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Jack Wilshere upset as Steve Bould’s departure from Arsenal confirmed

We were informed a while ago that Steve Bould was going to be the latest victim of Arsenal’s rebuild of the club from top to botom. Bould has been a stalwart at the club for thirty years, and has been with Arsenal through some of the most successful seasons in our history, and after retiring from playing he has been on the coaching staff at all levels, including six years as assistant coach under Arsene Wenger.

But now Bould’s departure has been confirmed officially on the Gunners website, with academy manager Per Mertesacker saying: “Steve has been a fantastic servant for us on and off the pitch. His record as a player speaks for itself and he has been an inspiration to generations of young players coming through the academy.”

But Mertesacker indicated it was a management decision to let him go, as he continued: “This has been a very hard decision to make. Steve’s contribution to the under-23s and the club as a whole has been huge and he will always be an important figure in our history.”

The most reported reaction was from Jack Wilshere, who saw Bould just about every day during Jack’s ten years at Arsenal, and he didn’t seem very happy with Arsenal’s decision. He tweeted….

The latest murmuring are that Bould will be replaced as the U23s boss by Kevin Betsy, who is currently in charge of the U18s, so there will still be some continuity in the training methods.

I am sure all us old Arsenal fans will remember Bould with great affection, and thank him for his great loyalty to the club over the decades…

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45 Comments

  1. I think Jack hit the nail on the head with his simple
    “What is going on “ reply
    Something quite a few of us would Love to know as well.

    just read a great piece about bould and I never knew how much he did around the club TBH and how much the players valued him ,a proper Arsenal man .👍👍

  3. All the best to Steve Bould.
    But Arsenal must at all times employ the people, they consider the best for their position.
    No club can afford to employ people on lifelong contracts even if they are “Arsenal through and through”

  4. As said days ago Ben White and Lokonga deal agreed. Both will be Arsenal players. ESR new contract agreed. Payment structure yet to be agreed for Ben White.
    Lokonga will be Arsenal’s first signing. Done deal!!!!

    1. If Ben White’s transfer payment structure hasn’t been agreed yet, it means it’s not a done deal yet

      1. Done deal for Lokonga not White. White’s fee has has been agreed but not the payment structure. It is expected to go through.

    2. The interest in White surprises me Kev.Fine player that he is ,if what you say is correct, I can only assume every effort will be made to sell Saliba and Mavroponas who would appear to be surplus to requirements?In terms of priorities, a CB, albeit a good one, would be well down my list, but who knows what is actually happening behind closed doors.In any event, this is a very important transfer window for our Club.

      1. Mavropanos is already a goner. It will take a big u-turn at this point for him not to leave. I believe he will be sold for around 7m to Stuttgart. I would’ve liked to see him get a chance.
        Imo I believe Saliba isn’t so happy at Arsenal and I will not be shocked at all to see him leave though I doubt it will happen because he will impress if given the chance which will see them change their minds if they wanted to sell or or loan him.

        1. Kev, can you blame William Saliba, for not being “so happy at Arsenal”?
          Hopefully Arsenal will give Saliba an opportunity to show his worth. If not he will be sold, probably at a loss as usual, with that decision coming back to bite the Club on the arse.

      2. I think Arteta wants White as a DM or a right back, not a CB. He’s a great tackler, very quick going forward and great passer, long and short, but he’s not the best in the air at 181 cm. He’s also played a lot at right back.

    3. Good to have you back Kev- you are the Jim White of JA during the transfer windows. I’m hearing we are in big for Andre Silva and Lacazette is going to Ath Madrid. Heard anything of this?

      1. Been long man. I hope you’re doing great? I mean, I have to ask because you know Arsenal haha. The Andre Silva links are very true as well as DCL too. However, its all too early now. I haven’t heard anything concrete on Laca to Ath Madrid though. Lokonga’s done and White’s payment structure just needs to be agreed.

        1. Finally, our rumour guy is active. At least ,l am relieve of transfer saga of Arsenal now. Good work guy, you’re the best here on transfer news. Keep it up

      1. 45m + 5 in add-ons. Payment structure yet to be agreed. Brighton want more of the cash upfront. Everything will go through.

  5. Football is dynamic, so there shouldn’t be any sentiment/ bias in keeping or hiring people. Bould as a coach will always be remembered for his work on our youngsters, such as Bellerin, Saka and Smith-Rowe

    Having said that, he’s free from his comfort zone now. If he’s still into coaching, he should try to get a managerial job elsewhere

  6. Much said of Bouldy’s coaching work at the club.

    For me, I remember Steve Bould as one helluva defender.

    Ringing ’round Highbury after yet another crunching tackle, or ball winning header ;

    “Stevie Bould
    Stevie Bould
    Stevie Stevie Bould
    He’s got no hair, but we don’t care
    Stevie, Stevie Bould”.

    372 appearances for Arsenal.

    Winning three league titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

    The type of player who is often unsung – pushing for legendary status.

    3. ONLY “Pushing” AJ? Oh No!

      A long time, golden, top class ACTUAL LEGEND! Legend is a word so often used without real thought and truth, but In Boulds case it can never be more deserved.

    4. 👍 👍 👍 A fantastic defender. The sad thing was when as assistant to Arsene Wenger he tried to instill structure and a bit of mongrel in the defense and was called out. Surely his experience could have helped improve Arsenal’s defense. He spent his time on the sidelines chewing gum and saying nothing, but I would have given more than a penny for his thoughts on what he saw before him.

  7. All the best to Steve bould .

    Looking forward to seeing who we buy this summer.
    A right back, center back , box to box / defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder are very essential to a successful season .
    We can generate money from the sales of bellerin , willock, Eddie, torriera , quendozi , reiss Nelson and kolasinac

    1. Bruno, why sell Joe Willock? If nothing else he can fill in for Thomas Partey, when he is away at Afcon.
      Arsenal needs cover for every position. How much do you think an equivalent player to Willock would cost?

  8. Every thing has an expiry date, even our lives. Bouldy had done great for Arsenal as a player and coach but he isn’t going to be there forever even the great Arsene Wenger and Pat Rice left too. Don’t know why they let him leave and got him replaced, whatever the reason(s) is/are, should be a discussion for another time but all we can wish him is best of luck on his next journey

  9. I don’t see what the issue is. he almost got the academy side relegated, of course he was going to lose his job. Nothing lasts forever. Also, we have to remember there is a pandemic going on. It’s not like Arsenal can throw a giant thank you party right now. If a few extra tweets would’ve softened the blow then I don’t think that is worth getting into such a fuss about.

    1. Bould was a yes man to Wenger sat on the bench like a dummy and did nothing when you see assistants and coaches now days they are vocal on the touchline and given a free reign his record in the under 23s is poor so got what he deserved regardless of his achievements as a player his coaching is very average at best and don’t see him doing anything special in the future!

  10. Thank you to Steve Bould for everything he has done for this club. We are truly grateful. We need to step it up in the academy as well. We need the right people in all departments. And not because they are gooners, but because they can do the job. To be honest I haven’t really been a fan of Bouldy as a manager. As a player, I absolutely loved the guy.

  11. What bothers me is not the fact that he got sacked as the under 23’s coach based on results it is justified but surely the club could have found him another position inside the club I’m sure he would have loved to stick around & still be involved with the club i was going to say even as a groundsman but these days it is a top job heck even coaching the 10 11 12.. years old kids no??

    1. that could’ve been something that was offered though, we just don’t know. 🤷‍♂️. It’s possible Bould was just ready to move on.

      1. You’re right we don’t know all the details and something could have been offered to him!👍

    2. Siamois, the days whenn top level football was influenced by sentiment have long passed, Sadly too but it is true. Your sentimental post belongs in the distant past, unfortunately,

  12. I sometimes don’t understand some fans.
    I can remember during the Wenger era, most fans were criticizing Bould for doing nothing about our leaky defence.
    We now claim we’ve lost an irreplaceable jewel. We act as if everything Arsenal is bad.

  13. It’s surprising Khadii…..

    Some fans on here even claim we can’t attract big players. What was the position of Chelsea and Manchester United on 2016 when we finished 2nd behind Leicester? Yet they were able to attract big players.

    Arsenal is still a big club, despite our fall. If Everton was able to attract Ancelotti and James, why can’t Arsenal attract Grealish?

    Hmmm……..

    1. Well Chelsea finished 10th( but we know why )and they were champions the season before UTD finished 5th and got back in the top 4 the season after for both clubs it was a one season blip unlike Arsenal who’s been in a downward spiral for few years after EL now no European football at all not only that but both had the money to buy quality players offer them very high wages and hire any manager .Ancelloti went to Everton for the money until something better came along and it did RM he didn’t waste much time packing his bags he was the main reason why players like James Allan ..signed and the fact that Everton now can afford to spend money lastly why not Grealish to Arsenal really?

  14. Wow… So good to have you back Kev.
    You’re one of the guys I respect a lot on this platform.
    Your transfer rumours most times come to light & I so much believe your takes on the Club’s transfer dealings.
    Welcome back Sire & Weldone!

  15. I will remember Bould the PLAYER , with enormous respect and he would DEFINITELY be in my two all time AFC centre backs (alongside Adams and by a distance too, til the next best, the younger O’Leary and then Campbell).
    As a pure defender, I WOULD PROBABLY RATE HIM EVEN SLIGHTLY ABOVE ADAMS, though Adams was our most important player for many years, bar none other.

    However, as a first team coach he was a long term failure when sitting forlornly, chewing gum alongside AW, and so NO, I will not miss him at all as a first team coach.

    Some say he was allowed NO influence on the team whilst AW managed . I never subscribed to that view, though I do believe the amount of his influence was much controlled by Wenger.

    I wish him the very best for his future naturally, as all right thinking Gooners surely will.

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