Arsenal have turned to David Horseman to fix a struggling U21s side. But, his managerial record raises fair questions.
Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
Full name: Arsenal Football Club Nickname: The Gunners Founded: October 1886 Stadium: Emirates Stadium Owner: Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Co-chairmen: Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke Manager: Mikel Arteta League: Premier League Season 2025/26: Champions Website: arsenal.com Arsenal football club is one… Read More about ARSENAL
Arsenal have confirmed David Horseman as their new U21s head coach, as per latest news. He has been promoted barely a year after he first walked through the academy doors. Now, the timing of this move could not be more pressure filled.
David Horseman: Through Academy Ranks To U21 Head Coach
Horseman only joined Arsenal in September 2025 as the Professional Development Phase Elite Player Development Coach. It was a role that saw him guide the U19s through the UEFA Youth League while also taking charge of U21s fixtures in the EFL Trophy.
Within twelve months, he is now Arsenal’s new manager for the U21 side. He will be replacing Max Porter, who left this summer to become assistant manager under Mark Robins at Championship side Stoke City. The appointment was confirmed by new Academy Director Pascal de Maesschalck, who succeeded club legend Per Mertesacker earlier this month, alongside Head of Academy Coaching Luke Hobbs.
This kind of rapid growth is not something every coach receives. It signals genuine faith in Horseman from the people now running Arsenal’s youth setup. De Maesschalck said: “We are extremely pleased to appoint David as our under-21s head coach. He has consistently demonstrated a clear understanding of how to manage our talented young players, both as individuals and as a team.”
Horseman himself sounded thrilled by the news. He admitted that it was a huge honour to step into a role once held by respected names such as Steve Bould and Freddie Ljungberg. He also thanked senior team’s Premier League winning head coach Mikel Arteta, assistant Albert Stuivenberg, De Maesschalck, Hobbs and Ken Gillard for backing him through the process. The youth side’s new boss said that he felt grateful and excited about what comes next at a club with such a proud history of developing first-team players.
A Managerial Record That Could Raise Doubts
Fans digging into Horseman’s background will find his coaching journey in football far from smooth. He spent four years running Southampton’s B team before taking his first senior job at Forest Green Rovers in July 2023. However, he was sacked five months later. He then moved into first-team coaching at Bristol Rovers. Later, he served as interim head coach alongside former Sunderland boss Lee Cattermole following Matt Taylor’s dismissal in 2024.
Horseman’s all-time managerial record, as perFOTMOB:
Teams Matches Managed Won Drawn Lost
Southampton U23 29 15 3 11
Southampton U21 58 18 9 31
Forest Green Rovers 35 7 8 20
Bristol Rovers 4 1 1 2
Arsenal U19 4 1 0 3
That mixed history is vital because Arsenal’s U21s desperately need stability. The team finished a disappointing 14th in Premier League 2 last season before reaching the playoffs and eventually falling to Manchester City.
Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
New Boss Set To Face Big Fixtures Early On
There is no time to settle in as the season already begins against Barnet in the EFL Trophy. Horseman will quickly turn attention to Premier League 2. The team will be opening their season at home against Crystal Palace before a tough test against defending champions Brighton.
Speaking about his mentality heading into the campaign, Horseman said: “***I think what’s really important is that we want to win every game. We’ll try to win every game because we’re Arsenal.***” Whether that ambition translates into results will define his tenure. In addition, that will likely shape the future of Arsenal’s next generation of first-team hopefuls.