Mikel Arteta orders Arsenal's raging set-piece coach back to the bench during disappointing defeat by PSG
Mikel Arteta had to step in to calm down his set-piece coach in the closing stages of Arsenal 's 1-0 defeat by PSG on Tuesday night.
Appearing in their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years, Arsenal fell behind early on to an Ousmane Dembele strike, but tried to work their way back into the contest and thought they had equalised early in the second half when Mikel Merino headed home Declan Rice 's free-kick.
However, after a three-minute VAR review, Merino was adjudged to be offside and the goal was chalked off. The Gunners kept pushing for an equaliser, with set-pieces looking to be one of their best chances of finding it, but Merino fouled goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from a corner in stoppage time to ease the pressure on PSG.
Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover was furious with the decision to penalise Merino and started venting his frustration at the fourth official.
He was seen gesticulating on the touchline, and Arteta had to quickly step in to prevent him from getting into trouble as he had a stern word with Jover before pushing him back to the bench.
The final whistle went just seconds later, with Arsenal now facing an uphill task to reach their first Champions League final since 2006.
Arteta sent Jover back to the bench😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ur8wBx6akX https://t.co/l9yWgHXWvY
— Viran🇲🇾 (@MadnessFc4) April 29, 2025
Mikel Arteta had to step in as his set-piece coach Nicolas Jover argued with the fourth official
Jover has attracted plenty of attention since arriving at Arsenal in 2021 due to his tendency to stand in the technical area and give animated instructions when the team get a dead-ball situation.
Arsenal have become a feared team from set-pieces with Jover helping from the touchline, but his behaviour has not gone down well with everyone.
Back in December, Gary Neville branded Jover 'the most annoying bloke in football' after become irritated by the coach's antics.
His remark came during a watchalong when Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates, with both of the Gunners' goals coming from corners.
Jamie Carragher also took aim at Jover last week when Arsenal conceded from a corner in their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
The former Liverpool defender highlighted after the game that Arsenal have conceded the second highest percentage of goals from corners in the top flight this season as he joked that Jover may need replacing.
'In terms of percentage, only Man United are worse than Arsenal set piece-wise this season. So when we make a big deal about the set-piece coach... he's absolutely out of this world in terms of going forward, but they've got a big problem defensively.
'So should we be cutting his wages in half? Do they need a defensive set-piece coach?
'It's been one of the stories of the season and rightly so. It's unbelievable. You feel like they are going to score a goal from a set-piece in every game, or come very close to scoring.
'Of course he's had a huge impact but it is funny that they are having huge problems themselves.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Kane fumes at England decision as Tuchel's side suffer embarrassing defeat
Harry Kane bemoaned the decision that would've seen England equalise before going down to Senegal as Jude Bellingham's late strike was ruled out by VAR for handball Harry Kane felt England were cruelly denied an equaliser as Jude Bellingham 's late strike was disallowed with the skipper ruthlessly claiming "if you know the rules it's a goal". The Real Madrid man came off the bench and was looking to help rescue the Three Lions as they trailed to Senegal - eventually falling to defeat. He thought he'd found it with a quick touch and finish from close range, setting up a grandstand finish. However VAR quickly interjected to highlighted a potential handball to the referee, who then went to the screen for a second look. The initial delivery from the corner hit Levi Colwill on the arm before it headed in Bellingham's direction and that was deemed deliberate. As Bellingham, the goalscorer, didn't handle the ball the interpretation of the rule can be different, which is what Kane may have been hinting at as he claimed England should've had a second goal. He told ITV: "If you know the rules it is not handball. It obviously gets us back in the game at 2-2 and maybe we go on and win the game so it is a big moment but its something to discuss with them after." Bellingham's strike would've given England just over five minutes to find a winning goal at the City Ground in Nottingham. Instead Senegal were able to add a third in stoppage time. Both Ian Wright and Roy Keane agreed that the officials had got the decision wrong. The loss comes after Andorra had run England close, eventually losing 1-0 having been level at the break. The Three Lions were booed at half-time and needed a response, but were again poor with jeers ringing out at the full-time whistle. Kane said on the performance: "Again, not really good enough. I think we had moments but with and without the ball aren't quite clicking, the right passes, the right tempo. One-on-one we're losing those duels, lacking that aggressive nature and we got punished. we're playing against a good side. "We're not going to panic, but for sure we know we need to be better. There's some ideas that are new, we have new players in the team who don't haven't international experience. Its a mixture of things but it is no excuse. We need to find it quick, obviously we won't meet again for a few months but the World Cup is going to come around fast." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Herald Scotland
35 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
England booed off after shock defeat to Senegal
Harry Kane had got England off to a fine start against Senegal by continuing his run of scoring in every game under Tuchel, who was critical of his side's efforts in Barcelona and spoke of his desire for the team to play with a smile. Thomas Tuchel's suffered a first defeat as England boss (Mike Egerton/PA) But happiness was in short supply in Nottingham, where Anthony Gordon wasted a glorious chance shortly before Ismaila Sarr capitalised on poor defending by debutant Trevoh Chalobah and a sleeping Kyle Walker. Senegal, ranked 19th in the world, were always going to be Tuchel's toughest test since taking charge and Habib Diarra went on to fire through the legs of Dean Henderson, who had made some important saves on his second start. Substitute Jude Bellingham thought he had levelled late on, only for Levi Colwill to be adjudged to have handled upon VAR review, and second-half introduction Cheikh Sabaly added another for the visitors in stoppage time. This was England's first ever defeat to an African side, having gone unbeaten in the previous 21 encounters, and looked possible from the outset with Idrissa Gueye and Nicolas Jackson denied early on by Henderson. But Tuchel's side struck the first blow with just seven minutes on the clock in Nottingham. Eberechi Eze did well to win the ball, with Conor Gallagher helping it wide for Gordon to get away a shot that former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy could only spill into the path of Kane to turn in from six yards. Senegal responded well to that setback, with Henderson denying Diarra from distance before stopping Crystal Palace team-mate Sarr's powerful header. Gordon should have settled England's nerves in the 28th minute by applying the finish Walker's low cross merited, with that glaring miss under pressure at the far post proving costly. Henderson stopped Gueye but poor defending allowed Senegal to level in the 40th minute. Chalobah failed to stop Jackson hooking over a cross that Sarr beat a switched-off Walker to turn home. The rusty-looking right-back was booked for a foul soon after his role in the first goal conceded under Tuchel. England were breathing a sigh of relief five minutes later when Diarra lashed over, with Nottingham Forest favourite Morgan Gibbs-White's introduction bringing a huge cheer. Kane was among those withdrawn as part of that triple change but Ivan Toney was left on the bench, leaving England without an out-and-out striker. Something needed to change from Tuchel's perspective, but unfortunately it was the scoreline. Diarra all too easily got behind left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly and ran on to drill through Henderson from a tight angle in the 62nd minute, sparking wild celebrations from the pockets of Senegal supporters. England were denied an almost immediate leveller as Eze smartly flicked on for Gibbs-White to test Mendy. The pair linked up brilliantly again soon after, with Saka denied expertly by Mendy's right hand. Henderson stopped Jackson scoring from distance and Pape Gueye struck narrowly wide as home fans became increasingly frustrated. England looked to have been rescued in the 84th minute by substitute Bellingham, who took a touch and stabbed home from close range. But referee Stephanie Frappart was sent to the pitchside monitor and ruled the goal out for a handball by Colwill in the build-up. Toney was finally introduced but the only other goal would come from a Senegalese boot as Lamine Camara broke and played across for Sabaly in stoppage time.
Daily Mirror
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Roy Keane slams 'lazy' England star and demands immediate Thomas Tuchel change
England fell to a dismal defeat against Senegal after taking the lead against their African opponents and Roy Keane has branded one Three Lions star as 'lazy' after the outing Kyle Walker is the latest victim of a savage assessment from Roy Keane as the former Manchester United captain accused the full-back of being 'lazy'. Walker was deemed culpable for Senegal's opening goal at the City Ground as England fell to a 3-1 defeat. The Three Lions opened the scoring through Harry Kane before goals from Ismaila Sarr and Habib Diarra saw the visitors pull ahead. Jude Bellingham looked to have spared England's blushes but saw his goal ruled out by VAR for a handball in the build up, before Cheikh Sabaly rounded of the scoring in stoppage time. Thomas Tuchel's side started the game well but a lapse in the backline allowed Senegal back into the game. Trevoh Chalobah had shadowed Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Jackson after he received a bouncing ball over the top but could not prevent a looping cross into the box. Walker was slow to respond to the ball being played over Chalobah's head, despite being well-positioned, allowing Crystal Palace's Sarr to send the ball into the net without much pressure. Manchester City's Walker rolled on the floor after being caught on his heels. And Keane was unimpressed with Walker's actions. The pundit provided a pointed critique of the defender's efforts. "If this is a young right back, you're thinking it's inexperience," Keane said on ITV's coverage of the game. "But I think he's being lazy. "He almost can't be bothered getting back. For a vastly experienced player, you can't be making mistakes like that." Ian Wright added: "If Kyle gets in there, he probably clears that." Former Arsenal and England full-back Lee Dixon was no more forgiving. On commentary he said: "As a defender, you have to think the worst is going to happen. "The ball is going to be kept in, and you have got to be ahead of the game. Just look at Walker. "Sarr is goal side He has to expect the ball to come in. He just goes to sleep. Poor from Walker." Keane suggested such night will leave Tuchel with questions over a number of players. "Every time I watch England in the last few games, I think they could do a lot more," he said. "It's as if they're waiting for a setback. "That said, Gordon should score, they should be 2-0 up. Walker shouldn't make a mistake. Ultimately, the manager will still have question marks over some of these players."
