Thiago Scuro set for Arsenal visit amid Edu replacement links as Monaco job assessed

Thiago Scuro, the CEO of AS Monaco and currently linked with the potential role at Arsenal in replacing Edu Gaspar as sporting director will come face to face with the Gunners in less than a month's time should he still be in place at the French club. His Monaco side will visit the Emirates Stadium on December 11, as Arsenal look to continue their European winning streak in London.

Scuro, according to Di Marzio, is someone who Arsenal have considered to replace Edu after the Brazilian resigned from his position amid reported links to Evangelos Marinakis’ Nottingham Forest multi-club model.

Arsenal were surprised to a degree at the timing of the news and are now in need of a response ahead of the summer transfer window. The emphasis is on the summer with the January window already somewhat prepared for by Edu and his understudies who have remained at the club such as Jason Ayto.

Scuro’s work at Monaco has been widely lauded and after their second-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, they remain set to be PSG’s main rivals for the title once again, despite operating with considerably less resources. He has already had some discussions with Arsenal in the summer of 2023 as he worked on the deal to sign Folarin Balogun.

The American international has become a key part of the side as well as Thilo Kehrer, Denis Zakaria and Wilfried Singo. This summer saw the most spent by the club since 2019 mega-spend a year after the sale of Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar and Fabinho among others.

There was a focus on adding young talent to improve the pool of starlets in the squad and they have since, under Adi Hutter – a managerial appointment by Scuro – have been gradually integrated with success.

A move to Arsenal would be a step up but we've seen high-profile names like Raul Sanllehi come with histories of doing deals like Neymar for Barcelona and then fail to bring a cohesive, workable transfer strategy to Arsenal. There are other names that could be considered like Tomas Rosicky or Roberto Olabe as well, who fit more into the Scuro mould.

Arsenal's executives are reported to have flown to America during the international break to discuss with the ownership the steps ahead of the next two transfer windows and the void left by Edu. These meetings will be pivotal for the short and long-term success of the club.

While Mikel Arteta stays behind to work with a large contingent of players not on international duty. The build-up to Scuro and Monaco’s visit to the Emirates Stadium could end up defining the Gunners' entire season.

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