There are several former players currently in off-field roles at Arsenal, and hiring figures well acquainted with the club has proved to be a successful strategy.
Manager Mikel Arteta won two FA Cups as a midfielder and captain for Arsenal in the final years of his playing career, but his time as manager has surpassed the legacy he left as a player.
He is working in tandem with Edu Gaspar, who was a midfielder for the Invincibles under Arsene Wenger, and is now sporting director at Arsenal.
The pair have helped transform Arsenal on and off the pitch since 2019, with the first-team squad challenging for the title, and even the academy has become more successful.
Fellow former midfielder Jack Wilshere is coaching the under-18 side, and the academy is being headed by ex-defender Per Mertesacker, who also captained the club to FA Cup glory.
Their former teammate Carl Jenkinson has now praised Mertesacker, and revealed why he is such a great fit for his current role in the academy.
Carl Jenkinson praises Per Mertesacker for supporting young Arsenal players
Jenkinson joined Arsenal in 2011 as a teenager from Charlton, at a similar time to Mertesacker, who arrived as a full-fledged German International with years of experience under his belt.
Mertesacker went on to win the World Cup with Germany, whilst Jenkinson played for West Ham before a brief spell in Australia after leaving Arsenal.
The former right-back has now told the Fozcast that in his early days at Arsenal, Mertesacker would mentor him and other younger players, and taught them about humility.
“Mertesacker would do that, especially with the younger lads and I was one of the younger boys at the time,” Jenkinson replied when asked if he had any older players who mentored him.
“Me and Chambo [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain] were very close, we’d hang around together and we were good lads so there was never really much to pull us up on, but I remember he [Mertesacker] spoke a lot about humility.
“I thought with the career that Per had – he would always say ‘don’t get too carried away with yourself boys,’ like if you played well, I would hear him say ‘humility.’
“He would say a lot in different situations, so I took that from Per, because I just thought it’s a good way to be. If someone like himself has that as one of the main things that he thinks about and stands by, then that’s good enough for me.”
Per Mertesacker was destined for Arsenal Academy role
It was clear during his playing days that Mertesacker was a strong character and leader, and conducted himself in a way that younger players could look up to him.
Jenkinson has revealed that a recent encounter with Mertesacker confirmed to him that the German is perfect to be leading the Arsenal Academy right now.
“I saw him a couple of weeks ago, because the club invited me back to Brighton game,” Jenkinson added.
“We met Per, and I hadn’t seen him in quite a few months actually, and he seems like he’s doing really well.
“He’s perfectly made for that job, he’s very intelligent, he’s a very calm, collected individual, nothing really flusters him.
“He’s very principled, driven, and I love that about him – like he has his sort of values and what he believes, and he sticks to him and you need someone like that.”
The Hale End Academy has produced some top talents in recent years, with Ethan Nwaneri the latest wonderkid to emerge.
It has also helped the club financially as the likes of Folarin Balogun and Eddie Nketiah have brought in huge fees, and Mertesacker deserves enormous credit for helping revitalise such an important part of Arsenal.
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