Striding along the edge of the pitch at Stamford Bridge earlier this month, few people will have recognised Jason Ayto.
Accompanied by Arsenal’s executive vice-chair, Tim Lewis, he had just been to the dressing room after the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Arsenal’s executive team often go to see manager Mikel Arteta and the players after games, but this was the first time that Ayto had paid a visit after being made the club’s interim sporting director.
Ayto has been placed in the role following the resignation of Edu, who is expected to land a senior job overseeing Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ growing portfolio of clubs.
Edu was a hugely recognisable figure, thanks largely to his playing days with Arsenal, but little is known about Ayto. There is no trace of him on social media and that includes LinkedIn, which can be a way for agents and those in recruitment teams of clubs to make contact.
Ayto’s rise at Arsenal has been impressive, but this past fortnight must have felt like a whirlwind. After the Gunners’ draw at Chelsea on November 10, he was part of the executive team who flew to Los Angeles last week to meet with the club’s owners, Stan and Josh Kroenke.
The meeting was scheduled before Edu’s resignation and a similar one occurred this time last year, with this November international break an ideal opportunity to convene before the fixture schedule becomes packed.
The process of finding a successor to Edu was discussed, but in the interim it will be Ayto in charge. The club trust him in the role and it is why they will not panic or rush to appoint someone new. Arsenal’s aim right now is to decide what type of sporting director they want, before assessing viable candidates.
Ayto began scouting for Arsenal 10 years ago and first joined them as a video analyst. He rose up the ranks and became the club’s chief scout and recruitment coordinator around the end of the 2020/21 season.
That was after Arsenal had overhauled their scouting network a year earlier, with renowned talent-spotter Francis Cagigao - who discovered Cesc Fabregas - one of the most high-profile departures.
Edu’s desire was to work with less people and use StatDNA - the club’s in-house data and analytics company - more. Ayto remained as part of that setup and he formed a close bond with the Brazilian. Last year, Ayto was promoted to assistant sporting director, effectively becoming Edu’s No2.
The 39-year-old’s use and understanding of data has made him a key part of Arsenal’s recruitment setup and he is well regarded for his ability to spot players. Ayto is known for having a great eye for detail and he complimented Edu well in negotiations, the Brazilian revered for being an excellent communicator.
Agents who have dealt with Ayto describe him as an ultra professional, whose work ethic ensures no stone is left unturned. In one pitch, Arteta wowed a prospective signing when he recalled the exact minute from a match months ago that caught his eye. It was one of several clips Ayto and the recruitment staff had trawled through and put together when scouting the player.
Ayto’s use and understanding of data has made him a key part of Arsenal’s recruitment team and he is well regarded for his ability to spot players
Those who have worked with Ayto at Arsenal in the past describe him as firm but fair. He is fluent in Portuguese and can speak Spanish, too. The 39-year-old also has a growing contacts book thanks to his promotions over the past few years.
Ayto has been involved in major deals over the past 18 months, while Arsenal’s executive team also has plenty of experience from the likes of managing director Richard Garlick, vice-chair Lewis and newly-appointed director of football operations James King - who started work last week.
Given he has been at the club for 10 years, Ayto knows the recruitment model and those who work underneath him very well.
James Ellis, Arsenal’s head of recruitment, has been at the club since 2021. Mark Curtis, Ellis’ No2, has been working for Arsenal since 2013 and steadily risen through the ranks. They will feed into Ayto and have a good working relationship with him.
Arsenal have a track record for promoting from within when it comes to filling vacancies and that is why some outside the club are speculating that Ayto could replace Edu permanently.
Garlick was promoted from director of football operations to managing director when chief executive Vinai Venkatesham left in the summer. Carlos Cuesta was promoted to an assistant of Arteta’s when Steve Round departed, while Adam Birchall replaced Jack Wilshere as the Under-18s coach last month after previously being his No2.
Some outside Arsenal believe that could make Ayto a contender along with Per Mertesacker, the club’s academy manager. Mertesacker would tick a lot of boxes, given he knows the culture of the club and, like Edu, is an excellent communicator.
Much will depend on what sporting director Arsenal want to hire and they will not be short of candidates if they opt for an external move. But in the meantime, the club will be confident that Ayto can steady the ship.
