Mikel Arteta has sung the praises of Jason Ayto as Arsenal look for a new sporting director.
The Gunners are currently on the hunt for Edu’s replacement after the Brazilian resigned from his role earlier this month.
Ayto, who was previously Edu’s No2 at the Emirates Stadium, has taken over in the interim while Arsenal search for a replacement and Arteta has talked up his credentials.
“Very good, Jason and all the [recruitment] 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 have 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.”
Ayto was part of the Arsenal executive team who flew out to the US last week for talks with the club’s owners, the Kroenke family.
Arteta was part of the trip, too, and the Spaniard has revealed that transfer talks were among the topics on the table.
“Yeah, well, it is always really positive to spend time together,” he said. “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 that they are very far, how close they live every day with us, and they want to achieve together. It feels great.”
