carragher additionally took intention at Jover final week when Arsenal conceded from a nook of their 2-2 draw in opposition to Crystal Palace.
The previous Liverpool defender highlighted after the sport that Arsenal have conceded the second highest proportion of targets from corners within the prime flight this season as he joked that Jover may have changing.
‘When it comes to proportion, solely Man United are worse than Arsenal set piece-wise this season. So after we make an enormous deal concerning the set-piece coach… he is completely out of this world when it comes to going ahead, however they have an enormous downside defensively.
‘So ought to we be slicing his wages in half? Do they want a defensive set-piece coach?
Gary Neville branded Jover ‘probably the most annoying bloke in soccer’ again in December
Jamie Carragher additionally identified how Arsenal have struggled to defend corners final week
‘It has been one of many tales of the season and rightly so. It is unbelievable. You’re feeling like they’re going to rating a aim from a set-piece in each sport, or come very near scoring.
‘After all he is had a huge effect however it’s humorous that they’re having large issues themselves.’
