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What would it require to transform his Arsenal squad into champions? The team was in need of enhanced depth. A stronger mentality was essential.
In response, the club made eight new signings. However, the most significant addition of the summer might have been the least flashy. Arteta chose to bring in one of his long-standing and most reliable associates: Gabriel Heinze, a former defender for Argentina, Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, who took over the position of assistant from the departing Carlos Cuesta.
Arteta and Heinze initially crossed paths at PSG in 2001, under the direction of Luis Fernandez.
“They were excellent young players,” says Fernandez, who brought Arteta in from Barcelona in January 2001, and brought Heinze on board from Real Valladolid half a year later.
“It was a joy to coach them. What is remarkable is that they have not changed at all. They are still the same today; dedicated and diligent individuals. Witnessing their progress at Arsenal fills me with pride.”
It seems notably important that at such a pivotal time in Arteta’s coaching journey, he turned to someone who had served as a big brother figure to him during his time at PSG.
At 18, Arteta departed from his country. He has recently characterized his year and a half in Paris as “a formative experience that will always be with me, that influenced my aspirations as a player and sparked my desire to become a manager.”
That PSG squad was filled with prominent names and assertive characters. Along with Heinze, Arteta trained alongside Ronaldinho, Mauricio Pochettino, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Nicolas Anelka.
The initial months were challenging for the reserved, introverted Spaniard, even with the backing of his parents close by.
“It was very hard,” reflects Yves Ribardiere, who was PSG's player liaison officer at the time. “Mikel was staying in fairly basic hotel accommodation. It was winter, characterized by cold and dreary weather. He was confined to a small room with a lot of idle time. I would often keep him company to prevent him from feeling too down.”
The Spanish-speaking players at PSG also assisted in easing his adjustment. Pochettino, who was 28 at the time, took Arteta under his wing ahead of Heinze’s arrival. “Mauricio was almost like a father figure,” remembers former PSG defender Didier Domi. “Gabi was closer in age to Mikel and acted more like a brother.”
Heinze is four years Arteta’s senior, yet there was an instant connection between the two. “They trained together and also spent time together off the pitch with their families,” recalls Fernandez.
“Gabi was a fierce rival and always aimed to outperform his competition. Mikel, on the other hand, was an elegant player with genuine technical skills,” notes the PSG icon, who led the club to their first league championship in 1986 and triumphed in the European Cup Winners' Cup a decade later as a coach.
Edouard Cisse emphasizes that the pair had a lot in common. "Both had a lot of intensity and passion," Cisse explains, who played alongside Arteta in PSG's midfield. "Gabi always gave his all, even during practice. He had to come out on top. Mikel was more composed, but you understood not to cross him. He possessed that resilient Basque mentality."
Heinze brought his famously combative nature into his coaching career. His tenures as head coach in his native Argentina with Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Juniors, Velez Sarsfield, and Newell's Old Boys – along with his spell at Atlanta United in the MLS – were marked by turbulence and were often brief.
Now in north London, Arteta is harnessing Heinze's fervor, and the Gunners are thriving. "They resemble two volcanoes," Cisse remarks. "One erupts from time to time (Arteta) and the other is constantly active (Heinze). Given everything he has to handle, Mikel can’t be yelling at his players all the time. He needs assistance. Gabi will be that voice every day during training.
"It’s an excellent partnership," Cisse claims. "Mikel has accomplished a remarkable job, but he requires support to bring his team to success. Gabi, with his obsession for victory, can facilitate that."
As a sturdy, hard-tackling defender who clinched league titles in France, England, and Spain and represented Argentina 72 times, Heinze naturally earns immediate respect on the training ground, focusing mainly on the defensive players.
It is likely not mere chance that the strongest defense in England has bolstered its performance this season. "Gabi is passionate about football," states Fernandez, who keeps in regular touch with both Arteta and Heinze. "He is perpetually analyzing the game, particularly the roles of defensive players. Nowadays, there's a coach for goalkeeping, one for set-pieces, so it's essential to have someone to coach defenders as well.
"There's always room for improvement. Focus on your positioning, tackling, and distribution. Gabi can assist in that regard. When someone with his experience offers advice, you pay attention. I'm confident he'll be enhancing those defenders."
Arteta is fully confident in assigning Heinze these critical responsibilities. Their relationship extends far beyond just football.
"The true strength of a manager lies in his capacity to surround himself with individuals he trusts implicitly," says Fernandez. "Mikel has made an excellent decision. Gabi is dependable. He's straightforward, genuine, and Mikel recognizes that he'll have his back every single day."
As Arsenal’s season approaches an exciting conclusion, that off-field trust may prove as crucial as any acquisition on the field. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ckgl89p45rgo
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