"He's a little nuisance, but he's damn good" – Gary Neville left impressed by Arsenal man working alongside Mikel Arteta
Manchester United legend Gary Neville lauded Arsenal coach Nicolas Jover during the Gunners' 3-2 Premier League win against rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday (April 28).
Mikel Arteta's side, who entered their derby atop the league table, took the lead via Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's own goal in the 15th minute of their latest clash. The Spurs star failed to clear the ball from a corner.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville dissected Arsenal's first goal of the contest from a corner by Bukayo Saka. He commented (h/t Mirror):
"They've got the first goal, and it has been the same Arsenal set-up all year, and it's been good all year. Ben White the nuisance, the five big lads at the back getting across that near-post and [Takehiro] Tomiyasu does just enough. He just blocks Hojbjerg and he can't get a full head on it. He just glances it and the goalkeeper, [Guglielmo] Vicario, it's past him in a flash... got no chance."
Lauding Jover for his role in the Gunners' goal, Neville continued:
"Arteta jumps up and there he is, the set-piece coach. He's a little nuisance that set-piece coach, but he's damn good!"
After Saka's 27th-minute finish, the league leaders tripled their lead via in-form Kai Havertz, who headed in from a corner in the 38th minute.
Neville, who helped United lift 21 trophies, opined on Havertz's goal:
"It's getting messy for Spurs, but Arsenal are sending a message – 'Over to you, Manchester City'. Set-pieces, they have been outstanding at them all season. In parts of the season, where they weren't playing great football, it was the attacking set-pieces such a big factor. They've just got options."
Heaping praise on Havertz and singling out Jover again, Neville said:
"The delivery is perfect but there's four or five of them in there all looking like they could get a glance on it. Havertz does. He's on a dream run, the German. There he is again, the set-piece guru gets a hug [from Mikel Arteta]."
Are Arsenal in control of the title race?
Despite Cristian Romero and Heung-min Son's second half goals, the Gunners are still atop the league table with 80 points from 35 games.
However, second-placed Manchester City could pose serious trouble. They are on 76 points from 33 matches and are in excellent form now.
Arsenal, who have lost five league outings this season, will next face Bournemouth in their Premier League contest on Saturday (May 4).