Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday evening in what was perhaps the greatest result the Gunners have had in the Emirates era.
Once again, the story of the night for Arsenal was set-pieces.
Arsenal’s set-plays have been dangerous all year long as they’ve scored corner after corner with Gabriel Magalhaes being particularly dangerous.
However, on Tuesday evening, it was two direct free-kicks that were the difference as Declan Rice chanelled his inner Roberto Carlos to smash home two incredible strikes.
Nicolas Jover took some credit for Rice’s opening goal as he told the midfielder to try to bend the wall around the wall.
Jover has been described as a ‘nuisance’ in the past, and, as ever, Richard Keys wasn’t having the set-piece coach.
Richard Keys shares Nicolas Jover verdict
Richard Keys shared his verdict on Arsenal’s win and Jover’s contribution to the result.
Keys says that Jover shouldn’t have been involved in the celebrations when Arsenal scored their free-kicks.
In fact, Keys said that Jover should be sacked due to Arsenal’s poor free-kick record over the past five years rather than lauded for this particular performance.
As Keys says, Arsenal hadn’t scored a free kick goal since September 2021 in a 1-0 win against Burnley, but now, that duck has been broken as Rice fired in two incredible free-kicks on the biggest of stages.
Arsenal’s set-piece record this season
Keys called for Jover to be sacked, but there isn’t much danger of that happening anytime soon.
Indeed, while some are desperate to discredit Jover due to the fact his role is ultra-modern, the stats show that Arsenal are doing some brilliant work from set-piece situations.
| Arsenal’s set-piece stats | Tally | Premier League rank |
| Goals from dead ball situations | 10 | 1st |
| Shots from dead ball situations | 68 | 2nd |
| Set-piece goals overall | 12 | 1st |
| Free-kick goals | 0 | =20th |
Arsenal are among the very best teams in the league from set-pieces, and while direct free-kicks may not be their strong point, the reality is that free-kick goals are rare.
Only 10 direct free-kicks have been scored all season in the Premier League this year, and while Arsenal haven’t been prolific from those situations, that isn’t necessarily something that’s easy for Jover to teach.
Jover has had a strong influence on Arsenal’s attacking output from these situations, and whether you like it or not, the Gunners’ set-plays came up trumps against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
