December 3rd 2024.
Last year, Steve Round bid farewell to his role as assistant coach at Arsenal under manager Mikel Arteta. His departure came with some speculation, but Round has now revealed the true reason behind his exit. He joined the Gunners in 2019, having previously worked alongside Arteta's predecessor David Moyes at Everton and Manchester United.
In the summer of 2023, Round made the decision to leave his post and hand over more responsibility to Carlos Cuesta in the coaching staff. This coincided with the arrival of goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford on a loan deal that was later made permanent. Raya quickly proved his worth and replaced Aaron Ramsdale as the number one choice, leading to Ramsdale's departure to Southampton in August.
There were reports at the time that Round had opposed the signing of Raya, fearing it would disrupt the team's harmony. This apparent disagreement was said to have played a role in Arteta's decision to part ways with Round. However, Round has since clarified that there was no falling out with Arteta and that his departure was mutually agreed upon.
In an interview with the Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Round dismissed the rumors and stated that he and Arteta had always been on good terms. They had even discussed the possibility of Round leaving when the time was right for both of them. In 2023, they decided that it was time for Round to move on and for Arteta to refresh his staff by promoting younger coaches.
Round also shared that he had been involved in the technical director aspect of the team and was now exploring that role further. He felt that after almost 30 years on the frontline, it was time for him to take a break. He spoke highly of Arteta's coaching abilities and praised his tactics and ability to unite the team. Round was proud of what they had achieved together at Arsenal, turning the club's fortunes around and rebuilding its culture.
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