What Edu departure means for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta impact explained

The departure of Edu Gaspar leaves Arsenal with some huge shoes to fill.

Since his arrival as technical director in 2019, the Brazilian’s influence has grown and grown. This was formalised in him being named as Arsenal’s first ever sporting director in 2022.

Edu is most prominently known for the work he does in recruiting for the men’s first team, but his fingerprints are over every aspect of the football club.

He plays a big role in the women’s team and has been involved in the search for a successor to Jonas Eidevall. He works daily with Per Mertesacker in the academy and has had a huge role in allocating a budget for them to build for the future. The Brazilian has even had a say on Arsenal’s strategy at under-8 level!

Staff at the club have also praised Edu for his clear communication style. He is also understood to have been a massive influence on morale, particularly during difficult periods. His absence will be felt keenly.

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The person who will miss him most though, is Mikel Arteta. Arteta has joked that he speaks to Edu more than his wife, and the pair are understood to have enjoyed a positive working relationship. They will speak each day, not just about transfers and squad planning, but about personal and family matters too.

“I work with him really well and I think he’s a super important figure at the club that represents all of the values and ideas that we want to take the right way,” Arteta said of the Brazilian just over two years ago.

“There is a lot happening at a football club and he has a huge role, but he has a really good way of communicating with people and managing a lot of things that happen daily, so for me and for the team he’s really important.”

Edu has been essential in signing players who have gone on to form the foundation of Arsenal’s current title-challenging side. The Brazilian pushed hard to sign Martin Odegaard when other figures within the club were keen on different targets for the creative midfield position. He also played a key role in securing Declan Rice last summer despite competition from Manchester City. His contacts book and relationships with other directors of football and agents have been key to Arsenal’s recent recruitment successes.

As well as acquisition, Edu has been essential to retention. Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Ben White are just a few who have extended their contracts with Arsenal during the Brazilian’s time at the club.

Of course he has not got everything right. Some expensive signings like Fabio Vieira have failed to deliver, while many have struggled to ever get over the agent-led approach that saw the signings of players like Cedric and Pablo Mari during his early period at the club. On the whole though, you would have to say his success outweigh his failures.

Arteta and Edu have not always seen eye-to-eye on everything. Arteta is generally described by sources as someone who is keen to win in the here and now, while Edu is more of a long-term thinker. But in the Brazilian’s departure there is little doubt that Arteta is losing a crucial and influential ally.

There has been some surprise from those inside the club about the abruptness of the news. The Brazilian had been away in the days prior to the story breaking, but this is understood to have been due to a family matter.

Just two months ago, Edu had indicated he was in for the long-term at Arsenal after extending Arteta's contract. "We are really happy that Mikel has signed a new long-term contract," he said. "It’s a very positive and proud moment for everyone at the club and an important part of what we’re all working towards.

“Mikel has shown his qualities since the very first day he joined us, not only as a football manager, but as a person with wonderful values. We have a strong belief in what we are doing and what we want to achieve together. Mikel’s new contract gives us stability and clear direction as we aim for new heights.”

There are structures in place to operate without him, however. Richard Garlick has had an ever-increasing role in decision making at Arsenal and has strong relationships with other clubs, particularly in English football. Tim Lewis has also enjoyed more influence since becoming executive vice-chair in 2023.

The pair along with Arteta will make a decision on Edu’s successor. The chance to take one of the most exciting projects in world football over the line into becoming a trophy-winning powerhouse will surely appeal to a lengthy list of candidates. Whoever ends up taking the job though, taking over from Edu will be no mean feat.