Arsenal have swooped for Reading’s head of academy player development.

Training Ground Guru has reported the Premier League giants have moved to bring in Lewis Goater after 11 years with the Championship outfit.

He moves to the Emirates to work with the U9's coach and has been reunited with former Reading academy Manager Lee Herron, who is now football operations manager for the London club.

Herron’s influence at Reading would have been key in getting Goater to move to the club after so long with the Berkshire side.

Arsenal have put together a solid line up of academy coaches.

Former MK Dons manager Dan Micciche is in charge of the U15s, while ex-Hull City head of academy coaching Adam Pilling taking the U13s in the last six months.

They join former Arsenal hero Freddie Ljungberg who is the manager of the U23s side.

The verdict

This is Arsenal doing what they do best – scouring the globe for the best talent available – and that is not just on the pitch.

To develop players to be the best they can be, you need the best coaches – and with Goater leaving Reading after 11 years, there is some weight behind his appointment.

It may be a deal to work for the U9s, but there will be progression within the role – from improving the players to moving up in the age groups.

With the names the Gunners have on their academy payroll their future looks bright.