Arsenal having been holding future-planning talks in LA this week following the shock resignation of sporting director Edu.

Manager Mikel Arteta has used the international break to meet with owners Stan and Josh Kroenke, as well as directors Tim Lewis and Richard Garlick, and assistant sporting director Jason Ayto, in the Californian city.

The meeting has been primarily about planning for next summer and the January window, and was scheduled before Edu's departure. But added high to the agenda is understood to have been potential successors to the Brazilian, following his decision join Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis's group of clubs.

Arsenal are in no rush to appoint someone and will take their time to draw up a future system for player recruitment and welfare, amid widespread speculation that has included names like Tim Steidten at West Ham and Real Sociedad's Roberto Olabe.

Olabe, who plans to leave Sociedad next summer, has been linked to the role given he already knows fellow Spaniard Arteta and they are said to have a good rapport - but he is believed to have told Sociedad of his plans before Edu informed Arsenal of his decision to resign.

The Gunners next appointment, which could yet be the promotion of Edu's number two Ayto, will also not be down to Arteta alone - so the first part of the club's hiring strategy is to identify what profile of sporting director the club wants, not just for the short term but the long-term as well.

Arsenal were surprised by Edu's decision but a high-performing recruitment structure remains in place that is now being led by Ayto and includes head of recruitment James Ellis. Arsenal are positioning themselves for a reactive January window in case of any injuries or opportunities arising to bring forward summer work.