Arsenal were able to gain ground on Liverpool in the Premier League title race with a 2-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday night.
The Gunners went into this game as heavy favourites, and their superiority ultimately told at the Emirates Stadium.
Paul Merson believed Arsenal would “destroy” Manchester United. Whilst the final result was not a thrashing, the Red Devils were rarely able to threaten the Gunners’ goal.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side had to rely upon their set-piece prowess the secure the vital Premier League points in this game. Declan Rice delivered a corner that was flicked home by Jurrien Timber, before William Saliba bundled in another from a corner later on.
What Gary Neville said after Jurrien Timber goal vs Man United
Arsenal truly are the set-piece masters in the Premier League. However, as far as former Manchester United defender Gary Neville is concerned, Timber’s effort ought to have been chalked off.
Watching the game live on Stick to Football, the former full-back’s initial response to the goal was one of incredulity and outrage.
Immediately after the Dutchman found the back of the net, Neville exclaimed: “It’s a foul on Hojlund, no? He’s pushed him.”
Referee Samuel Barrott did not see the incident the same way, though, and replays showed that Neville’s complaints held little merit.
Upon seeing Nicolas Jover celebrating the goal, a clearly irked and bitter Neville added: “He’s got to be the most annoying bloke in football, the Arsenal set-piece coach.”
The secret to Arsenal win over Manchester United
Whilst Jover may have annoyed Neville, he also succeeded in masterminding the Gunners’ route to victory over the Old Trafford outfit.
Despite Gabriel Magalhaes being absent due to injury, and his devastating aerial threat obviously therefore not being present, Arsenal were still able to make their corners count.
Rice and Bukayo Saka deserve huge credit for their consistently excellent deliveries, whilst Jover was clearly able to adapt the players’ instructions in the box to account for Gabriel’s absence.
Jover getting on Neville’s nerves simply proves that the Arsenal coach performed his duties with distinction yet again.
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