Arsenal will have an unfamiliar look in the dugout for their Premier League match against Manchester City.
Boss Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID and will not be at the Emirates for crunch matches – so who is his assistant manager Albert Steuvenburg?
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Arteta said in his first post-match briefing from City: “Albert will be in charge. As with the rest of the team, it will depend on who is unavailable because there are too many [Covid] Issues in that department recently. Hopefully everyone will be there to help as much as possible.
“We will keep in touch but at the same time I want to give them the possibility, responsibility and freedom to make decisions and express themselves on the pitch.
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“It is completely different than being on that touchline with the players and being at home. I will be here to support and help in a few moments, but they have to get the pace of the game and communicate with the players themselves.”
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Who is Albert Steuvenberg?
Albert Stuyvenberg is the current assistant manager of Arsenal, having been at the club since December 2019.
Steuvenberg was born in Rotterdam, Amsterdam in August 1970, making him 51 years old.
The Dutchman has been nicknamed ‘Airpod Albert’ for wearing headphones on the touchline during games.
An injury brought his playing career to an early halt after spells at SC Telstar and HFC Haarlem before moving on to coaching with Feyenoord and then the Holland under-17 and under-21 teams.
Stuyvenberg was appointed assistant coach of Louis van Gaal at Manchester United in 2014 along with assistant manager Ryan Giggs.
After leaving United in 2016 following the dismissal of van Gaal, Steuvenberg rejoined Giggs in 2018 to become assistant manager for Wales under the former winger.
Steuvenberg was still a Wales assistant until July this year in addition to his Arsenal role.
But after leaving the Welsh set-up after the Euro 2020 campaign, his only focus is now on the Gunners.
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