In Arteta’s first window at Arsenal, he chose to recruit Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares on loan, as well as welcoming Eddie Nketiah back from Leeds United.
The season after in 2020/21, Arsenal signed Martin Odegaard and Mathew Ryan on a temporary basis too.
It was only in the 2023/24 season that Arsenal began to entirely veto the chance to sign players mid-season, a decision they repeated last month despite their desperate need for a striker.
Of course, it’s worth pointing out that Arsenal were operating without a new sporting director in January after losing Edu Gaspar.
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will appoint a new sporting director ‘quickly’
On the back of another barren window, Arteta was actually asked about the sporting director situation at his press conference before facing Newcastle United in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
In response, the Arsenal manager was very candid about the situation, admitting that Jason Ayto is currently fulfilling the role.
Arteta wasn’t sure if Ayto or an external appointment would be made, but the Arsenal boss seemed pretty confident that someone would be in place soon, in time for the summer.
Arteta said: “The decision I think will be done relatively quickly, whether it’s Jason or somebody else I don’t know but I think that decision will be done quite early.
“We have the sporting director which is Jason, it’s clear and he’s been since the departure of Edu from day one he has been given full responsibility, all our support from that aspect and what the club wants to do after that is not on me.
“It’s a club decision to try to appoint the person that they believe is the best and I will be in full support of that.”
Dan Ashworth is still available for Arsenal
Judging by Arteta’s words, it seems as if Ayto does have a good chance of being promoted from his previous role as Edu’s assistant.
Although, given the ineffectiveness of Arsenal’s January window, it’s hard not to wonder from the outside looking in as to what an external appointment could add.
Dan Ashworth is available to Arsenal after his surprise exit from Manchester United earlier this season.
Arsenal could also turn to Tomas Rosicky as a possible candidate, a very popular player from the Arsene Wenger era, someone Arteta actually played with.
Either way, it’s redeeming that Arsenal appear to recognise the need to make a swift decision ahead of a crucial summer transfer window for the club.
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