Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces going into the new season without a figure he has leaned on extensively during his time at the Emirates Stadium, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the surprise news.
Arteta faces losing assistant manager Carlos Cuesta, Romano reports, with his right-hand man set to take up the head coach role at Serie A side Como.
This represents a massive blow as Cuesta has been a key aide to the Gunners boss in recent years, earning himself favourite status among both fans and members of staff.
“Talks at final stages with Arsenal to get green light and appoint the 29-year-old Spanish manager who’s now leaving the assistant head coach role at Arsenal.
“It’s a record appointment for Serie A.”
Cuesta has previously worked in Serie A with Juventus, with his ability to speak six different languages making him ultra adaptable and has served to make him more important and popular, behind the scenes at Arsenal since joining the club in 2020.
Rebuilding Xhaka’s career
Cuesta has been a key ally for Arteta as he has helped to reshape Arsenal in recent seasons, with his individual coaching sessions with players praised by the likes of Granit Xhaka.
“My feeling from the first meeting with him was that first of all, as a person, he is very honest, very straight. But he also had great knowledge about football. He knows what he’s doing: he knows how to speak with the players, what the players need. It was just amazing from the beginning,” Xhaka told The Athletic in 2024.
“How Carlos improved — day by day, month by month, year on year — was unbelievable. The individual meetings that we had with him were always on point, very clear to understand, and I was very grateful to learn many new things.
“The relationship between Carlos and me was very special… He helped me a lot. We had so many individual meetings, video sessions, and conversations. To be honest, these things helped bring me where I am today.”
Cuesta’s departure leaves an important and unexpected void at Arsenal that Arteta must fill in an unwelcome distraction from the transfer window.
