Sawt Falasteen - Arsenal's sporting director search won't be a problem: Arteta

Edu's sudden resignation last month has left Arteta without one of his trusted inner circle at a key point in the season.

The Gunners are third in the Premier League and sit six points behind leaders Liverpool after an inconsistent first half of the campaign.

Arteta could look to the transfer market to bolster his squad in the new year, but Edu's exit has raised questions about Arsenal's ability to land the Spaniard's top targets.

Jason Ayto, who has been at Arsenal for a decade as a scout and then Edu's assistant, has assumed the post on an interim basis.

But Dan Ashworth's shock exit from Manchester United has seen him linked with a move to north London ahead of the transfer window opening on January 1.

Ahead of Saturday's home game with Everton, Arteta was asked if not having a permanent sporting director in place could pose an issue.

"We have one. Jason Ayto is our interim sporting director. He has got the full capacity and support of the football club right now," Arteta told reporters on Friday.

"He is doing really well with his team. The process is open, as you know. And the club, with the support of all of us, will decide who is the best person to move us forward.

"I never expect January to be super busy, but we have to wait and see where we are. There might be some opportunities, too.

"Hopefully the availability of the squad will be better in a few weeks. We have to wait and see."

While Arteta is calm about the situation, he would like it to be resolved before the end of the season.

"Yes, but when we are convinced that we have the right person who can work the right team who are doing a great job at the moment," he said.

"Someone who is going to take us to the next level. We might have him internally. Timing wise it's hard to understand. I'm not running the process so it's more for the club to respond."

Arteta could be forced into the transfer market, with defenders Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu all sidelined by injuries.

Jurrien Timber was only fit enough for the bench in Arsenal's 3-0 win against Monaco in the Champions League in midweek.

Gabriel Magalhaes has also been absent for the past three matches, but he has returned to training and is expected to be available against Everton.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, was handed a full Champions League debut against Monaco and is in line to secure his first Premier League start this weekend.

"He certainly deserves to be in contention to be selected because he performed and competed really well," Arteta said.

"At his age to show that maturity and personality is strange."

B.AbuZeid--SF-PST