Pat Rice to leave Arsenal

Arsenal have confirmed that long-serving assistant manager Pat Rice will leave the club at the end of the season.

Rice has been an ever-present alongside Arsene Wenger in the Gunners dugout during the Frenchman's tenure and has spent 44 years in total with the North London club as both a player and member of the coaching staff.

Wenger said: "When I first arrived at Arsenal, Pat taught me so much about this great club. I will always be indebted to him for his expert insight into Arsenal and football as a whole.

"On the training pitches and on matchdays, Pat has always been a passionate, loyal and insightful colleague, who we will all miss."

It is understood that former Arsenal centre-half Steve Bould, who has worked with the academy side since 2001, will replace Rice for next season.