Arsenal academy coach departs for senior role at Premier League side | OneFootball

Arsenal academy coach departs for senior role at Premier League side | OneFootball

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·4 July 2025

Arsenal academy coach departs for senior role at Premier League side

Article image:Arsenal academy coach departs for senior role at Premier League side

Arsenal See Youth Coach Depart as Brentford Strengthen Backroom Team

Foundations Shift at Hale End

In the orchestration of modern football, the architects of success are often invisible. While headlines may focus on marquee signings and high-profile touchline battles, the development structures beneath the surface often go unheralded. Arsenal’s loss of U21 coach Mehmet Ali to Brentford, as reported by Football London, is one such move that, while quiet, could ripple further than expected.

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Ali’s departure marks a significant change within Arsenal’s academy framework. After joining the Gunners in 2022, his influence was notable during a phase of accelerated youth development, nurturing the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. His side’s run to the Premier League 2 quarter-finals last season, only to fall narrowly to Manchester City after extra time, was indicative of the competitive standard he helped to instil.

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Brentford’s Gain Reflects Broader Intent

Now stepping into senior football as part of Keith Andrews’ backroom team at Brentford, Ali leaves behind a legacy of discipline, tactical insight and quiet ambition. The move aligns with Brentford’s progressive ethos. Having recently appointed Andrews as head coach following Thomas Frank’s exit to Spurs, the Bees are making shrewd internal investments as they reset for the season ahead.

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Praise from Arteta Underscores Value

Mikel Arteta was effusive in his praise of Ali’s role within Arsenal’s youth ecosystem. Speaking about Nwaneri’s development, the Arsenal manager commented:

“Huge development. I think big credit to everybody working in the academy, the coaches starting with Jack (Wilshere), Mehmet (Ali), all the coaches around him…”

Ali’s influence is underscored by the trust shown by senior figures, with Arteta notably emphasising his role in preparing youth for the demands of top-flight football.

Pathways Demand Continuity

This loss is not just about one coach but reflects the broader challenge of maintaining continuity within academy setups. As clubs like Arsenal strive to bridge the gap between youth and elite level, consistency in developmental messaging is vital. Ali’s departure may test that cohesion.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

The departure of Mehmet Ali will feel like a step backwards at a time when the club should be cementing progress at all levels. It is not about losing a headline figure, but about losing someone embedded in the fabric of youth development, someone trusted by Arteta and key to the emergence of top talents like Nwaneri.

This is a club that has prided itself on ‘The Arsenal Way’, on seamless transitions from Hale End to the first team. But how sustainable is that pipeline if talented, influential coaches are allowed to leave just as their work begins to bear fruit? Brentford, let’s be honest, are hardly a more prestigious destination. Their vision may be aligned, but Arsenal should have done more to keep Ali within the fold.

It speaks to a wider frustration about how often key contributors are undervalued until they are gone. If this is a club genuinely committed to developing from within, then succession planning at academy level must be as robust as any senior recruitment strategy.

Letting Ali go might not cost Arsenal points on the board, but it may cost something more precious in the long run: identity, continuity and trust in a system designed to produce stars.

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