Blow for Mikel Arteta as Arsenal prepare to lose first-team coach with 29-year-old Carlos Cuesta set to become youngest manager in Serie A history

According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are bracing for a significant backroom reshuffle as highly-regarded first-team coach Cuesta is poised to leave the club. The 29-year-old Spaniard is set to take charge of Parma, becoming the youngest head coach in Serie A history. This move marks a major milestone in Cuesta’s rapidly rising career and a potential headache for Arteta, who has relied on the coach’s insight and tactical input for the past five years.

Parma are understood to have formally requested permission from Arsenal to finalise negotiations, although the Gunners have yet to officially respond. The Athleticreports that Cuesta is due to travel to Italy on Wednesday to wrap up the move. Should the deal go through, Cuesta will step into the managerial role vacated by Cristian Chivu, who only recently took over at Inter from Simone Inzaghi.

Before joining Arsenal, Cuseta cut his teeth in youth coaching roles at Atletico Madrid and Juventus. Yet, the appointment will be a bold statement by Parma, trusting such a young and relatively inexperienced coach with first-team responsibilities in one of Europe’s top leagues.

For Arsenal, Cuesta’s likely departure creates a void that Arteta must now fill ahead of the upcoming campaign. With pre-season preparations set to get underway in July, the Spaniard is racing against time to find a suitable replacement.