November 4th 2024.
Mikel Arteta and Edu, the current manager and sporting director of Arsenal, have been successful in turning the team into title contenders once again. However, their partnership may soon come to an end as Edu is rumored to be leaving the club. He has been responsible for some of Arsenal's best signings in the past five years. Edu, a former Arsenal player, rejoined the club in 2019 as the technical director and was later appointed as the first-ever sporting director in November 2022. However, he is now expected to join a group of clubs owned by Evangelos Marinakis, including Nottingham Forest.
This news comes as a devastating blow for Arsenal and Arteta, as Edu has played a crucial role in building the team that came close to winning the Premier League title in recent seasons. He has also been responsible for signing some of the best players in the world. However, it must be noted that Edu's tenure has also seen some high-profile flops, which have set back the Arsenal project. Let's take a look at the best and worst signings made by Edu during his time at the club.
During his five years at Arsenal, Edu has overseen a spending of approximately £794 million on 36 new signings. This includes breaking the club's transfer record twice, with the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham for £100 million in the summer of 2023. On the other hand, Arsenal has also sold players worth £281 million, with the most expensive being Emile Smith Rowe's move to Fulham for a potential fee of £34 million.
Among Edu's best signings, Gabriel Martinelli stands out, even though he joined the club a week before Edu's arrival. The young Brazilian forward has had a few recent struggles, but he has already made 189 appearances for Arsenal and has contributed to 70 goals. At just £6 million, he has been a steal for the club. Another successful signing by Edu is William Saliba, who joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne for £27 million in Edu's first summer. Even though he didn't make his debut until three years later, Saliba is now considered one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and a vital player for Arteta.
Martin Odegaard's initial six-month loan spell from Real Madrid was decent, but it was his permanent signing for £30 million that has proven to be a crucial move. He is now the captain of the team and has been the glue that holds the Gunners together. However, his recent injury has coincided with a drop in form for the club. Other notable mentions for Edu's successful signings include Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and David Raya.
On the other hand, Edu has also made some questionable signings during his time at Arsenal. One of the biggest disappointments was the record-breaking signing of Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72 million in 2019. The Ivory Coast winger failed to live up to expectations and was eventually released by the club after scoring only 16 league goals in three seasons. It is worth mentioning that Edu had his doubts about Pepe, but he was overruled by the then-Head of Football, Raul Sanllehi.
Another failed signing by Edu was Willian, who joined Arsenal on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2020. Despite being an experienced winger, Willian only managed to score one goal in 37 games and his contract was terminated after just one year. He later described his time at Arsenal as the worst of his career. Albert Sambi Lokonga, a promising midfielder signed from Anderlecht for £17 million in 2021, has also failed to make an impact at the club. He is currently on his third loan spell away from Arsenal, and his future at the club seems uncertain. Other unsuccessful signings made by Edu include David Luiz, Pablo Mari, Runar Alex Runarsson, and Nuno Tavares.
In conclusion, Edu's tenure at Arsenal has seen a mix of successful and unsuccessful signings, but there is no denying that he has played a significant role in the club's recent resurgence. It remains to be seen how Arsenal will cope with his departure and who will take over the responsibility of signing players in the future.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
