Arsenal are set to unleash a secret weapon that never steps onto the field as they aim to exploit Paris Saint Germain’s vulnerability to set-pieces in their Champions League clash on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta’s team has become a dominant force in Europe when it comes to corners and free-kicks, thanks to their set-piece expert, Nicolas Jover.Having worked with Arteta during their time under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Jover joined Arsenal in 2021 at Arteta’s request. His tactical innovations have played a crucial, if understated, role in Arsenal’s success, although this season, his impact has become far more evident.Since Jover’s arrival, Arsenal have scored 44 set-piece goals (excluding penalties), with 25 of those coming in the Premier League from the start of last season. No other team in the English top-flight has been as prolific in this area, including 19 goals from corners. One of those key moments came when Gabriel Magalhaes scored a pivotal header in the 2-2 draw against title rivals Manchester City.Palmer scores four first-half goals to ground the sturdy Seagulls, Ndidi saves ArsenalJover’s importance to Arsenal became unmistakable when Arteta celebrated with him after another Gabriel header secured a crucial 1-0 win over Tottenham earlier this season.”In his field and in others, as a person, the relationship we have is why I brought him to City and then Arsenal,” Arteta explained. “He and the staff have given the players belief that there are many ways to win a football match. It’s a powerful tool and has been a huge asset for us.”Jover has crafted clever routines for both offensive and defensive set-pieces. One of his most effective strategies involves surrounding the opposing goalkeeper with Arsenal players, while Gabriel sneaks into the far post to meet the ball from a corner.“Nico deserves all the credit. We train a lot on set-pieces, and it shows. Sometimes these moments decide games, and we’re lucky to have him,” said Arsenal forward Kai Havertz.While Arsenal thrive on meticulously planned set-pieces, PSG have taken a contrasting approach. Under manager Luis Enrique, the French club has not hired a set-piece specialist and reportedly only practices such scenarios on a sporadic basis. This neglect has made PSG susceptible to conceding from corners and free-kicks — something Jover will undoubtedly look to exploit.##EDITORS_CHOICE##PSG’s relaxed attitude towards set-pieces has left them exposed, much like Tottenham, whose manager Ange Postecoglou is among the few Premier League bosses yet to fully embrace the trend.Champions Manchester City, meanwhile, have flourished by appointing Carlos Vicens as their set-piece coach in 2023, scoring 21 times from dead-ball situations while conceding only once in their triumphant Premier League campaign last season. “Set-pieces are crucial in modern football,” Guardiola acknowledged. “We plan for corners like every team, but someone needs to bring the ideas, and Carlos deserves all the credit.”Other clubs have also recognized the growing importance of set-pieces. Brentford, where Jover previously worked, were one of the pioneers of this trend, and Chelsea paid £750,000 to bring in dead-ball specialist Bernardo Cueva in May. Manchester United hired Andreas Georgson to develop their set-piece strategies, while Austin MacPhee’s schemes helped Aston Villa secure their first Champions League qualification in 41 years. Even Liverpool are searching for a new set-piece coach, highlighting how integral the role has become.For now, Arsenal remain at the forefront of the set-piece revolution, giving them a vital edge in competitions that can hinge on the smallest of details. PSG have been duly warned.📊🤯 Premier League Goals under Mikel Arteta:🥇 53 – 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 (𝐬𝐞𝐭-𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬) 🥈 48 – Bukayo Saka🥉 32 – Gabriel Martinelli[arsenalsquare on Instagram] pic.twitter.com/xWBvJ6gxaW— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) September 29, 2024 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 2Tuesday19:45: (1.80) Salzburg (3.60) Brest (4.60)19:45: (1.45) Stuttgart (4.50) Sparta Praha (7.00)22:00: (1.75) Leverkusen (3.70) Milan (4.70)22:00: (1.50) Dortmund (4.30) Celtic (6.50)22:00: (1.10) Barcelona (11.0) Young Boys (18.0)22:00: (1.20) Inter (7.75) Crvena Zvezda (18.0)22:00: (1.85) Arsenal (3.70) PSG (4.70)22:00: (35.0) Slovan B. (14.0) Man.City (1.05)22:00: (2.60) PSV (3.50) Sporting (2.80)Wednesday19:45: (2.10) Girona (3.60) Feyenoord (3.60)19:45: (5.30) Shakhtar (3.60) Atalanta (1.70)22:00: (5.30) Dinamo Zagreb (3.60) Monaco (1.70)22:00: (6.00) Lille (4.10) Real Madrid (1.55)22:00: (3.00) Benfica (3.45) Atl.Madrid (2.50)22:00: (4.60) Aston Villa (3.80) Bayern (1.75)22:00: (2.40) RB Leipzig (3.45) Juventus (3.15)22:00: (1.20) Liverpool (6.75) Bologna (14.0)22:00: (2.80) Sturm (3.40) Club Brugge (2.65)***odds are subject to change***
