The rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester City has increased in bitterness in recent months, as the two clubs compete for the Premier League title.
A 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium saw Leandro Trossard sent off, whilst Erling Haaland launched the ball at Gabriel Magalhaes as tempers flared between the two benches.
Arsenal reversed a 1-0 deficit to lead 2-1, with Gabriel scoring from a corner for the second week in a row, and his side’s set-piece ingenuity outsmarted the Man City defence.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been praised for their set-pieces, in both attacking and defensive situations, and staff member Nicolas Jover has been credited for Arsenal’s transformation in this regard.
Jover joined Arsenal from Man City, and it now appears that City were unhappy to let such an important and talented coach join a rival club.
Man City tried to stop Arsenal signing set-piece coach Nicolas Jover
The Independent have now reported that tensions between the two clubs have increased both on and off the pitch, and Jover’s move to Arsenal helped cause animosity between the two sides.
“Arteta had worked with the French set-piece specialist at Manchester City and headhunted him on becoming Arsenal manager. It was the first step in wider preparation for these final details. Arteta had looked at the statistics and decided it was essential this was one of his first appointments,” it is claimed.
“That did eventually lead to some animosity between the benches in Sunday’s 2-2 draw, since City also realised Jover’s value. They tried to block the move, and didn’t like that he’d jumped ship.”
Nicolas Jover’s relationship with Manchester City
Jover joined Arteta’s Arsenal in 2021, two years after Arteta left City himself to manage the club he led to FA Cup glory as captain.
It clearly did not sit well with figures at Man City, and tempers flared between Jover and members of the City team and staff during Arsenal’s victory over City in October 2023.
Jover enthusiastically greeted members of the Man City bench after the game, which saw him exchange furious words with Kyle Walker, and it was later revealed that the coach refused to shake hands with anyone from City in previous encounters.
He has now revolutionised Arsenal’s set-pieces, which helped them gain a point at the Etihad, and he could now help Arteta stop their old club from winning a fifth consecutive Premier League title.
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