A familiar face could be coming back to Arsenal to help Mikel Arteta. (Image: Getty)
Former midfielder Tomas Rosicky has emerged as a leading contender to replace Edu as the club’s sporting director. The north London outfit are now seeking a new appointment after the Brazilian, who had been in the role since July 2019, and his network of clubs.
Rosicky, who spent a decade at the Emirates as a player, has been working as sporting director at Sparta Prague since 2018.
The club are off the back of a domestic double last season, having retained their league title and also won the Czech Cup competition.
According to the , Rosicky has been in regular contact with members of the club’s hierarchy over the vacancy. The 44-year-old is also said to have remained on good terms with both and Per Mertesacker.
He played with both men during his career, which ran from 2006 through to 2016. Arteta has since been installed as manager while Mertesacker is the club’s current academy manager.
Edu’s former deputy, Jason Ayto, has taken over responsibilities since his departure was announced in November. However, the club are reportedly concerned over his lack of experience, and favour a move for Rosicky.
Tomas Rosicky (right) is currently working at Sparta Prague. (Image: Getty)
Talks between both parties are said to be continuing. ’s current leadership group consists of Arteta, executive vice-chair, Tim Lewis, and chief executive Richard Garlick.
Should the club make an offer, if it remains to be seen whether they will attempt to get Rosicky in place straight away or wait for the end of the 2024/25 campaign. The development comes at a time when the Gunners are expected to do transfer business in January to address their current injury crisis.
A return for Rosicky is likely to prove popular with fans. He made 247 appearances for the club, and played in their 2013/14 final win against .
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have also been linked with Luis Campos, whose current deal with PSG expires in the summer. Bayer Leverkusen’s Simon Rolfes is another name that has been in the frame, but unlike Rosicky, neither have previous connections with the club.
Edu, who is currently serving a six-month period of gardening leave, has been credited for helping turn into title contenders with his work in the transfer market. He also shared a close relationship with Arteta, having employed the Spaniard as manager in late 2019.