Upstairs upheaval at the Emirates as Mislintat departs

After recent speculation, Arsenal have confirmed that Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat has left the North London club.

The news came on Monday morning with the Gunners issuing a statement.

The press release read:

“Sven Mislintat will be leaving us on February 8, 2019. Sven has been with us since December 1, 2017 and has done a truly outstanding job in helping us recruit players who are making a big impact now and will do so even more in the future.We wish him every success for the future and thank him for his extremely hard work on behalf of Arsenal.”

Arriving from Borussia Dortmund less than fourteen months ago, Sven Mislentat’s influence on Arsenal cannot be underestimated. Largely credited for the arrivals of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the German has modernized the recruiting policy from the Arsene Wenger era. Tasked with unearthing gems with a relatively low budget, the man nicknamed “diamond eye” has found the likes of Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi.

In the club statement, speaking after his departure was confirmed, Mislentat added:

“It’s been an amazing experience to work at a great club like Arsenal in what has been a big time of change. I am excited about what the future holds for the club and am looking forward to new challenges for myself.”

Mislentat arrived in 2017 after ten years at Borussia Dortmund. – aftv.co.uk

Rumours had been circulating that, since the exit of Ivan Gazidis to AC Milan, there’s been simmering tension with boss, Unai Emery. It understood that both have very different ideas of the profile of player Arsenal should go for.

The Gunners boss event went as far as admitting the Gunners could only make loan signings in the January window. Unai Emery has been very keen to bring in players that he knows well, with the club linked heavily for fellow compatriot and Barcelona man, Denis Suarez.

The exit of Sven Mislentat will only rub salt in the wounds of supporters who had hoped reinforcements could aid the Gunners push for Champions League football next season. Arsenal are currently fifth in the table, three points of the last Champions League spot. Former Arsenal midfielder Edu is the favourite to replace Sven Mislentat and become Arsenal’s technical director.