Jason Ayto poised to fill Edu gap at Arsenal as Mikel Arteta laments loss of ‘special chemistry’

Assistant sporting director set for wider role as Gunners consider how to move forward after Brazilian’s departure

Mikel Arteta has admitted that he is losing a key ally with whom he has “special chemistry” after Edu rejected a lucrative pay rise to remain Arsenal sporting director.
Arsenal were rocked early on Monday when news leaked of Edu’s resignation but, upon arriving in Milan ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League match against Inter, Arteta told fans that the club would not be shaken from their long-term vision.
Jason Ayto, the well-regarded assistant sporting director, is set for a wider role while Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke and key executives Tim Lewis and Richard Garlick decide with Arteta on how best to move forward.
Edu is set for a new role as a global head of football in a multi-club structure and, while adamant that money was not behind his departure, it is believed that Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is ready to pay him upwards of £5 million a year. As well as Forest, Marinakis’s portfolio includes includes Greek club Olympiacos and Portugal’s Rio Ave.
Edu joined Arsenal in 2019 and, having played a key role in the club’s revival as genuine Premier League title challengers, news of his departure comes at a particularly delicate moment.
Defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday was Arsenal’s second Premier League loss in three games and they are also now without club-record signing Declan Rice in Milan on Wednesday night and potentially against Chelsea on Sunday.
Rice suffered a foot injury against Newcastle that, after finishing the game, has left him struggling to put his boots on without feeling considerable pain. He will be further assessed on Thursday before a decision is made about his availability for a Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge that already feels potentially pivotal in the season.
Arteta admitted that Edu’s departure had been sudden, with the players unaware before Monday.
“Everything happened very quickly,” said Arteta. “We both had this special chemistry and really enjoyed working together. He has an amazing opportunity now to do something else in a different role and he believes that is the right professional move for him. We have to respect that.”
Asked whether he had any message for the club’s fans, Arteta added: “The plan and the vision that starts with the ownership is very clear – it is going to continue. We have a very strong leadership team with unbelievable know-how and a real passion and great feelings for the football club.
“We are not going to stop where we are at the moment and across the club. The excitement, the passion and the understanding of where we want to take this journey remains intact and that means opportunities for somebody else to come and fulfil their role.”
On a more positive note, captain Martin Odegaard trained at the club’s London Colney base on Tuesday morning and, while not expected to start against Inter, is with the squad in Italy. Odegaard’s creative influence has been missed since he last played for Arsenal at the end of August but he will be brought back carefully, with Arteta naming Bukayo Saka as his stand-in captain on Wednesday.
“He’s [back] a bit earlier than expected, but it’s great to have him here,” Arteta said of Odegaard.
Saka has emerged as a leader in the squad, according to Arteta. “People admire him, people respect him, they want to be next to him – he has a particular way of smiling,” said the Spaniard.
“He’s one of our leaders right now. He’s one of our biggest players and our biggest talents. He’s earned that status.”
In the surroundings of the San Siro, Arteta also emphasised the wider progress in urging fans to stick together at this moment of turbulence.
“In moments when you have a defeat or two, or you have certain news that nobody expects, like we always do, stick together, bring positive energy and move forward,” he said. “This is part of football and we have to be very strong, like we’ve always done.
“We’ve been with problems of all kinds in this football club for many years and we are in an incredible moment right now. We are blessed to be where we are.”
Saka is adamant that, despite a respective seven- and five-point gap to Liverpool and Manchester City, winning the Premier League is still feasible for Arsenal.
“It’s important to not be delusional and in this case I don’t think it’s delusional to believe,” said Saka. “If you look at our squad, the quality we have, the players we have and at the same time we’re only in November so I don’t think I’ve lost any belief. I don’t think anyone in the changing room has either.”