CONFIRMED: Arsenal lose key Arteta ally to Saudi Arabia

Robin Bairner

15 Sept 2025 10:45 BST
4 min read

Arsenal are set to be the latest club to feel the strength of Saudi Arabia’s rise in modern football as Mikel Arteta looks set to lose a key figure – at least for a week or two.

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The Saudi Pro League has been catching headlines for a number of eye-catching signings since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr as a free agent shortly after the 2022 World Cup.

Big names continue to flood to the Middle East, with Mateo Retegui moving to Al-Qadsiah for €68 million in the biggest move of the summer. Other top names such as Darwin Nunez, Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman also moved to Saudi.

And now Arsenal face the prospect of losing Nicolas Jover to the Saudi national football team, with a report indicating that Arteta’s renowned set-piece coach is set for a role with the 2022 World Cup hosts.

Riyad TV reports: “Sources have revealed that the set-piece coach of the English club Arsenal, Nicolas Jover, was present at the national team’s training camp held in the Czech Republic and will be with our national team for the matches against Indonesia and Iraq.”

© IMAGO - Nicolas Jover has earned cult-hero status at Arsenal for his work at set pieces

Jover to Saudi Arabia: A brewing problem at Arsenal?

Jover’s absence at this point of the season will be of little concern to Arteta or Arsenal. With much of the Gunners’ first-team squad expected to be away around the same time, set-piece work will not be on the agenda at the club’s London Colney training base.

However, an issue could arise next summer should Jover be approached to help Saudi should they qualify for the World Cup. His commitments could potentially run into Arsenal’s pre-season plans, with the final of that competition due to be held on 19 July, 2026 at East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Jover has turned Arsenal’s set-pieces into their greatest weapon and Arteta will do everything in his power to keep the Frenchman happy.

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