Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover helped the Saudi Arabian national team over the international break, and he’s set to do so again in October.
KSA Sport report that their sources have informed them Arsenal’s Nicolas Jover was present for Saudi Arabia’s national team training camp in the Czech Republic over the September international break.
The same source claims Jover will also be with the national team for the upcoming matches against Indonesia and Iraq in October, as Saudi Arabia attempt to secure their spot at next summer’s World Cup.
Having finished third in Group C of the third round of AFC qualifiers for the World Cup, Saudi Arabia failed to secure automatic qualification for the final tournament. That was reserved for the top-two finishers, in this case Japan and Australia.
But the team will now have a second chance in the fourth round of qualifiers, a mini three-team group stage in October.
If Saudi Arabia can get the better of Iraq and Indonesia and finish top, they’ll qualify for the World Cup. If they finish second, they’ll have one more chance in a play-off in November. If they finish third, their tournament hopes will end. So the October fixtures are very important for the team.
It should be no surprise that Saudi Arabia are therefore trying to get every edge they can, including by working with Arsenal’s well-regarded set-piece coach.
Jover has helped turn the Gunners into one of the best set-piece teams in the Premier League, and a set-piece goal or two for Saudi Arabia in October could ultimately send them to the World Cup next summer.