The news that Edu has left Arsenal has divided our fanbase in terms of the consequences for the team in the short and long term.
Unless he had something big lined up for January’s Transfer Window (and his employers would at this point be aware) the 46-year old’s impact wouldn’t have been felt till the summer.
His replacement will simply continue negotiating and drawing up a short list for the summer window. There’s nothing the Brazilian can do at this point to rescue our campaign and unfortunately his legacy may be judged by his last piece of business.
There will be some Gooners who will see it fitting that the last deal he sanctioned was a loan for Sterling. Because in his time as Sporting Director often the priority seemed to be slashing the wage bill, so the irony won’t be lost on some that when desperate for a striker, the best we could do is a player Chelsea were not even going to register in their squad.
When I think of Edu, my respect for him comes from his days on the pitch, his body of work two Prems and three FA Cups.
Outside of the romance of having proper Arsenal people involved in the running of the club, I don’t think our policy for buying or selling players will charge. It’s still the Kroenke Family who set the business plan.
The most ambitious person could be employed. But ultimately, it’s our owners who dictate how much is spent and what the priority is.
What our former midfielder did do was talk a good game. Fortunate to have met him, like Arteta he knows how and when to use buzz words to appease customers.
Wherever he truly believed he could help return us to levels not seen since he was a player is debatable. He acted like he did though.
Many liked the romantic idea of an Invincible sitting Arteta, BFG and Josh Kroenke down and making an action plan of how to improve all aspects of the club. Ultimately, he failed to follow through on the promises made.
While Arsenal is in a better position when he arrived, if you said when Mr. Wenger left that two top 4 positions in 6 years would be seen as progress few would have believed you.
From a PR standpoint he’s done a great job of manipulating the narrative that his return to North London has been a success.
Even in his farewell statement he described as being part of ” something so special in the club’s history ‘.
In reality this won’t be remembered as a special period in our history. Our manager should listen to that. A portion of our supporters have acted like we are something we are not. Very few times will you find some fans who have been less humbled by a club who done so little.
Edu though can claim to leave the job in a better state than what he inherited. His time at the Emirates however will be remembered as ‘what if’ and a sense of unfulfillment.
Once a Gooner though always a Gooner
Good luck Edu.
Dan
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The key question which hasn’t been answered yet is obviously “Why?”. It looks like there’s been some sort of major disagreement between Edu and other board members (owners or not) and the owners didn’t back Edu.
If so, that’s serious as the strategy that Edu has been following which, presumably, he and the rest were at least reasonably happy with, isn’t the direction that the board/owners want to follow in the future. What the direction remains to be seen.
More money elsewhere
We don’t know that for sure. The reports to date suggest a major disagreement about policy.
Exactly Dan, head of the Marinakis operation and tripling his £2m a year wages.
He got offered 3x as much money, pretty simple decision to make.
@Liam
Now the question is, do we call him a”traitor”just as we’ve done to those players who left us for a bigger payday, when we needed them most? Jus askin…🤔
Just read that Isak wants out of Newcastle for a team playing Champions League and that Newcastle want to sign Gabriel Jesus.
If Edu can organise trading those two then that would be an awesome parting gift. I reckon Isak would score a truck-load of goals at Arsenal.
We can get Isak if we are prepared to pay the price. I am a fan of Isak but he will be very expensive.
I expect the reasons behind it will come clear eventually. I suspect that his role has become limited with no path beyond his current role, and maybe he simply has bigger ambitions. With Garlick and Lewis in the mix he may have felt the future was a tad stifled. Whatever, I am not so concerned by him leaving as I am by who takes over his role. It’s an important one in today’s football structure. All that said, I would not give him more than 7 out of 10 for the business he has done.
Yes, it’s a vital position in the modern game so a top-quality replacement is needed, and Sporting Directors of that calibre are few and far between. Even fewer probably as I imagine Arsenal will want someone in quickly with the January window approaching.
Interesting times ahead.
When I try to post a quote from another website, it disappears, both here and on previous article on Edu. Weird or deliberate?
Links are moderated. Quotes aren’t
James King.
Arsenal set to appoint him
He was at the club before
Trying to post this in bits to see what stops it getting through.
So it seems when I post the role James King left Arsenal to take up, the post disappears into the ether.
PFA
Gen er al
Coun sel
Jeez. if I type the two words above in a post, without the spaces… that post disappears. 👀🤷💩
You’re having a spot of bother, Neutral.
However, on the basis of reading your post, you are right that he has held senior roles at Arsenal and at the PFA.
The fact that Edu has left without any fuss at all seems to suggest that there is someone within the ranks at Arsenal who can fill his shoes – or – that Arsenal weren’t blindsided by the resignation.
Eh???
Although Arsenal got some good players with Edu at the helm, I think overall arsenal’s transfer windows under him were underwhelming to be honest.
And with the last bit of business that he did in the last transfer window being to get Sterling on loan, I for one am not sorry to see the back of him.
That said, I give him the respect he deserves as a player for us.
Oh No, heavens to betsy the dynamic duo are no more.
Edu is doing the “reverse Bat walk”
Will Arteta go to Man City when Pep leaves?
Wait until next week for more news……
Same Bat time, Same Bat Channel
Do you know I’ve read some fans on here actually think that Arsenal’s performance against Newcastle last Saturday could have had something to do with the news that Edu was leaving, and that it had an effect on them.
What’s the excuse for there other below par performances.
What happens if Arsenal lose to Inter Milan tomorrow, could it be because the tea lady had a day off.
The excuses that some of these fans make for this club beggars belief. You can’t make this stuff up.
Edu did a good job, my only criticism of him would be that he was too much a partner and not enough of a boss regarding Arteta.
My meaning is the squad is set up to benefit Arteta currently, but not set up for the clubs best interest in a longer term.
Ask yourself, if another manager came in, is the squad set up best for the club or for Arteta presently?
No true striker, rather 2 makeshift facilitators no goal scorers.
5 midfielders, 4 DM’s (Rice, Partey, Merino, Jorghino) and 1 AM in Odegaard. No true B2B midfielder in the bunch.
Our defense lacks a true fullback, and is comprised of CB’s, and 3 playing as fullbacks (White, Timber, Calariori). Zinchenko is a midfielder not playing in midfield.
Again, that would be my criticism of Edu, a partner for Arteta rather than his boss and putting the club first with an eye on the longer term picture.
I’m sure some will disagree, this is just how I see things.
I see it that way too, but Mikel happens to be the one working directly with the recruited players, so I would expect the team to be built according to what the manager envisioned in terms of personnel,skillset and playing style, in which he (the manager) lives or die by.
Money unlikely the driver. The difference is peanuts to Arsenal. If they wanted to keep him, they would’ve paid up. Maybe he’s wanted a striker all along.
Yes, still a lot we don’t know. From my understanding,which is as limited as any body else’s on this site, although his wages will be tripled he’ll also not only be responsible for Forrest but two other clubs. That’s a lot of travelling and wheeler dealing. I doubt that Edu is up for it. As for whether or not he’ll be missed at Arsenal, normally I would have said definitely not, but if the speculation is true that Arteta will have more responsibility in recruiting players then I am seriously worried. I simply don’t value his judgement.
Will not be missed – Remember Pepe – William and Lokonga !!!!