Former Arsenal and Germany defender Per Mertesacker has announced that he will step down as Head of Arsenal’s Academy at the end of the season. Mertesacker joined Arsenal in 2011 from Werder Bremen and quickly became a key figure in the heart of the defence. During his playing career at the club, Mertesacker made over 170 Premier League appearances and scored 9 goals, many of them crucial headers from set-pieces. After retiring in 2018, Mertesacker immediately joined Arsenal’s coaching staff. He eventually became Head of the Academy, where he oversaw the development of young talent and helped integrate promising players into the first team.

Source: Punch January 12, 2026 12:12 UTC