football.londontakes you inside Mikel Arteta’s relationship with trusted No.2 Gabriel Heinze, who played a vital role in Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph
The appointment of Mikel Arteta’s trusted No. 2 Gabriel Heinze has proved game-changing for Arsenal following three second-place finishes.
The duo have shared a unique bond since playing together at Paris Saint-Germain and have remained friends ever since.
football.london understands Arteta had been trying to bring Heinze onboard as part of his coaching staff for some time before his arrival last July.
The Argentine, who played for Manchester United, actually met with Arteta after watching Arsenal crush one of his former sides Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Bernabeu last season.
Heinze has respectfully challenged the Spaniard while driving Arsenal’s defence to new heights. He has also helped fix their problematic disciplinary record which crippled them during the 2024-25 campaign.
Last season they were shown 67 yellow cards and had more sendings off (six) than any other Premier League side. Several of those incidents harmed their title bid.
Twelve months later, Arsenal currently top the fair play standings with 50 yellows, no red cards and they have not conceded a penalty, either.
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They’ve also kept 32 clean sheets in all competitions, more than any other team in Europe’s top-five leagues has managed this season. Only in 1970-71 (37) and 1979-80 (33) did they register more.
The defence has been Heinze’s pride and joy but the Arsenal manager still confides in both him and Albert Stuivenberg before making key selection decisions.
Heinze has given Arteta an extra 10 per cent and an extra edge. They are incredibly close and when the going got tough this season, they were always together plotting new methods and ways to win.
When Arsenal were gearing up for one last assault on the title following the damaging 2-1 loss at Manchester City, Heinze invited ‘the boss’ for some Argentinian steak. They dined at La Patagonia on Camden High Street before the 1-0 victory over Newcastle.
Around that time, back in Heinze’s homeland, several media outlets had suggested he could be playing a back-stage role in Arsenal’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez.
Just a matter of days later, La Patagonia had another visitor. It was the Atletico Madrid striker. Somehow, he’d sandwiched a visit to the restaurant around Atletico’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal and he’d obviously received a recommendation.
A few weeks on, it was Arteta’s turn to light the barbecue as Arsenal enjoyed their crowning moment. Fittingly, Heinze was there to share it with the Spaniard.
Martin Odegaard asked to gather the coaching staff and playing squad for Bournemouth’s clash with Manchester City, a request which Arteta approved.
However, just as the match began, the anxiety became all too consuming and he decided to drive home from the Sobha Realty Training Centre. Heinze and another member of Arsenal’s coaching staff went with him.
Upon arrival back home, Arteta greeted his family before heading to the garden with Heinze and Co. Still, he refused to watch what was happening at the Vitality Stadium but the screams from the living room and nearby gardens provided helpful context.
Then, when the backdoor finally swung open, Arteta’s eldest son Gabriel, who made his debut for Arsenal U18s last month, leapt on his dad to confirm the news. Arsenal were champions. His other two sons Daniel and Oliver soon followed as the tears flowed.
It underlines how highly Heinze is valued by Arteta that he was there to watch such emotional scenes first hand. Together, they were the central driving force behind the Gunners’ Premier League title charge.
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