Mikel Arteta has talked up the credentials of interim sporting director Jason Ayto as Arsenal continue their search for Edu’s successor.
Ayto had been Edu’s assistant for 18 months before the Brazilian opted to resign earlier this month.
He was part of the football leadership team, alongside Arteta, which travelled to the US during the international break for talks with the club’s ownership.
Ayto has been at the club for a decade and has been heavily involved in the recruitment process as part of the football intelligence unit created by Edu in 2020.
He was often responsible for initiating contact with prospective signings and doing some of the less glamorous roles, but Arteta rates him highly.
“Very good, Jason and all the team,” said Arteta. “Edu and I probably got a lot of the praise, but the work behind it is done by this guy and Jason has been phenomenal.
“It is not easy to wake up one day and having to move to a different office and do a different job, like it was for the team.
“But again, the spirit, how people react, how they are willing to (say): ‘Okay, that’s it, that’s the situation, let’s move forward’, with that ambition, and as well with that determination and that enthusiasm, that’s something great. Jason has been great on that.”
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With the January transfer window looming, for Arsenal — who are without a Premier League in four games and with no official Edu replacement appointed — the meeting with Kroenkes came at a time with many topics to discuss.
“It is always really positive to spend time together,” said Arteta.
“Obviously we had time to talk about the windows, but as well about the club. How they are feeling about what we are doing, how we are feeling about where we want to take the club, the next direction, obviously Edu.
“It is a lot of topics, there, but again it is a joy to spend time with them because it’s a lot to learn. They have so much experience in sport. You feel the ambition, especially when you go out there and even though they are very far, how close they live every day with us, and they want to achieve together. It feels great.”
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(David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
