Why Arsenal sacked club legend from coaching staff after 30 years of service

Arsenal have sacked club legend Steve Bould from their coaching set-up, according to The Athletic.

The former centre-half won three league titles during a distinguished playing career with the north London club and was a central figure in one of the most uncompromising defensive units in the history of modern English football.

After finishing his top level career with Sunderland, Bould returned to Arsenal in a coaching capacity in 2001 and enjoyed a successful spell leading the club’s Under-18s to back-to-back FA Youth Cup triumphs.

Bould played an active role in the career development of Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs, before he was promoted to the role of first team assistant following the retirement of Arsene Wenger’s long-serving No.2 Pat Rice.

In 2019, however, Bould returned to managing the club’s Under-23s after swapping jobs with Freddie Ljungberg, who briefly formed part of Mikel Arteta’s first team set-up.

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According to The Athletic, however, Bould has been dispensed with following a spectacularly disappointing season which saw the young Gunners finish 10th out of 13 teams, having won just six of their 24 fixtures.

While the club’s academy, managed by another former player, Per Mertesacker, has recently produced two genuine first team stars in the shape of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, results at youth level have been disappointing.

Folarin Balogun, fresh from signing a new long-term contract, and highly-rated midfielder Miguel Azeez, are set to be promoted next season, too, but The Athletic claims Bould’s departure only heightens the suspicion that there is a growing friction between the old and new guard at the club.

Arsenal totally disbanded their scouting department last year and are set to make further changes in the coming months, while Mertesacker will be responsible for appointing Bould’s replacement.

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