Mikel Arteta has revealed details of the talks he held with Arsenal’s owners during the international break.
The Arsenal manager flew to America while the Premier League shut down for a fortnight and had much to discuss with the Kroenke family.
Having loosened the purse strings over the course of the last two years, Arsenal were more circumspect with their spending during the close season and appear to have left themselves short in several key areas.
The Gunners have been linked with moves for the likes of Alexander Isak, Victor Gyokeres and Arda Guler as they look to breathe new life into an attack that has stalled in the absence of Martin Odegaard.
Arteta confirmed talks about Arsenal’s transfer strategy took place stateside, while the topic of who replaces outgoing sporting director, Edu, was also high on the agenda.
‘It’s always really positive to spend time together. We had time to talk about the [transfer] windows, but as well about the club, how we’re feeling about what we’re doing and how we’re feeling about where we’re going to take the club and the direction, and Edu,’ he said.
‘It’s a lot of topics there, but again it’s a joy to spend time with them because there’s a lot to learn.
‘They have so much experience in sport because you feel the ambition, especially when you are there.
‘They are very far away, but how closely they live every day with us and what we want to achieve together, it feels great.’
Following Edu’s departure, Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Roberto Olabe and another former player, Tomas Rosicky, but they could look to hire from within and promote Jason Ayto.
‘He’s very good, Jason and all the team,’ added Arteta. ‘Edu and I probably got a lot of praise, but the work behind that is done by these guys.
‘The ambition is phenomenal, it’s not easy to wake up one day and you’re having to move to a different office and do a different job like he was for the team, but again the speed of how people react and how they are willing to say: “OK, that’s it, that’s the situation, let’s move forward.”
‘With that ambition and with that determination and enthusiasm, that’s something great.’
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