“We Might Have It Internally”- Arteta Hints At Jason Ayto Being Handed Sporting Director Role

By The Editor
on 14th December 2024

Arteta is a big fan of Jason Ayto…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta waxed lyrical about interim sporting director Jason Ayto and hinted that the former Gunners scout may get the nod for the top job.

Speaking to the press ahead of our Premier League clash against Everton on Saturday, Arteta was asked to foreshadow the January transfer window and our current predicament.

Edu suddenly resigned from his post last month and given his close relationship with Arteta and their recruitment work over the past few years, it felt like a huge blow.

Now, with the club undergoing a recruitment process to find the Brazilian’s replacement, Arteta will have to navigate the next few months without a permanent sporting director.

However, Edu’s former assistant Ayto has assumed the position on an interim basis and it seems the Gunners manager is a fan of the 39-year-old.

“We have one,” the Spaniard said when asked how he’ll operate in the January window without a sporting director.

“Jason Ayto is our interim Sporting Director, and he’s got the full capacity and support of the football club and he’s doing really well with his team.”

Arteta was then asked about the requirement process and the current state of play, with the boss hinting that sometimes the solution is under your nose.

“Yes, but we are convinced that we have the right person with the right team that can work with a lot of people who are doing extremely great work at the moment.

“Somebody is going to help us go to the next level and we might have it internally.”

Arteta co-signing Ayto isn’t a surprise with the boss hoping the club opts for continuity and a relationship that’s already developed over a number of years.

However, having Ayto as his main point of contact will likely tip the power balance in Arteta’s favour given the inexperience disparity.

It will be interesting to see which route the club goes in.