Edu has already completed five-year Arsenal mission as Mikel Arteta eyes title success

Edu has achieved quite a lot since being appointed Arsenal technical director in July 2019.

With Unai Emery in charge at the time, the Spaniard was relieved of his duties just months later and Edu helped convince Mikel Arteta to jump ship at Manchester City to lead the revolution in north London. The pair have worked very closely ever since, with the Gunners now Premier League title challengers, Champions League regulars and all in all a dominant force in world football.

It comes as a shock, then, that Edu has now left Arsenal. The former Gunners star resigned from his role on Monday, claiming it was an "incredibly hard decision to make".

It has been reported that the 46-year-old is being lined up for a role within Evangelos Marinakis' stable of clubs. They currently include Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave, with the group on the search for a fourth European club.

The Brazilian will be a big miss around Arsenal, with his fingerprints on most aspects of the club. Not only working with the likes of Arteta and managing director Richard Garlick to help build a successful men's first team, Edu also had a big say on the academy and women's team.

Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal's head of football in 2019, said at the time of Edu's appointment: "We're very excited that Edu is joining the team. He has great experience and technical football knowledge and most importantly is a true Arsenal man. He understands the club and what we stand for to our millions of fans around the world.

"His arrival is the final and very important part of the jigsaw in our development of a new football infrastructure to take us forward. He will be working closely with Unai Emery and the first-team coaches, and will play a relevant role leading our football vision and ensuring we have - and follow - a solid philosophy through all our football activities."

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Edu's words at the time are equally as interesting. "Arsenal has always had a special place in my heart and I’m thrilled to be returning to this great club in this new role," he said. "We have a strong squad and some very talented young players with fantastic people at every level. I’m looking forward to helping make a difference."

The Brazilian certainly has made a difference. In fact, his job as technical director was upgraded to sporting director in November 2022. "I'm delighted to have this new role which I see as an evolution and consolidation of the way we've been working. We are making good progress in all areas of our men’s, women's and academy and we are all excited about what can be achieved," Edu said at the time.

"I look forward to building on the hard work of so many people and helping all of us grow together and enjoy more success, and am thankful for the trust the club has put in me. We move forward together."

No one can dispute the strides Arsenal have made with Edu at the helm. Now, it looks like it will be up to somebody else to continue that progression, with Arteta and everybody else associated with the club eyeing Premier League and cup glory.