Arsenal identify short-term Edu replacement as shock exit leads club to familiar face

Arsenal are set to turn to Edu's understudy, Jason Ayto, in the wake of the Brazilian's shock departure this week.

Edu, 46, has played an influential role in the club's recent ascent alongside Mikel Arteta and has a rich history with the Gunners from his playing days.

But Arsenal's sporting director tendered his resignation on Monday after rejecting a lucrative payrise from the Premier League title contenders and is now poised to take up a prominent role with Evangelos Marinakis, who owns Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Portugal’s Rio Ave.

Edu's departure comes as a major blow to Arsenal, who have reaped the rewards of his astute work in the transfer market. And the onus is now on the club hierarchy to get their next move right after failing to convince him to stay at The Emirates.

As first revealed by The Telegraph, Ayto is now primed to take the reins in the short-term. The club's assistant sporting director is regarded highly by those in power at Arsenal and will step up while co-chairman Josh Kroenke and his executives meet to decide their next move.

It's thought Arteta, who has done a fine job in re-establishing the club as a force in the Premier League, will have a key role in sourcing Edu's successor, though no indication of who Arsenal may target has yet come to light.

Speaking in the aftermath of Edu's exit, Arteta admitted he would miss working with the former midfielder, saying: “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.”

The loss of Edu comes at a time where Arsenal have ceded ground in the title race having lost two of their last three games. Arteta remained upbeat, though, insisting that the loss of one figure would not derail the club's progress.

He 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.”