Two ex-Arsenal stars favorite to replace Edu in Gunners' vacant sporting director role: Reports

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna on X, Tomas Rosicky and Per Mertesacker are favorites to become Arsenal’s next sporting director. The role at the club became vacant following Edu’s resignation in early November.

Edu joined the Gunners in 2019 first as a technical director. The former Arsenal midfielder then transitioned into the sporting director's role three years later. In his capacity as sporting director, he masterminded the signings of top players like Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, consequentially turning Arsenal into title contenders.

The 46-year-old has now agreed a deal in principle to take up an unnamed role with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. The Greek businessman also owns Greek club Olympiacos and Portuguese outfit Rio Ave.

Edu’s resignation has left a void in an important role at the Emirates. Now, according to the aforementioned source, the north London club is considering recruiting former players Rosicky or Mertesacker for the position.

Rosicky joined the Gunners in 2006 from Borussia Dortmund and spent 10 years at the Emirates. After leaving Arsenal, he rejoined his boyhood club Sparta Prague. Upon retirement, he transitioned into administrative roles and is currently the club’s sporting director.

Mertesacker, meanwhile, has remained with the club since retiring in 2018. The ex-Germany defender is currently a manager with the club’s academy.

The former Czech international made 246 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 28 goals and creating 23 more. Mertesacker, on the other hand, registered 10 goals and three assists in 221 games for the Premier League giants.

Only two clubs spent more in transfers than Arsenal with Edu as sporting director

As per a report in SkySports, the Gunners made a net spend of £569.5 million since Edu arrived at the club in 2019. Only Chelsea (£809.7million) and Manchester United (£765.1million) have spent more than the north London club in that period.

Some of his notable signings include Declan Rice from West Ham United (£105 million), Kai Havertz from Chelsea (£65 million), Ben White from Brighton & Hove Albion (£50 million), and Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid (£45 million).

Under his tutelage, the club won the FA Cup in 2020, and finished as the league runners-up in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.