Arsenal are poised to add former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze to Mikel Arteta's coaching staff, according to reports.

The Athletic reported - on Thursday night - that Heinze is expected to be appointed as the newest member of Arteta's pool of coaches following Carlos Cuesta's departure. The Spaniard left the Gunners to become Parma's head coach last month.

Heinze played with Arteta during their playing careers at Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine left PSG in 2004 to sign for Man Utd, before representing Real Madrid, Marseille, Roma and Newell's Old Boys.

READ MORE: How Declan Rice could influence Eberechi Eze transfer decision amid Arsenal talks

READ MORE: Arsenal transfer latest as Chelsea 'offer' submitted and Rodrygo Real Madrid condition set

The 47-year-old has spent his post-retirement days in the dug-out with managerial roles at Argentine side Godoy Cruz, MLS outfit Atlanta United and Newell's Old Boys. He departed his last coaching role in November 2023.

The report says that Heinze will now join Albert Stuivenberg, Nico Jover and Inaki Cana as Arteta's coaching staff. Fabrizio Romano has seconded the report and stated that Arteta attempted to bring him to the Emirates Stadium in 2024.

Previously, the Arsenal head coach name-checked Heinze as one of his inspirations during his time at PSG. He said: "The other inspirations were [Mauricio] Pochettino and Heinze, those two were next to me all the time, behind me, and they were guiding me in everything I had to do in my professional life - how I had to understand the game and they were inspirational to me."

Heinze is predicted to join the Gunners for pre-season before returning to Old Trafford at the start of the 2025/26 season. Arsenal play Ruben Amorim's Man Utd in the first game of the season next month.

The former defender joined Sir Alex Ferguson's team in 2004 from PSG and lifted the Premier League title in 2007. He was signed by Madrid for around £8m that summer to follow in the footsteps of David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy.