Mikel Arteta has talked up the credentials of interim sporting director Jason Ayto as Arsenal continue their search for Edu’s successor. Ayto had been Edu’s assistant for 18 months before the Brazilian opted to resign earlier this month.

Nowadays, Mikel might be seen as uncompromising, rigid. But the irony is in his five years at the club, he has always adapted his ideas to the players, to opposition, to trend, to mostly… win. Tactically, Arteta can do it all.