Mikel Arteta probably never thought he would get a compliment by being compared to Tony Pulis. The unsung hero, Nicolas Jover, has been rapidly gaining recognition as a key member of Arteta’s backroom staff at Arsenal. Arteta refers to him as Nico. When Arsenal scores from a corner or a set piece, it is standard to see Arteta embracing Jover for his work and input.

Their relationship dates way back beyond Jover’s joining Arsenal in the summer of 2021. Arteta, who was Guardiola’s assistant at the time, was responsible for bringing in a specialist, and it was Arteta who recruited Jover to City. In typical fashion, Arteta did his research, consulted trusted contacts, and was assured that Jover, who was with Brentford at the time, was the best in the business. Jover joined City in the summer of 2019, and although Arteta attempted to bring him to Arsenal in December of that year, City blocked the move.

However, when Jover’s contract at City expired in the summer of 2021, he willingly joined the manager who gave him his big break at Arsenal. The value of set-piece coaches is evident, as Arsenal’s practice on set pieces during their mid-winter break in Dubai resulted in a significant improvement in scoring upon their return. Effective delegation is one of the best qualities of a manager, as demonstrated by Guardiola’s willingness to let Arteta bring in Jover. This willingness to embrace new ideas extends to Arsenal’s match analyst, Ben Chadwick, who was highly rated at City and joined Arsenal when Arteta called.

Overall, Arsenal is making strides to catch up with City, and surrounding themselves with top experts and coaches is a crucial part of Arteta’s master plan.