The Manchester United legend stated that Nicolas Jover’s antics on the touchline were ‘doing my head in’ because he was ‘screaming’ at Leandro Trossard in an unnecessary manner.
Leandro Trossard didn’t start the game, but he came on with ten minutes left on the clock and Neville added that when he was taking set-pieces ‘more pressure’ was being put on him from the Arsenal bench, as he told Sky Sports.
Arsenal were chasing the game during the latter stages after Anthony Gordon’s controversial goal after 64 minutes – Kieran Gibbs thinks Granit Xhaka is proving to be a big miss for the team.
As per, whenever substitutes are getting ready to come onto the pitch, they are given instructions by the coaching staff, with extra info for those taking set-pieces.
Whilst Neville agreed that Arsenal’s dead balls towards the end were ‘driving me crazy’, he wasn’t happy with Nicolas Jover for just adding fuel to an already roaring fire.
Arsenal’s set-piece coach
“It was driving me crazy,” said Neville about Arsenal’s set-pieces towards the end of the game. “The set-piece coach down here, he was doing my head in as well.
“He was screaming on like crazy like he was the manager. I am not sure that helps. He is screaming on at Trossard, who is taking the set-pieces. Sit down. He knows what to do. You have gone through it in the week. It’s up on the board in the dressing room before the game. And you have told him three or four times.“For me, it felt like he was putting more pressure on Trossard taking the corners, which, to be fair, Trossard didn’t handle because his corners were appalling. They were really chances in a game that’s so tight. Set-pieces, no one needs to tell Mikel Arteta or any of the coaches in the league, but they are the vital moments. And Arsenal are good on corners. They have a good record.
“I just felt he was being screamed at down this near side by the set-piece coach. To be fair, he was probably putting pressure on him unnecessarily. You want to take a set-piece or a dead ball, you want to be relaxed – I don’t think that helped.”
Arsenal suffer first defeat
Arsenal’s unbeaten start has ended at St James’ Park and it came in controversial circumstances given the nature of Newcastle’s goal.
But it’s something Arteta has to move on from pretty quickly because the games are coming thick and fast, including Champions League action next week.
Arsenal host Sevilla at the Emirates – they are sitting top of Group B, but if they let the Europa League champions take three points, then they will just make life difficult for themselves during the final set of games.
All in all, with the final international break of the window coming up, Arteta will want to head into that break with some momentum and then his key players returning back fit for a very busy and crucial festive period.
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