In light of Edu Gaspar’s surprise departure from Arsenal on Monday, the Gunners have given manager, Mikel Arteta, a major new role at the club.
There have been suggestions that the North Londoners could now go through a period of instability, and after recent results, which included no shots on target from one particular attacker in the loss against Newcastle, the last thing the Spaniard needs is any more upheaval.
However, the appointment of a new sporting director needs to be swift and executed with the minimum of fuss.
Mikel Arteta to help choose Arsenal’s new sporting director
Given that any new man (or woman) coming in will be working closely alongside Arteta, it stands to reason why the club would want him involved with the decision making process.
“Mikel will have to have a major say on anyone who comes in or how Arsenal replace Edu,” a source told Telegraph Sport.
“Where he’s at in his career and his status at the club, it’s unthinkable that he wouldn’t.”
After the reverse at St. James’ Park, Arsenal now find themselves seven points from Liverpool who currently occupy the Premier League’s top spot.
Two of their next three English top-flight games are London derbies, against Chelsea and West Ham respectively, whilst the other is against high-flying Nottingham Forest,
They then face Man United at the Emirates in what will be Ruben Amorim’s first big test at his new club.
Not to mention Arsenal also face Inter in the Champions League at San Siro this Wednesday night.
Come out of that series of games unscathed and the Gunners can continue to look forward, but were they to find themselves on the end of further defeats, it’s clear that the new sporting director will have their work cut out once they join.