Arsenal’s coaching staff for the 2022/23 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 served 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 back in 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 manager: Steve Round
Arteta also added Steve Round to Arsenal’s coaching staff upon taking up the reins in north London. The Englishman serves as the Spaniard’s assistant manager after previous spells in the same role at Manchester United for David Moyes and Steve McClaren at Derby County.
Assistant coach: Carlos Cuesta
Arsenal strengthened Arteta’s coaching staff in August 2020 by coaxing Carlos Cuesta away from Juventus to be an assistant coach. The Spaniard served as the U17s assistant manager for the Serie A side since 2018. He was also Atletico Madrid’s U17 assistant boss from 2014.
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 had enjoyed two years as a technical coach at the Etihad Stadium following careers with Brentford, the Croatia national team and Montpellier since July 2009.
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.
Medical director: Gary O’Driscoll
Arsenal first hired Gary O’Driscoll under Wenger back in February 2009 to serve as their club doctor. He had spent the previous 10 years in the same position with the Republic of Ireland national team. Arsenal later promoted O’Driscoll to the role of medical director in July 2017.
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.