By BEN WINSTANLEY
Published: 13:48 EST, 4 December 2025 | Updated: 13:53 EST, 4 December 2025
Arsenal star William Saliba has hailed the impact of new first-team coach Gabriel Heinze – and revealed the secret to the former Manchester United defender’s success is never shutting up!
Heinze, 47, joined Mikel Arteta’s coaching team in July to replace Carlos Cuesta, who left to take the manager’s role at Parma at just 29 years old.
The Argentina was known for his combative nature in his three years at United after signing from Paris Saint-Germain in 2004, operating at both left back and centre half at Old Trafford. But things turned sour when he tried to force through a move to arch-rivals Liverpool.
In the summer of 2007 he was sold instead to Real Madrid, where he spent two seasons before joining Marseille. He won league titles at all three clubs.
Gabriel Heinze (right) gets stuck into training with Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes
William Saliba has helped Arsenal hit the top of the Premier League this season
Since retiring in 2014 he has had five managerial roles - four in his native Argentina - and most recently left Newell’s Old Boys, the club where he started and ended his playing career, in 2023.
Since his arrival, the Gunners have conceded just seven goals in 14 Premier League games and sit pretty at the top of the table.
Now defender Saliba has lifted the lid on Heinze’s role – and it appears the coach has not lost the passion he showed as a player.
‘Gabriel Heinze helps a lot, especially the defenders.’ Saliba told the Men in Blazers media network. ‘He gives us energy because he’s always talking, always loud - even in training when we do simple things, he’s always loud. Even for nothing, he will be loud!
'He talks a lot and it’s good to have him close to us. I think this guy can help us a lot.’
Last month Mikel Arteta opened up on his decision to appoint Heinze - who he first met in the 2001-02 season when he joined PSG on loan.
‘He’s a winner,' said Arteta. He's won in many clubs he's been at. He had a very different education as well, we've known each other for 23 years, I'm very close to that, that brings something extra.
‘We complement each other really well, and everybody brings a different insight, a different character, a different personality, to the table that makes us a much better team.
'It makes me a much better coach as well, which is the intention to have the best resources to give to the players.’