Per Mertesacker has managed Arsenal’s academy for the last eight years (Picture: Getty)Arsenal cult hero Per Mertesacker will leave the club at the end of the season after eight years in his role as academy manager. As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. More Trending‘We were fortunate to have retained Per as Academy Manager once he finished his playing career with us in 2018. He understands what Arsenal stands for and this has been a constant in his leadership – inspiring our Academy coaches, staff and young players in an Arsenal way and giving so many an opportunity to develop and shine. ‘We’re happy that Per remains in role until the end of the season whilst we focus on our succession plan.

Source: Metro January 12, 2026 14:15 UTC