Arsenal: A major departure weakens Mikel Arteta
Thunderbolt for Arsenal, as their sporting director Edu is set to leave the London club in the coming hours. He has reportedly announced his departure, which comes as a shock for Mikel Arteta, who has always had his support.
Edu, a former player of the Invincibles under Arsène Wenger, is not untouchable. According to the Daily Mail, the decision to leave comes from him, although the exact reasons remain unclear, with power struggles at higher levels not being seen as the sole justification for his choice.
For Arsenal, this is a tough blow in the midst of the season. Edu had established himself as the visionary behind the club’s overhaul after years of mediocrity. Arriving in 2019 as technical director, he quickly gained consensus and rose to become the sporting director, overseeing the team’s restructuring.
He stood by Mikel Arteta when results were not always convincing, so the coach loses a significant ally within the club at a challenging time, especially after a recent away defeat to Newcastle following a loss to Bournemouth two weeks ago. While Arteta’s job is not at risk, his situation will need to be monitored as the season progresses.
Edu was responsible for key transfers, such as Martin Ødegaard and more recently Declan Rice, both major players for the team. He also facilitated the exit of higher-paid players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In short, a quality professional is on the verge of leaving Arsenal. According to Sky Sports, he may be set to join the ranks of Evangelos Marinakis, the Greek businessman who owns Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest.
