Arsenal have appointed Luke Hobbs as interim Academy manager as they work out what they are going to do about replacing Andries Jonker.

The Dutchman headed back to Wolfsburg in what was a surprise move for almost everybody involved. The German side sacked their manager at the weekend and then phoned up Jonker who said he was not expecting a call never mind to get the job.

Hobbs, 37, is unlikely to be a familiar name to many. He has been in charge of ‘Football Operations’ at Arsenal’s Hale End Academy, having been with the club for almost four years. Previously, he worked in coaching roles at Peterborough United, Cambridge United and Southend United were he was head of coaching.

Speaking about the appointment, Ivan Gazidis, said“I am confident Luke will be a safe pair of hands following Andries’s departure and he will continue the excellent progress we are making in this important part of our club.”

This, of course, now creates a vacancy at Hale End.

Jan van Loon will take over the coaching role with the u15s, vacated by Freddie Ljungberg.