Serge van den Ban has left Arsenal as the club continue a massive clear-out and has admitted he found the decision ‘surprising’ after being told his contract would not be renewed.

Van den Ban arrived in 2015 to work with the youth keepers at the club but is one of a number to be shown the door in the wake of Arsene Wenger’s departure

“In April, the club already hinted that my contract would not be renewed, last week the official announcement came,” Van den Ban told Voetbal International.

“Too bad, I was having a good time and it was surprising, because my contract was extended by one year after two seasons while Andries Jonker was already gone, of course I was once met [signed] by Andries.”

The 38-year-old hopes to find work elsewhere. “In the Netherlands, not everyone will have known that I have been with Arsenal for three years, I certainly can use that experience, I have learned the English culture and enjoyed it, but I do not care about working abroad or in the Netherlands. With my passion, the goalkeeping, I can be busy.”

When he was recruited, van den Ban was tasked with overseeing all the other goalkeeping coaches at Hale Academy while taking charge of the under-6 group. He was previously the goalkeeping coach at AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands as well as with Ajax, Utrecht and the Dutch under-15’s.

Born in Haarlam, the former goalkeeper represented the Netherlands at youth level himself and has 250 appearances for a number of clubs in the Dutch leagues.

Arsenal have been getting rid of people in all areas of the club. As well as senior coaches, they also let Communications Manager, Tom Bennett, go, as well as David Miles’ assistant, Michael O’Brien.

Boro Primorac, Gerry Peyton and Tony Colbert are all gone. Colin Lewin, was also ‘shocked’ to lose his job too.

Equipment manager Paul Johnson also had to leave his job as a result of the shake up.

Steve Bould has been offered a position in the new setup, but he will no longer be assistant manager so it’s very possible he’ll end up leaving as well.