Head of Arsenal youth development: We weren't starting from 0, but from below 0!

Marcel Lucassen, the Dutchman recruited by Arsenal to discover a new generation of stars for the Gunners, has revealed how he found a club in crisis when he arrived at the Emirates.

In a damning indictment, Lucassen admitted he could not believe the mess he inherited when he agreed to become the director of coach and player development in the summer of 2018.

“Before I started, Arsenal had told me that we had to build everything from zero,” said the 56-year-old.

“But when I started the job, I told (Academy boss) Per Mertesacker that this information was not correct.

“We were not starting from zero – but from two below zero!”

In an interview with Dutch football magazine Voetbal International, Lucassen said: “In my first month, I asked 20 different people at the club to describe the so-called ‘Arsenal Way.’

“Everybody spoke about it, but no-one could actually answer my question. Three people just said ‘it’s the passing game.’

“I had worked with other clubs where the objective was for a player to pass the ball to someone else in the same colour shirt, so what was unique about this Arsenal philosophy?

“They had all kind of academy plans, but nothing was based on a proper football philosophy, a playing style, or certain principles.”

Lucassen added: “There was a lack of quality in certain age groups and I saw very few players with the potential of Champions League level.

“When I compared what they have in Germany and what I found at Arsenal, it was a big shock. The problem we are dealing with is that the philosophy after the Wenger (above) era has not been developed.

“You can see this in the passing. Players make passes just because they think they have to pass the ball.

“Another problem was that youth teams had lots of technically gifted midfielders and no wingers – and that will take time to change.”

When Arsenal sacked Unai Emery last November and Freddie Ljungberg was brought interim manager, the Swede wanted Lucassen to be his assistant. “It was impossible because I was not well at the time and so Mertesacker was the only alternative,” said the Dutchman.

“Recently I spoke to Ljungberg about that period and he said that he regrets not listening to me in a number of situations.

“I said that is part of his learning curve as a manager.

“The majority of football managers don’t have a clue what they are doing and try to cover that with a lot of words.

“Freddie had to take the team in a difficult period, with lots of matches and an unbalanced team with no leaders and no clear playing style.

“He did his best and had the guts to give minutes to young players.”

Lucassen is encouraged by the return of Mikel Arteta to the club as manager after the Spaniard spent two seasons working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City .

He said: “Bukayo Saka is the best example of what we want at Arsenal.

“He has the potential to become one of the best three wing-backs in the world and I really think Arteta can help in that process.

“Arteta, with his vision, is not far from what we want in the academy.

“Talents like Saka, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith-Rowe and Joe Willock should benefit from that.”