Arsenal’s coaching staff for the 2025/26 season under Mikel Arteta is a close-knit group. But who features among the Spaniard’s small clutch of experts in the Emirates Stadium dugout?
Manager: Mikel Arteta
The Gunners appointed Mikel Arteta as the latest manager of Arsenal in December 2019. He initially replaced Unai Emery at the Emirates Stadium helm with the title of head coach. But the north London outfit awarded him the title of manager in 2020 after winning the FA Cup.
Arteta had no previous head coaching experience before returning to Arsenal having served as their captain while a player. He retired as the Gunners’ skipper in 2016 before joining Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City. The Spaniard acted as his assistant manager.
Arsenal bought Arteta from Everton in August 2011 for £10m to bolster their midfield under Arsene Wenger. He appeared 150 times for the club across all competitions and won the FA Cup twice. While Arteta helped Manchester City win the Premier League twice as a coach.
Assistant manager: Albert Stuivenberg
Arteta added Albert Stuivenberg to Arsenal’s coaching staff upon taking over the helm from Emery in December 2019. The Dutchman has served as the Spaniard’s assistant coach since joining the Gunners. He had previously served the same role with the Wales national team.
Stuivenberg has a rich coaching career having started as a youth coach at Feyenoord during 1991. He continued to work at the junior level at RWD Molenbeek, Al-Jazeera and the Dutch youth sides until 2014. Manchester United then hired him as Louis van Gaal’s assistant boss.
His work at Old Trafford saw Stuivenberg land his first and only managerial role at KRC Genk from 2016 to 2017. Now, Stuivenberg and Arteta work closely in Arsenal’s coaching staff. He is also nicknamed ‘AirPod Albert’ for his use of wireless headphones whilst on the sidelines.
Assistant coach: Gabriel Heinze
Arsenal strengthened Arteta’s coaching staff in July 2025 by landing Gabriel Heinze. A former Manchester United, Real Madrid and PSG defender, the Argentinian star had taken his playing experience into the realm of coaching. Heinze played alongside Mikel Arteta at PSG in 2001 and 2002, while his reunion was helped by Carlos Cuesta leaving the club to join Parma.
Assistant coach: Miguel Molina
Atletico Madrid lost Miguel Molina to Arteta in August 2020 as Arsenal’s coaching staff took on another assistant. The Spaniard had served as Diego Simeone’s right-hand man at the La Liga giants since July 2017. Los Colchoneros won the Europa League in the 2017/18 season.
Set-piece coach: Nicolas Jover
Arteta returned to Manchester City to poach Nicolas Jover from Guardiola’s coaching staff in July 2021. The Frenchman enjoyed a two-year tenure as a technical coach at Etihad Stadium following careers with Brentford, the Croatia national team and Montpellier since July 2009.
Jover joining Arsenal’s coaching staff had a massive impact on their effectiveness from set-pieces. The Gunners were the 17th-best Premier League squad in 2020/21 for scoring from set-pieces with six goals. Yet they scored 16 times in 2021/22 (3rd) and 15 in 2022/23 (4th).
Goalkeeping coach: Inaki Cana Pavon
Arsenal convinced Inaki Cana Pavon to quit Brentford and join Arteta’s staff as a goalkeeping coach back in December 2019. He only spent one year with the Bees following spells with CE Europa Youth, CE Sabadell and Nordsjaelland. While his playing career started at Barcelona.
Assistant goalkeeping coach: Terry Mason
Arsenal promoted Terry Mason to their first-team staff as an assistant goalkeeper coach in May 2023. The Englishman had already been on the Gunners’ accounts since June 2021. He first moved to north London as their academy goalkeeping coordinator and as a U21 coach.
Mason initially learned his trade with Southend United and worked for the Shrimpers from July 2014 to June 2021. His tenure at Roots Hall saw Mason work under managers including Phil Brown, Chris Powell, Kevin Bond and even an Arsenal legend in Invincible, Sol Campbell.
Video analyst: Kevin Balvers
Arteta added Kevin Balvers to Arsenal’s coaching staff in July 2021 to act as the club’s video analyst. The Dutchman started his career in the position for the Netherlands U19 side back in 2009. Balvers has also worked for Curacao, Vitesse Arnhem and Malmo FF over the years.
