Swede has failed to score in his last eight games for club and country as pressure builds on Arsenal’s big summer signing

A knee injury is set to sideline Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard for several weeks, leaving the Gunners a little slim in attack as Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all continue their recoveries from respective injury issues.

Bloom – who has since hired Ayto himself – said: “Jason’s been in football for a long time. He’s been at Arsenal for a very long time. He had the interim Sporting Director role for nine months and did a really, really good job.

Arsenal have been handed a boost after summer signing Piero Hincapie returned to training ahead of Saturday’s trip to Fulham. Hincapie has played just one minute for Arsenal since joining them on loan from Bayer Leverkusen on transfer deadline day.

Arsenal win more corners than any other team in the division, but their pondering is still played out when ratios are considered; the Gunners need an average of 45.4 seconds to set up a corner. Only newly promoted Sunderland (49.5) can top that yawning delay.

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Arsenal are preparing to return to Champions League action on Tuesday night as they host Atletico Madrid for what should be an intriguing clash at the Emirates Stadium.BUY ARSENAL VS. ATLETICO MADRID