The secrets of Arsenal’s set-pieces: How Mikel Arteta’s ‘little nuisance’ uses Ben White’s darks arts, NFL tactics and a BASICS acronym to change the game

It was that ‘little nuisance’, as attributed by Gary Neville, that jumped and jumped happily over the touchline again. Nicolas Jover had helped to another important Arsenal victory in the title race with their trusted weapon – set pieces.

The path to three points in a thrilling North London derby against rival Tottenham was cleared after 15 minutes. Bukayo Saka’s corner found the near post area and Takehiro Tomiyasu was on hand to head the ball towards goal.

The expectation that the cross would end up in the mix caused Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to panic. He headed the ball into his own goal.

The cameras then panned to the technical area and it was Arsenal’s mastermind Jover who ended up in the arms of Mikel Arteta.

Neville joked on commentary: ‘There he is again. The guru of the set piece. He’s a bit of a burden on that coach, but he’s damn good.”

The cameras then panned to Arsenal mastermind Nicolas Jover

Kai Havertz headed in a corner for Arsenal’s third goal against Tottenham on Sunday

He proves damn well, and his set of set tricks and gimmicks certainly works. In the Premier League this season, Arsenal have scored the most goals excluding penalties (22), the most goals from corners (16) and conceded the second fewest goals excluding penalties (six).

It’s this last statistic that is just as crucial as the score itself. As Spurs rained crosses and corners into the penalty area in those frenetic final ten minutes, the 42-year-old sat on his haunches and orchestrated the Gunners’ defensive strategy while Arteta was out of sight. Scoring is good, but not without defensive solidity at the other end.

It has not gone unnoticed throughout the campaign that whenever Arsenal have a set-piece, the ever-active Arteta steps back technically and Jover takes up his space and gives instructions.

The pair’s relationship goes back much further than training on the training ground and working together at the north London club.

Arteta noticed the German-born Frenchman’s work at Brentford, where Jover transformed the club’s approach to set pieces between July 2016 and 2018.

During that period as assistant coach to Dean Smith, before briefly working under current boss Thomas Frank, the Bees were, as now, fixated on thinking ahead for those marginal gains.

As for Jover, there was an immediate difference as he was given the license and time to impart his methods to the team. His next step is where the ambitious coach first made his mark on a mainstream audience.

He was introduced to Manchester City by Arteta, their assistant coach at the time, who had taken note of Jover’s work at Brentford.

The pair, who both speak English, French and Spanish, hit it off straight away when they met after the Spaniard contacted Jover.

Jover, right, impressed Arteta by transforming Brentford’s set-pieces, leading to him introducing the set-piece coach to Manchester City

Kyle Walker was involved in a heated clash with Jover as the Gunners beat Man City 1-0 at the Emirates in October

At the end of his contract in 2021, Jover joined Arteta at Arsenal – and the rest writes itself. A reunion of a couple who share many similarities.

He mirrors Arteta in intensity and focus, and has the respect of the players. That passion was on display in his confrontation with Man City’s Kyle Walker after Arsenal beat the club 1-0, with the men embroiled in a heated argument.

Both have a ruthless work ethic and an obsession with detail. Jover likes to keep sessions short, less than 30 minutes, to ensure he has the team’s full attention.

Jover has several sessions throughout the week to practice his different methods. It was he who convinced the Gunners boss to let Declan Rice take the corners during the winter camp in Dubai.

In a practical sense, there are intricate details in the success via a variety of corner-kicking methods and antics this season.

Before Sunday’s 3-2 win over Tottenham, Hojbjerg’s own goal was precipitated by Ben White’s actions in the area.

He targeted Guglielmo Vicario by trying to take off the goalkeeper’s gloves. Vicario shook him off, but was clearly irritated. His mind was already in turmoil before the ball even reached the penalty area.

And for Arsenal’s second set-piece goal, through Kai Havertz, White had backed up to Vicario on the goalline, leaving the keeper stuck in one spot.

Jover is a winner, as is Arteta, so it is not the first time such underhanded tactics have been seen in the opposition area when the Gunners are about to take a set-piece. Win at all costs.

Ben White tried to take off Guglielmo Vicario’s gloves before Arsenal’s opening goal

White backed himself into Vicario for Arsenal’s second set-piece goal of the afternoon

Take Arsenal’s second goal in the 5-0 defeat to Chelsea last Tuesday.

Saka waited to take the corner. In the penalty area, William Saliba had Enzo Fernandez pinned down in the center of the area, while White was busy wrestling with Marc Cucurella.

Once the ball broke free, White Cucurella shrugged and found himself in space, and Saliba’s block from Enzo forced the Chelsea man to keep the opponent in touch. White finished neatly in the net.

In addition to the use of NFL-style blocking, a number of examples emerge from earlier in the campaign.

Declan Rice’s late goal against Manchester United in September started with four Arsenal players outnumbering the two opponents at the back post. As the ball reached Rice, Gabriel was already blocking Jonny Evans’ path to get to Rice’s shot.

And when Arsenal faced Crystal Palace in January, Arsenal’s repeated tactical crowding of certain areas allowed Gabriel to plow in with double-headed goals.

For most corners it is Martin Odegaard who stands on the edge of the penalty area. A possible chief orchestrator.

As noted during Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace in January, Odegaard appeared to play with his socks to gesture as to whether the corner would go to the front or back post.

When Mail Sport asked Arteta about the trick in the following days, he grinned and said: ‘I’m not going to tell you!’

It’s been drilled into the players so well that it’s almost second nature to create a sense of chaos in the box, which is one of Jover’s goals.

Under Arteta, Arsenal have taken to opposition grounds with their own banners and posters to give the away dressing room a more familiar feel.

A banner on the wall before Sunday’s game was significant. It said ‘BASIC’. An acronym for Boxes, Attack, Shape, Intensity, Compete and Set-pieces.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta celebrates the derby victory with Jover, center, and Carlos Cuesta

It’s an example of how seriously Mikel takes set pieces, and the responsibility he’s given to Jover.

A similarly serious approach to the trade has been adopted by many clubs in the league, but some still do not have a specialist coach in this area. Traces are one.

When asked about his team’s difficulties in dealing with this art on Sunday, Ange Postecoglou replied: “If I thought that fixing defensive set pieces was the solution to bridge the gap, then I would spend all my time and put in effort. But that’s not where we stand.’

The success and goals that Arsenal have carried under Jover’s tutelage could force Ange and others to change course quickly.