Arsenal confident of securing new contract for ‘irreplaceable’ star – Rio Ferdinand will be ‘surprised’

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal were victorious over Premier League rivals Manchester United on match day 14 of the season.

Unlikely goalscorers Jurrien Timber and William Saliba won the game for the Gunners on Wednesday night.

Mikel Arteta’s side cruised to a 2-0 win over Man United however, the contest wasn’t wholly enjoyable.

Arsenal and United recorded a Premier League first this season as a result of a stale first half but fortunately, the game was won for the hosts after the interval.

• READ MORE: Seven things you probably missed in Arsenal win vs Man United including Mikel Arteta’s outburst

Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover set for contract extension 

Arteta wasn’t looking for revenge on Ruben Amorim before kick-off although, that’s just what the Spaniard got.

Timber opened the scoring against United from a corner, scoring his first goal for Arsenal and the Gunners’ 100th of 2024.

Saliba then doubled from set play, taking attention away from the goalscorers and placing the spotlight on irreplaceable set-piece master Nicolas Jover. 

Arsenal’s set-piece coach has guided Arteta’s side to score 22 Premier League goals from corners since the start of 2023/24 – seven more than any other club in the competition. 

For all the stars on show at the Emirates, it’s become clear that Jover is the one who consistently shines brightest which, fortunately, is an opinion shared by the club.

In a piece detailing the coach’s work in North London, The Athletic noted Arsenal’s stance on Jover’s future, stating that the club are ‘confident’ he will extend his stay. 

It’s understood that Jover is aware that he’s ‘valued at Arsenal’ and the North Londoners have ‘set about negotiating’ a renewal for several of Arteta’s support staff.

The German-born set-piece maestro isn’t the only name the club want to keep hold of for the foreseeable future, with Carlos Cuesta, Miguel Molina and Albert Stuivenberg also mentioned. 

Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville share Jover verdict

Jover is adored at the Emirates and those outside of the Arsenal family wish they had him, as Gary Neville confirmed.

Neville called Jover the ‘most annoying bloke in football’ during the Gunners’ win over United, letting his frustration out after his former club failed to compete in the box.

Neville isn’t the only Man United icon to have an opinion on the Arsenal coach, with Rio Ferdinand sharing a prediction on Jover’s future.

“If he’s not a manager within three years somewhere, I’ll be surprised. He’s going to be a manager somewhere,” Ferdinand said, with his prediction derailed by the latest update.

Arsenal are eager to extend Jover’s stay and fans will hope he remains at the Emirates for a lifetime.