Arsenal have become a dab hand at set-pieces since poaching Nicolas Jover from Manchester City in 2021 but Rio Ferdinand has warned them that the Frenchman will soon be targeted by other clubs
Rio Ferdinand is adamant that Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover will be poached for a manager’s job sooner rather than later.
The Gunners have become the Premier League’s set-piece kings since Jover was lured to The Emirates from Manchester City and it was a corner converted by Gabriel that gave them victory in Sunday’s North London derby.
Arsenal have now scored 42 goals in total from set-pieces since Jover arrived in 2021 – and Ferdinand feels the Spaniard, who has been dubbed as Mikel Arteta’s ‘secret weapon’, is destined to land a No.1 role in the coming years.
“I used to hate standing about in the cold doing set-pieces,” Ferdinand quipped during a new episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents
“It’s the worst thing, nobody enjoys it. The difference at Arsenal will be that they’re now seeing the benefits and licking their lips. They will be going bring it on, give us another set-piece drill, give us something new. That guy is going to be walking about like he is the Don.
“If he’s not a manager within three years I’ll be surprised. He’ll be a manager somewhere I bet you.”
Arteta was aware of Jover from his own stint on the Manchester City coaching staff under Pep Guardiola. The Frenchman has gone on to become an integral figure in the backroom team for Arsenal during a period where Arteta has managed to re-establish the club as bonafide Premier League title contenders, though the domestic crown evaded them for a 20th consecutive year last term.
Ferdinand reckons Jover will land a No.1 role sooner rather than later (
@rioferdinandpresents/Youtube)
Arsenal are widely viewed as the team most likely to dethrone Manchester City ahead of their eagerly anticipated showdown on Sunday.
But it was after Arsenal’s North London derby triumph that Arteta gave Jover his flowers. When he was asked if Jover was the best in his field, he replied emphatically: “In his field, in other fields, as a person, the relationship that we have, that’s why I made a decision to bring him to City when I was there and then to Arsenal.
“Him and the staff, they have injected the belief to the players that there are many ways to win football matches and that this is a really powerful one.
“He’s given us a lot, so big compliment to all of them.”
