Arsene Wenger has hailed the integral role Vic Akers plays at the club.
The 69-year-old has worked for Arsenal since 1985, originally heading up the community department before taking over as kit manager shortly after Wenger took charge.
Akers also had a highly-successful spell as founder and manager of Arsenal Ladies, and Wenger counts him as a key member of his staff.
“He is not involved in the technical part of the game but he is an important member of the club first of all because he managed the women’s team for a long time with big success,” the Frenchman told Arsenal Player.
“I made him kit man because I thought it was important to be surrounded by people with the heart of red and white. Of course he is a guy I can trust, who is always helpful and has done a tremendous job to structure our kit department as well.
“He also has very good relations with the players and educated his son, Paul, to be part of that as well so there is a structure there that is really fantastic and very helpful for me.”
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