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Jamie Redknapp has warned Liverpool fans that turning down Real Madrid will be "almost impossible" for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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• Alexander-Arnold linked with Real Madrid
• Right-back will hit free agency this summer
• Liverpool criticised for Van Dijk and Salah's contracts too

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Amid mounting criticism of Alexander-Arnold's performance against Manchester United, Redknapp has come to his defence. The right-back was at fault for Lisandro Martinez's goal for the Red Devils, and since his mistake, he has faced a barrage of criticism from several legends of the game, including Roy Keane and Emmanuel Petit, who have questioned his defensive credibility.

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  WHAT REDKNAPP SAID

  Speaking on podcast, Redknapp expressed disbelief over the backlash Alexander-Arnold has faced and said: "I think Trent can have off days defensively. You know, there is absolutely no doubt his defensive attributes are far outweighed by how good he is going with the ball. He's a genius with that right foot. But defensively, he can be found out. And that was certainly one of those days. I've seen him have worse games than that. He can have those types of games. He had one. There's no two ways about it, and they exploited it. But I think now for Trent, he just needs to make sure that he finishes the season really well."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The poor performance has sparked speculation about whether the growing rumours of Real Madrid’s interest are affecting Alexander-Arnold.

  "It does feel like all of a sudden the whole narrative about Madrid has sort of started to take over, and I think that’s probably come because Madrid made the bid," he said. "I think that's probably bought it to the forefront. And maybe by trying to be a little bit clever, almost trying to help Trent, I think they've actually made the situation worse.

  "I think there's only one club as a player where you just… with that white kit, and when Real Madrid come calling, it's almost impossible to turn down. My view is if you get an opportunity to go and try something, try a different culture, go and do something different in your life, in your career, how can he begrudge anyone that?"

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Alexander-Arnold’s uncertain future is part of a larger issue facing Liverpool, with key players Salah and Van Dijk also nearing the end of their contracts. Redknapp criticised Liverpool’s handling of these situations, calling it 'negligence' to allow such pivotal players to reach the final months of their deals without resolution.

  "It’s been negligence by Liverpool to let three world-class players come to the end of their contracts," he said. "I think Virgil, they have to make a play for him and make him stay. If there was one that you had to keep, it's certainly Virgil. And I still think that Mohammed Salah will stay. So, the two out of the three will stay."

Birmingham, with Tom Brady on board, had their fingers burned with Wayne Rooney, but have the Blues learned their lesson when it comes to big names?

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• Rooney lasted just 15 games at the helm
• Blues suffered relegation into League One
• Ambitious plans drawn up at St Andrew's

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Back in October 2023, with American owners now calling the shots at St Andrew’s, the decision was taken to part with John Eustace’s services and hand managerial reins in the West Midlands to Manchester United legend Rooney. He lasted just 83 days and 15 games at the helm.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Birmingham’s slide towards League One was set in motion during that forgettable tenure, but Chris Davies now has them sat at the top of the third tier table and well on course to secure an immediate return to the Championship. The ultimate goal is to clamber back into the Premier League at some point.

• WHAT WINTERBURN SAID

  It remains to be seen how that journey will play out, with Nigel Winterburn – who started out with the Blues and was speaking in association with – telling GOAL when asked if another so-called ‘name’ will be sought: "What they should want is someone that they believe can progress their club – whether it is a player that has been big in his time and has proven himself through the coaching ranks, or whether it is somebody that started out in the lower leagues but has progressed up and is doing a really good job with different teams.

  "The answer should probably be the old-school managers that have progressed through the leagues and have earned the right to coach at the higher levels where some of the players that have finished of late are, maybe just because of their name, jumping into fairly big jobs."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Ex-England international Winterburn added: "They have to prove themselves. As we’re seeing at the moment, coaching is completely different to playing, it’s a different mindset. Just because you were a great player doesn’t mean you are going to be a fantastic manager or coach. There are a whole lot of different things to deal with and one or two of those big players are seeing at times how difficult it can be."

Looking to add to an attack that is already filled to the brim with quality in depth, Liverpool are now reportedly interested in signing a winger who once embarrassed Ibrahima Konate.

Liverpool transfer rumour

There are still a number of unanswered questions about Arne Slot's Liverpool side and its future. The Dutchman has at least delayed the need for those queries to receive an answer after winning three from three in the Premier League, including a 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford. But those long-term questions and concerns still remain.

Liverpool eye £50m move for £68k-p/w ace to replace Virgil van Dijk in 2025

The Reds are already planning for a future without their captain.

By
Ben Browning

Sep 10, 2024

Among those regard the future of stars such as Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. As things stand, all three are set to depart at the end of the season upon the expiry of their current deals in what should be seen as nothing short of a disaster for those at Anfield.

That's not to say that those three stars are pushing to leave, however, especially Van Dijk and Salah. Quite the opposite in fact. Club captain Van Dijk recently reiterated that he's looking to stay put in Merseyside, whilst Salah seemed to send a message to Liverpool about his future after their dominant display against Manchester United.

If this is to be Salah's final season at the club, meanwhile, then there's no doubt that the Reds will need to turn their attention towards finding a replacement as soon as possible. And that could lead them to a name that those at Anfield already know all about.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are now interested in a move to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, who are reportedly set to remain firm on their stance of keeping hold of their star man in the January transfer window.

Of course, the Bees recently lost Ivan Toney to Saudi Arabia side Al-Ahli and are in no position to lose yet more firepower in the form of Mbeumo. But if Liverpool do come knocking, such a move could prove to be too tempting to turn down for a player of such quality.

"Brilliant" Mbeumo can ease Salah blow

It almost goes without saying that replacing Salah will be a near-impossible task for Liverpool, whether it's next summer or in years to come. The Egyptian already has his place as one the greatest wingers in Premier League history. Some may even go as far to say that he is the greatest. All good things must come to an end, however, and the Reds may be left turning towards Mbeumo, who Brentford boss Frank described as "brilliant" in 2022.

The Brentford star, who earns a reported £45,000-a-week, is a player that Liverpool already know all about, especially central defender Konate. The Frenchman was on the receiving end of Mbeumo's quality when he scored the Bees' third in a stunning 3-1 defeat over the Reds in the 2022/23 campaign.

Paul Pogba has been urged to take on a “revenge” mission alongside Mason Greenwood at Marseille, with a Premier League return being ruled out.

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• Frenchman released by Juventus
• Suspension ends in March 2025
• Linked with clubs around the world

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ex-Manchester United midfielder Pogba has become a free agent on the back of seeing his contract terminated at Juventus. That decision was taken as the France international continues to serve a worldwide doping ban.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Said sanction has been cut from four years to 18 months, meaning that Pogba will be able to resume his professional career in March. Various landing spots have been speculated on for the 31-year-old – from England to the United States – but Emmanuel Petit wants to see him head home.

• WHAT PETIT SAID

  Ex-Monaco star Petit has told of what happens next for his fellow World Cup winner: “There is big speculation about Pogba joining Marseille. Marseille, they are doing great in the transfer market. With the new Sports Director, the former player, Medhi Benatia, who just signed a new contract at the club. He has done such a great job at Marseille, bringing some very exciting and good players into the team.

  “Playing for Marseille is something special, you know. This city lives for the club. They are so passionate about football and about their club. You can see that every single time they play at home in front of almost 60,000 people. The atmosphere is amazing. That reminds me of back in the day, when I had to play with Monaco for the title at the Velodrome. The atmosphere was volcanic. I loved it. So, you must have the character to play over there because the storm is not very far away. It always comes in Marseille, but it's been months now that we only speak about Marseille for the right reasons, not the bad reasons.

  “Coming back to Pogba, he's been linked probably with a move over there, but I know that he's training alone, he's doing hard work, he's very fit but it's a big difference working in the gym compared to working on the pitch with your team-mates. When was the last time he touched a ball? It was 18 months ago with Juventus which means It will be a gamble. I love when you get a player with a feeling of revenge, that their image has been destroyed, for the last two seasons, starting with Manchester United.

  “If I am a manager of a club, it would be interesting because we all know the quality of the footballer when everything is set up in his mind. We all know what kind of player he can be on the pitch, which means it can be a gamble. He knows that he will have to accept less money than what he is used too. No problem. He cannot make a great deal financially at the moment. For any club that signs him, it would have to be a deal with a club that will help him come back the way he was before. It's a win-win deal for any club. Do what you have to do on the pitch, we will help as much as we can to come back to the level you were before.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Quizzed on whether Pogba – who has previously taken in two spells at Old Trafford – should consider a return to the Premier League, former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Petit said: “I think it's too soon for Pogba to come back to the Premier League. The image he left when he left Manchester United was not good enough. He was under such criticism and scrutiny all the time. For me, coming back to Ligue 1 would probably be the best decision for him. If he goes to Marseille with the passion of the club, the fans, that's something that can help him to come back step by step.”

Nottingham Forest face a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Saturday, and ahead of that game they are being linked with a move for an exciting European player, according to a recent report. It has been a good start to the Premier League season for the Reds as they are unbeaten in their first three league games, with their 11 new signings strengthening the squad significantly.

Nottingham Forest player suffers international duty injury; he's had tests

Nuno Espirito Santo and Nottingham Forest have suffered a blow during the international break.

By
Brett Worthington

Sep 11, 2024

Nottingham Forest injury news

Saturday’s game against Liverpool represents a difficult afternoon for Forest, as they face a side who have won all three of their league games so far and look to be in very good form, not even conceding a goal. Nuno Espirito Santo will want his players to be at their very best and will hope he has as much of his squad available as possible.

However, the Premier League side didn’t manage to get through the international break without receiving bad news. Defender Willy Boly suffered a calf injury while on international duty with the Ivory Coast, as confirmed by his international manager. Boly didn’t feature in his country’s first game against Zambia, and Emerse Fae has revealed since that the player has suffered a calf injury in training.

Fae told reporters: “Regarding the absence of Willy Boly, I will simply explain to you: he was unfortunately injured in training just before our match against Chad. Examinations revealed a calf injury, and he is therefore unavailable. He returned to the club to recover.”

It is unclear how long the 33-year-old will be out for, but it appears as though he will be unavailable for the Liverpool match and possibly some of the games that follow. While all eyes for Nuno are on Anfield however, it appears the club's recruiting department are getting a head start on their 2025 business.

Nottingham Forest ready to pay £13 million release clause for 19 y/o

According to El Periodico, relayed by Nottingham Forest News, Forest want to sign young forward Adrian Liso in January and are ready to pay the £13 million release clause. His club, Real Zaragoza, would even give in and welcome the approach, seemingly hoping to turn some profit from a promising academy talent.

Forest are keen on striking a deal in the upcoming January transfer window and it is claimed that Zaragoza are “buzzing” about the are interest, although they also face competition from La Liga side Getafe so Zaragoza may be wishing for a bidding war.

The 19-year-old winger came through the academy at the Spanish side and, so far, he has played more games for the academy than he has for the first team. Liso, who can operate on the left or up front, has scored three goals in 26 appearances for Zaragoza’s second team. He would of course be a risky signing for Forest, as he is only 19 and has yet to establish himself at senior level, but the scouting department are clearly impressed by what they've seen so far.

Manchester United's plans to build a new state-of-the-art stadium to replace Old Trafford could be hit by a row involving the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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• Man Utd planning new stadium
• Could host gigs to earns extra revenue
• But plans may be hit by court case

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils have plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium to replace Old Trafford but the project may be about to hit a stumbling block in the form of a row between American rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lancashire Cricket Club, according to the Trafford council has taken the club to court after a member of the public was injured at their Old Trafford cricket ground during a Chili Peppers gig back in 2022.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lancashire county cricket club and music promoter Live Nation are now facing prosecution which could impact on United's stadium plans. United had been considering hosting concerts in their new home to bring in extra revenue but Live Nation may now decide against staging future events at Old Trafford. The trial is due to start in March 2027 and is expected to last 10 days.

• TELL ME MORE

  A source told the Mail: "They [Live Nation] are not the kind of people you want to upset when you are trying to build a new stadium that will rely on concerts."

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• WHAT TRAFFORD COUNCIL SAID

  A spokesperson said: "Trafford Council can confirm that Lancashire Cricket Club and Live Nation are being prosecuted for health and safety offences in respect of an incident at the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert held at the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground on 22June 2022."

Gabriel rose highest. The ball crashed into the back of the net. The Brazilian dashed off towards the Arsenal support. Against the run of play, the Gunners found themselves ahead on the patch of Manchester City no less.

It was another emphatic celebration from the Arsenal centre-half who scored for successive weeks. Why have Erling Haaland up top when you have the Haaland of defenders at the back? Gabriel is prolific and a man for the big occasion.

A week ago he scored the winner in the north London derby and very nearly netted the winner again, only for another defender in John Stones to pop up late on and rescue a point for Pep Guardiola’s men.

What a peculiar match that was. Everyone expected Arsenal to sit back but their hands were forced when Leandro Trossard was sent off on the verge of half-time for kicking the ball away. It was Declan Rice versus Brighton all over again.

But Gabriel, together with his partner in crime William Saliba, rallied and helped to withstand nearly 60 minutes of pressure once injury time was said and done to take a share of the spoils from Manchester. And breathe. Everyone can breathe now. We go again in February when the two teams will meet again at the Emirates Stadium. A potential title decider awaits.

So, how have Mikel Arteta’s men got themselves into a position where they stand a realistic chance of winning the league? Gabriel and Saliba have to be commended.

Why Gabriel and Saliba are so special

During the 2022/23 season, there were concerns surrounding Gabriel. “He’s rash and makes mad, wild decisions,” voiced the ever-outspoken Rio Ferdinand.

Well, how he has proven the doubters wrong over the last few seasons. He is now one of the foremost defenders on the continent and together with colleague Saliba, have established one of the best defensive partnerships in the Premier League era.

No team conceded fewer than Arsenal’s 29 in the top-flight last season. In fact, since their star Frenchman was introduced into the team, his record of keeping clean sheets is rather awe-inspiring.

This term, he has been part of a backline who have kept four clean sheets in six games. Last term it was 22 clean sheets in 48 matches and the campaign prior 13 shut outs. Arsenal have steadily been getting better and they have their monstrous defensive partnership to thank.

Only last week, Jamie Carragher wrote for The Telegraph that ‘William Saliba and Gabriel are on threshold of joining great centre-half pairings’ alongside the likes of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, and Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Quite right but they must win the Premier League at the very least first.

Either way, just to be mentioned in the same breath as those icons is quite something.

Saliba is a ray of composure and perhaps doesn’t quite have the same aggressive nature as Gabriel but they complement each other tremendously. The latter has even become quite the regular scorer of goals.

He’s far and away the most prolific centre half in the country and he takes some stopping from set-plays, scoring the winner against Tottenham last weekend and popping up against Man City on Sunday too.

It obviously takes the right player to be so good in these situations but the right routine must be put into place and for that they have Nicolas Jover to thank.

He currently forms part of a duo behind the scenes who have proven to be every bit as important as Gabriel and Saliba over the last seven days.

Arsenal's next-best duo

Jover is becoming quite the household name in English football. He isn’t the first of his kind but he’s perhaps the most famous set-piece coach in the land.

Lured from Manchester City, like Arteta was, he has racked up quite the record while among the Spaniard’s coaching staff. He’s left many in awe, including the club’s manager.

Arteta said last week: “In his field [he is the best], in other fields and as a person. And the relationship that we have – that’s why I made the decision to bring him to City when I was there and then to Arsenal. Him and the rest of the staff have injected the belief to the players that there are many ways to win football matches.”

The 42-year-old is often seen on the touchline the moment Arsenal get a set-piece and you can see why. The Gunners have won so many games – including the derby against Spurs – courtesy of their set-plays. His intricate attention to detail is second to none and the numbers say it all.

Last term, no side in the Premier League scored more goals from set-plays than their 22. When it came to conceding goals, they shipped just six from corners and free-kicks, the second-best record in the division.

In 2022/23, they found the net 15 times from dead ball scenarios, the fourth-best tally in the Premier League. So, remarkably, they are getting even better.

Described as a “pleasure to work with” by Trossard, the players must absolutely adore him. Set-pieces have always been important but their crucial nature has only been heightened by the incredible numbers Arsenal are racking up.

So, who else is part of this duo? There are a number of coaches within Arteta’s team but goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana deserves praise for the work he’s putting in with David Raya too.

Both lured from Brentford, it is perhaps no coincidence they get along so well. It’s since they’ve worked together at Colney too that Raya has become one of the best glovemen in the world.

The Spaniard has shown as much this term, making an astonishing stop to deny Ollie Watkins in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa and then making a jaw-dropping double save to keep out Mateo Retegui’s penalty and follow-up effort against Atalanta last week in the Champions League.

How did Cana play such an important role? Well, while there was a VAR check to determine if the penalty should stand, Raya darted straight over to his goalkeeper coach and took on plenty of instruction.

“He helped me a lot in every aspect, so credit to him as well”, Raya said at full-time. “He does all the work with everything and it’s credit to him as well for the save.”

If Arsenal do eventually prevail in their quest to win England’s top division, Arteta will no doubt be the man who takes most of the praise. However, he has quite the coaching team – Cana and Jover included – who are helping take this team to the next level.

Alongside Gabriel: Arsenal star who made 0 passes all game bullied Man City

Arsenal nearly escaped the Etihad with all three points.

By
Matt Dawson

Sep 22, 2024

Jhon Duran has given Al-Nassr team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo a huge billing, claiming he is the "best" and "most important name in football".

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• Colombian striker has moved to Middle East
• Linking up with CR7 in Saudi Pro League
• Intends to learn from the Portuguese GOAT

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Portuguese superstar Ronaldo is about to celebrate his 40th birthday. He is showing no sign of slowing down, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remaining a prolific presence for club and country. He now has another goal-scorer alongside him in Riyadh, with Duran moving to the Saudi Pro League from Premier League side Aston Villa.

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  WHAT JHON DURAN SAID

  The Colombia international is delighted to have joined CR7 in the Middle East, telling Al-Nassr’s official channel: “I’m really happy to play with and learn from the best player in the world. He’s the best sportsperson in the world. I think he’s the best footballer.

  “I’m really happy that I can learn from him and have this chance in my career to work with such a huge star. I hope that I can see some action soon and learn everything that he can teach me and follow in his footsteps, which is the most important thing.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Duran has penned a lucrative contract with Al-Nassr, but insists that he has moved to Saudi Arabia for the sporting project rather than any financial gain. He added: “I’m really happy to join this league. This league is heading in an important direction in the world. I think there are many stars from Europe who were at big teams in Europe who are now here.

  “There’s [ex-Liverpool star Roberto] Firmino and many other big names. There’s the biggest name and I’ll be working with him. He’s the most important name in the league and in football, in the entire history of the game.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo has been the biggest name in the Saudi Pro League since making his own move to Al-Nassr in 2023. He is expected to extend a contract that is due to expire in the summer, taking him through to the 2026 World Cup finals.

Heading into 2025, Manchester City’s top concern is whether to replace injured superstar Rodri internally or with a fresh face in the transfer market, and the latest reports have revealed their opinion about Newcastle star Bruno Guimarães.

Man City plotting swoop for £51m-rated star as possible Rodri replacement

Man City are considering their options as they decide whether to replace Rodri or not.

By
Brett Worthington

Oct 2, 2024

Rodri replacements wanted at the Etihad

The Blues have had to deal with missing Kevin de Bruyne for large parts of the seasons in years gone by, but they have never had to deal with the long-term absence of Rodri. His injury is a big blow to Pep Guardiola, as he is seen as the key man in what the team does from back to front.

Therefore, given what they are going to miss, City may look to try and find a replacement, and they have already been linked with a few options. Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella emerged as a potential transfer target for City earlier this week. As well as Barella, Atalanta’s Ederson is the latest name to be linked with a move to the Etihad.

But City may also find that a replacement for Rodri is already at the club, as they have Mateo Kovacic, who Guardiola is said to be a “big fan of” and has already played an important role this season. Meanwhile, there is also Rico Lewis, who can operate at full-back as well as in midfield, and the young man came in for huge praise from his manager after his performance in the Champions League on Tuesday night – and for helping to fill the void left by Rodri.

Guardiola said of Lewis: “The way he’s playing, no words. He does everything. Making an assist and defending, he’s strong. Of course he has to improve with things, but he’s playing at the highest level.”

It appears that Guardiola and City are keeping their options open when it comes to replacing Rodri, as they are now being linked with a new player.

Man City plotting transfer swoop on £71m-rated Newcastle United star

According to reports from Spain relayed by The Hard Tackle, Manchester City are interested in signing Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United. The Brazilian is seen as a potential replacement for Rodri, and his recent performances against the Blues have caught their attention.

The Blues played out a 1-1 draw with the Magpies last weekend, and Guimarães is said to have impressed City’s scouts and coaches, with his quality and leadership skills being on show. Meanwhile, his ability to “balance the midfield,” together with his endurance, makes him an “attractive” asset for City, as they look for a player with similar ability to Rodri.

However, if Bruno is going to leave Newcastle, it will not be for cheap, as the Magpies paid around 42 million euros, which is roughly £35 million, to bring him to England, and any offer will likely need to exceed that by a huge margin.

He is currently valued at 85 million euros, which is roughly £71 million, a significant rise from what Newcastle paid, and his £100m release clause expired in the summer. The 26-year-old is eight games away from 100 appearances in the Premier League and Newcastle will be hoping the games to come are all in a black and white shirt, as he is contracted to St. James’ Park until the summer of 2028.

Arsenal told by Premier League title winner that their homage to set-piece coach Nicolas Jover is “embarrassing” and “Second Division” behaviour.

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• Jover has made Gunners a serious dead-ball threat
• Neville branded him "most annoying bloke in football"
• Premier League title winner Parker not a fan either

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  It emerged in December 2024 that a wall close to the Gunners’ Emirates Stadium home had been adorned with a painting of German-born French tactician Jover. He is credited with helping to make Arsenal a serious threat from any dead-ball situation.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Jover previously filled similar roles at Brentford and Manchester City, before linking up with Mikel Arteta in north London. He has been branded the “most annoying bloke in football” by Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who is tired of hearing tales of his supposed set-piece mastery.

• WHAT PAUL PARKER SAID

  Another ex-Red Devils full-back, Paul Parker, shares that mindset. The former England international, speaking in association with , has told GOAL of the exposure that members of backroom teams are now enjoying: “Arsenal with their set-piece coach – come on, a set-piece coach shouldn’t be having murals painted. That’s making Arsenal look like a Second Division team. It’s embarrassing.

  “You have got a manager, he’s the one that makes the decisions. The other people work for him and are all in it together. There is one leader and that’s all that matters.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Jover’s efforts have helped to push Arsenal into trophy contention this season, although another route to major silverware has been shut off after suffering defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. The Gunners will be back in Premier League action on January 15 when heading to Leicester.