Arteta's right-hand man rewarded for each goal from corners

Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover negotiated a bonus clause into his contract with the London club.

According to a report from The Athletic, Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover successfully negotiated a bonus clause in his contract extension signed late last year. Specifically, the assistant to Mikel Arteta secured a reward based on goals scored from set-pieces, a benefit Jover obtained after gaining significant leverage in negotiations.

This clause is considered well-deserved given Arsenal's effectiveness from set-pieces. This season, the London club has scored 16 goals from corners, the highest in the league and equaling the record for most corner goals in a single season by a team. Moreover, they have also opened the scoring nine times from corner situations in the Premier League, the highest such figure in a season.

Under manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has turned set-pieces into a potent weapon. Jover joined the club in 2021 as a dedicated set-piece coach and quickly made a notable impact, with a majority of the Gunners' goals in recent seasons coming from such situations.

Arteta has repeatedly publicly praised his colleague. Most recently, two goals from set-pieces contributed to a crucial 2-1 victory over Chelsea. After the match, Arteta acknowledged the team had not scored from set-pieces in recent weeks but maintained effectiveness in open play and capitalized on opportunities when they arose.

Notably, few are aware that before reuniting at Emirates, Arteta had introduced Jover to Pep Guardiola during their time together at Man City. The French strategist also previously gained experience at Montpellier and Brentford before joining Arsenal.

Superiority in set-piece situations is playing a key role in helping Arsenal lead the Premier League table, holding a five-point advantage over Man City, although their rival has a game in hand.