Arsenal stands as the world champion in goals scored from set-pieces. The Gunners have netted 32 such goals across all competitions this season, a statistic that excludes penalties. Each of these successful strikes earns a special bonus for Nicolas Jover, assistant manager Mikel Arteta's set-piece specialist at Arsenal.
Following their victory on Sunday evening at the Emirates in the London derby against Chelsea (2-1), Arsenal surpassed Chivu's Inter in the number of goals scored from corner kicks. Saliba and Timber brought the total to 16, one more than the Serie A leaders, who have played one less game.
These fantastic figures represent only half of their set-piece successes, excluding penalties: the Premier League leaders have scored 32 goals this season across all competitions from static game situations, with 21 of those coming in the Premier League (out of a total of 58, accounting for 36.2%)!
Jover signed a contract extension that includes bonuses for every set-piece goal scored by the Gunners.
This tactic terrifies goalkeepers in both the Premier League and the Champions League. It's a style that has become a decisive factor in Arsenal's excellent season, as they battle Manchester City for a title not won since 2003-2004.
Beyond the squad Mikel Arteta currently commands, following a seasonal transfer window expenditure of around 300 million euros, credit also goes to the Gunners' staff and the lethal schemes with which the Spanish manager's assistant frequently surprises opponents.
Nicolas Jover is the mastermind behind corners, throw-ins, and free-kicks for the Premier League leaders. The German, raised in France, is highly valued by Arsenal, so much so that he signed a contract extension in the summer that includes financial bonuses for every goal scored by the Gunners from set-pieces.
Arsenal, 32 goals from set-pieces! Nearly a third.
In 2024, Jover, Arteta, fellow assistant Albert Stuivenberg, and goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana all penned new deals with Arsenal that included special clauses to incentivize them to work on this weapon, and the results have been exceptional. A bonus is deposited into their accounts for every goal scored!
Mikel Arteta brought him to London in 2021, poaching him from Manchester City, and their collaboration could deliver the long-awaited title to the Emirates faithful. Arsenal exploits the extraordinary ability of their free-kick takers, especially Rice and Saka.
The trajectories of balls delivered from set-pieces remain an enigma for opponents, who cannot predict how the Gunners cover spaces in the box and their unpredictable movement.
Of the 98 goals scored this season across all competitions, 32 have come from set-pieces. That's almost a third. "A considerable percentage, which justifies the special bonuses awarded to Jover," the English press writes.