Mikel Arteta set to appoint former Man Utd and Real Madrid defender to coaching staff at Arsenal in stunning move

The Athletic report that Gabriel Heinze, who has managed Godoy Cruz, Atlanta United and Newell's Old Boys since the end of his playing career, will become the latest member of Arteta's coaching staff ahead of the new season. Heinze shone at the back for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Argentina among others during an esteemed playing career.

Heinze is a former centre-back and left-back with considerable pedigree, having won league titles in England, Spain and France, Olympic gold with Argentina in 2004, and 72 caps for his country including appearing at two World Cups. Arteta and Heinze were teammates at PSG in the 2001-02 campaign. Heinze will join up with an Arsenal staff which includes assistant Albert Stuivenberg, set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, and goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana.

In 2024, Arteta spoke about his time at PSG: "The other inspirations were (Mauricio) Pochettino and Heinze, those two were next to me all the time, behind me, and they were guiding me in everything I had to do in my professional life, how I had to understand the game and they were inspirational to me."

Heinze is expected to join up with Arteta and Arsenal for their pre-season camp, which will begin with a training camp in Spain before the club embark on a tour of Asia in late July, which includes games against AC Milan, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal's Premier League campaign then kicks off at Manchester United on August 17.