Former Arsenal midfielder and now a coach within the club’s academy, Jack Wilshere, has revealed the important impact that set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has had on the club’s football philosophy. Wilshere stated that it was Jover's openness and professionalism that facilitated the development of a new culture surrounding set pieces, which has turned Mikel Arteta's team into one of the Premier League's most lethal forces during corner and free-kick situations.
Wilshere noted that Jover personally agreed to teach the academy's coaching staff the intricacies of his craft:
He’s a great guy. I told him: ‘Nico, help me and my assistants. Can you hold a meeting for us? ... I don’t need to know everything; he’s not going to divulge all his secrets. But can you help us out?’ And he agreed.
According to the ex-midfielder, the interaction between the first team and the academy has reached a radically different level. Academy players now regularly practice set pieces alongside first-team players, while Mikel Arteta and Nicolas Jover coordinate training exercises simultaneously:
This is a question of culture, which has completely changed. It’s a whole new level.
Jover joined Arsenal's coaching staff in 2021 after moving from Manchester City. Under his guidance, the Londoners matched a Premier League record in the 2023/24 season by scoring 16 goals from set-piece situations. Wilshere also highlighted Arteta's relentless focus on fundamental football elements, reminiscing about his own experiences in training with the first team.
