Per Mertesacker has been invited to join the advisory board of the German national team.
The former Gunners defender hung up his boots at the end of last season to become the club's Academy chief.
Team manager Oliver Bierhoff is rebuilding his backroom team after Germany's disastrous World Cup performance - the worst in the nation's history.
“Per will be part of the new expert advisory board,” Bierhoff told Bild. “Per is very much looking forward to the future task, has many interesting views and expresses his opinion.”