Former Gunners midfielder Edu announced he would be leaving the club for a second time in November in a surprise move. The Brazilian has been hired to run the network of clubs owned by Evangelos Marinakis, including Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, and forced the Emirates hierarchy to begin the hunt for his successor.
The Daily Mail claim interim director Ayto has won over a number of colleagues after taking the position on a temporary basis. The former club scout was taken under Edu's wing as a potential heir to his throne, and all signs suggest he has been a natural fit in the role to date.
The former Norwich City recruiter has been at the Emirates for a decade, but his potential was only spotted after Edu arrived in 2019. And despite leaving the club in such sudden circumstances, the Invincible did the club a favour by preparing them well for his own departure, it seems.
Also reportedly in contention for the job are Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes and Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe. Dan Ashworth - who was recently sacked by Manchester United - and Sparta Prague director Tomas Rosicky - who made 247 appearances for Arsenal - have also been linked with the role.
Paris Saint-Germain supremo Luis Campos and Brentford counterpart Phil Giles are also touted as possible appointments. Campos - who built a renown for his transfer nous while sporting director at Monaco and then Lille - has a contract at the Parc des Princes that's set to expire in June, making him an attractive target.
But Arsenal could stick with the same 'skills first' philosophy that led Edu to take a punt on Ayto in the first place. The Gunners opted to revolutionise their scouring and recruitment department under Edu's care and prioritised personalities and acumen ahead of experience alone.
Ashworth is well-known in his industry after guiding the likes of Newcastle, Brighton and England's FA to success in the past. He boasts extensive experience in a directorial capacity and is currently a free agent after being sacked by United in December.
While Ayto sits at the other end of the spectrum in terms of experience, it's evident he could go on to become a big name in his field. And Edu himself may just be responsible for his own heir apparent after bringing the relative unknown into the fold from obscurity.
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