Story perspectives

Arsenal eyes Pascal De Maesschalck to replace Mertesacker as academy manager.

6/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Arsenal have held talks with 52-year-old Belgian Pascal De Maesschalck for the vacant academy manager post.
De Maesschalck, now Strasbourg’s technical director in the BlueCo network, previously ran Club Bruges’ academy (2011-2021) and Monaco’s academy (2021-2024), helping Monaco reach the 2025-26 Conference League semi-finals and overseeing players such as Eliesse ben Seghir and Soungoutou Magassa.
Arsenal are seeking a replacement for Per Mertesacker, whose eight-year tenure produced first-team graduates including Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Ethan Nwaneri.

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Story summary

Arsenal have held talks with 52-year-old Belgian Pascal De Maesschalck for the vacant academy manager post.
De Maesschalck, now Strasbourg’s technical director in the BlueCo network, previously ran Club Bruges’ academy (2011-2021) and Monaco’s academy (2021-2024), helping Monaco reach the 2025-26 Conference League semi-finals and overseeing players such as Eliesse ben Seghir and Soungoutou Magassa.
Arsenal are seeking a replacement for Per Mertesacker, whose eight-year tenure produced first-team graduates including Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Ethan Nwaneri.