Man Utd star Ayden Heaven’s mum reveals how argument with Arsenal coach Per Mertesacker helped her son’s career

AYDEN HEAVEN’S mother has recalled her unusual argument with Per Mertesacker that shaped her son’s career. Lisa Heaven tired to put up a fight against Mertesacker when the former Arsenal academy manager told her Heaven should change positions. Lisa Heaven has recalled an argument with Per Mertesacker that shaped Ayden Heaven’s career Credit: YouTube Ayden Heaven was moved from midfield to defence during his time in Arsenal’s academy Credit: Getty Ayden Heaven, 19, had spent most of his youth career playing as deep-lying midfielder. But when Mertesacker first saw the youngster play at Arsenal, he was convinced that he needed to be shifted to defence. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! The decision ultimately proved to be the right one, earning Heaven a reputation as a defender that landed him his move to Manchester United. But Lisa, who is also Heaven’s agent, remembers immediately trying to shut down any suggestion that her son should be shifted back during his time with the Gunners. She told the Stretford Paddock: “I remember the conversation, it was between myself and Per Mertesacker. “I was having a debate with Per like, ‘he’s not a defender.’ He was saying he was and I was saying he wasn’t. “I remember it was one of his first couple of games, and it was Per’s first season as the academy manager. “Ayden made a save off the line and I saw Per’s face light up. I thought, ‘He’s not a defender. He’s scoring goals.’ Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Per Mertesacker made the decision to change Heaven’s position Credit: Getty “I think he was playing as a No6 and No8 role, really box-to-box. Per wasn’t having it. “He was like, ‘He is a great player, but he is going to be a defender.'” Heaven soon switched to the back line and quickly became one of the top-rated defensive youth prospects in the country. The teenager had played just one full season at centre-back before he was snapped up by Man Utd. Lisa revealed: “When we came to Manchester United, he had only been playing that role for one full season as a centre-back. Before that it was a centre-defensive [midfield] role. “So that is where he gets his ability on the ball, carrying the ball forward, left and right foot. He is still mastering the position. It was Per that called it.” Heaven left Arsenal for Man Utd last summer in search of regular first team football. Since his move to the Theatre of Dreams, he has already made 21 Premier League appearances. Heaven has excelled at centre-back since his move to Manchester United Credit: Getty Comment now