Mikel Arteta says he will be “very much involved” in Arsenal’s hunt for a new sporting director and insists the club will look to hire someone that can take them to “a different level”.
The Gunners are currently searching for a replacement for Edu after the Brazilian resigned from his role earlier in November.
Edu, who has been with Arsenal since 2019, is set to take up a senior position working for Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ growing portfolio of clubs after serving a six-month notice period.
Arsenal have begun the process of finding Edu’s successor and it was a topic of discussion last week when Arteta and other senior staff flew to the US to meet the club’s owners, Josh and Stan Kroenke.
“Well, I can talk about what we are doing right now and I’m going to be very much involved in that process,” said Arteta, when asked how much say he will have in who the new sporting director is.
“Because we want to find the right person first of all and the right person has to be someone who is able to co-operate and make each other better and take us to a different level. That is the objective of it.”
Jason Ayto, who was previously Edu’s No2, is currently Arsenal’s interim sporting director and Arteta hailed his qualities when asked about him on Friday.
“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,” said Arteta.
Ayto was part of the executive team that flew to the US last week, with managing director Richard Garlick and executive vice-chair Tim Lewis also present.
Arteta has said the talks were constructive and allowed them the opportunity to map out the next three years, as well as looking at what has happened in the past.
“Well, there are other kind of things across the club,” he said. “Obviously that they need more vision in terms of what’s going to happen in 24 months, 36 months.
“But what we especially spend time on is what’s going to happen in the next 12 months and what happened in the previous six or 12 months.
“As well looking back we make a lot of decisions and understand, evaluate how those decisions were made, what was the process behind it, have they worked, yes or no?
“And for some of them it’s still too early because in football time can fluctuate and can change the relation to what happens in the context.
“But it’s just living there or being there, you see. The reception, how they talk to you, how they look at you, the questions that they ask, the interaction that you have and it cannot be any more positive. Again, I’m not talking from my side but it’s a joy to have the owners that we have.”
Arsenal have endured a tough start to the season and go into Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest sitting nine points off Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Arteta, however, believes the club’s owners are keeping calm and he is convinced his side will “kick on” over the next run of games.
“I think it’s got its moments and I think it’s very important that we all feel comfortable and uncomfortable,” he said.
“And this sport, elite, and the demands that we have is sometimes putting the temperature up a little bit, sometimes brings it down and everybody needs it.
“I’m the first that needs that. And not only from them, from the coaches, from the players, media, it’s great to have that. So you are always seeking to be the best and evaluate and judge yourself in the right way.”
