Arsenal: Jason Ayto gets chance to stake claim for sporting director job after Mikel Arteta backing
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In his quest to become Arsenal’s new sporting director, Jason Ayto has been handed a rare opportunity. Unlike the other candidates for the job, Ayto is already in the hotseat in his role as interim. And what better way to land it permanently than by signing the forward Arsenal so desperately need?.
The Gunners are, understandably, struggling without Bukayo Saka, who will be out of action until at least March after tearing his hamstring last month and undergoing surgery. A 2-0 defeat by Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie on Tuesday only further highlighted the need for reinforcements in attack.
If Ayto could manage that it would be a huge feather in his cap as he tries to land one of the top jobs at Arsenal. A string of contenders have been linked with the role, with Tomas Rosicky the latest to be touted this week. The former Arsenal midfielder has forged a good reputation with his work at Sparta Prague and his connection to the club from his playing days also makes him a viable candidate.
But Ayto can showcase his own credentials this month and he already appears to have the backing of Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has talked up Ayto several times in press conferences, describing him as “phenomenal” last month. Arteta has also hinted that Arsenal could look to replace Edu internally, which they have done in the past, most recently when Richard Garlick was promoted to managing director after chief executive Vinai Venkatesham left last summer.
Arsenal as a club are big fans of Ayto, who has been with them since 2014. He has worked his way up the ranks and, whoever becomes the new sporting director, the club would ideally like him to stay on as that person’s No2 if he doesn’t land the job himself.
