Earlier this week, The Guardian reported that Norwich City were keeping a close eye on Gunners assistant coach Carlos Cuesta with interest driven by Sporting Director, Ben Knapper, who himself recently switched London Colney for Carrow Road after holding the position of Loan and Pathway Manager.
Since Arsene Wenger departed in 2018, there’s been a dramatic increase in the roster of support staff working across various departments for the men’s, women’s and academy teams and a noticeable rate of churn.
Given the organisation is growing as a whole, that’s not unexpected, although when higher-profile characters, like Cuesta, start to attract suitors, it does raise eyebrows.
Asked about his coaches being linked with managerial jobs, Arteta told his pre-Burnley press conference: “Yeah, that’s great what has happened, not only with the coaching staff but also certain staff, that other clubs are trying to come and get them which is always a really good sign that they’re doing a really good job and and we have the right people here.”
Having recruited young staff to the first team – Cuesta is 28 while fellow assistant Miguel Molina is 31 – he’s clearly conscious of the need to provide them with development opportunities in the same way he would any of his players.
“Yes, it’s very important with the staff as well. Everybody need to feel there is a path, there is a development plan for everyone,” noted the boss.
“People don’t want to do the same thing for three, four, five years. It is a way to incentivise and inspire other people and then to explore because you don’t really know the limit of a person unless you expose him to certain things.
“I think curiosity is a really important quality that we have within our young staff and that drives the rest.”
He added: “We all need opportunities. I got the opportunity when I didn’t have any experience in coaching, first of all at Man City and then here, and I’m very grateful for that. Obviously it is our responsibility, my responsibility, to give, when you see talent, when you see that level of passion and enthusiasm on people, to give them the chance as well to show what they can deliver.
Arteta was only 34 when he was lured to Manchester City by Pep Guardiola and was particularly thankful that his mentor didn’t try and talk him down from twice applying for the Arsenal head coach position.
Asked if he’d block one of his coaches from doing the same, he said: “If that’s their will [to leave], you cannot do that. I wouldn’t, no.”
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