Per Mertesacker is the head of the Hale End academy system at Arsenal. The former Arsenal centre-back is now responsible for guiding the next generation of talents on their way to Mikel Arteta’s first team squad. Per Mertesacker oversees the entire youth setup in North London, and has proven successful in this role since his appointment in 2018. Mertesacker works closely with Edu Gaspar, the Gunners’ director of football, as the pair invest in young talents who they believe could make the grade at senior level. However, there is more to the 40-year-old’s role than recruitment, as he is also re…