Arsenal’s secret bonus: Coach cashes in for dead-balls
According to The Athletic, Arsenal set piece coach Nicolas Jover has a bonus in his contract linked to the number of goals the team score from dead ball situations.
Record breaking impact from corners
Arsenal have taken a 1,0 lead from a corner nine times in the Premier League this season. That equals the highest total ever in a single campaign, matching Southampton’s record from 1994 95.
In total, Mikel Arteta’s team have scored 16 league goals from set pieces this season.
These goals have often come early in matches. That has helped Arsenal control games and play on their own terms. The routines are simple but well drilled. Players block space, attack key areas and time their runs carefully.
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Contract talks after Arteta deal
When Mikel Arteta signed his latest contract in September 2024, Arsenal then began separate talks with his coaching staff. That included Nicolas Jover, assistant Albert Stuivenberg and goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana.
According to The Athletic, those deals were finalised in 2025 and run until 2027, the same length as Arteta’s contract. The negotiations were led by then managing director Richard Garlick and interim sporting director Jason Ayto.
Jover was in a strong position during talks. His work on set pieces had already made a clear difference, and other clubs were said to be interested in him. The final agreement means the 44 year old earns extra money when Arsenal score from corners and other dead ball situations.
Why set pieces matter so much
Matching a record that has stood for 30 years shows how effective Arsenal have been. Southampton set the previous mark in the 1994 95 season.
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For Arsenal, these numbers are not just statistics. They show how small details can win points. With the season still ongoing, the club could break the record outright. If they do, it may not only help their league position but also increase the value of Jover’s bonus, according to The Athletic.
Sources: The Athletic
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