Edu replacement: Arsenal to repeat trick with club legends

Arsenal are considering Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky as potential replacements for departed sporting director Edu Gaspar, according to a report.

The Brazilian shocked the Gunners earlier this week by handing in his surprise resignation. Edu, a former ‘Invincible,’ shaped Mikel Arteta’s side as recruitment chief in recent years, playing a vital role in the club’s resurgence under the Spanish tactician.

Rather than waiting until the end of the season, the 46-year-old left the club immediately because he will now have to serve a six-month notice period before joining Evangelos Marinakis’s budding footballing empire, which includes Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave.

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The departure of Edu has come at an inopportune time, with Arsenal currently struggling on the pitch after losses to Newcastle and Inter over the past week.

Jason Ayto is the current interim sporting director, but Arsenal are already coming up with a list of potential permanent replacements.

Arsenal consider ex-players

According to Footmercato, Arsenal could go down the same route as before by hiring a former player for the role again. It is claimed that Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky are under consideration for the job.

Former centre-back Mertesacker is already with the club working as manager of the Hale End academy and could be promoted to the sporting director role.

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Rosicky, meanwhile, is in charge of recruitment at another of his former clubs, Sparta Prague. The French outlet goes so far as to assert that preliminary talks with the ex-midfielder have already started, though it is not yet entirely clear if either will ultimately get the job.

Arsenal will surely also consider other names and, given the importance of the role, it could yet take some more time before a final decision is made.