Arsenal rocked by major Edu blow with Mikel Arteta reshuffle expected

Arsenal's sporting director Edu is reportedly set to depart from his role at the Premier League title contenders. The Brazilian has been instrumental in the Gunners' revival under manager Mikel Arteta since joining as technical director in July 2019, six months prior to Arteta taking the helm.

Together, they've transformed Arsenal into title challengers, finishing second to Manchester City twice. His efforts saw him promoted to sporting director in November 2022, a position he's held since.

Widely considered one of football's top sporting directors, Edu has secured key signings like Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, while also successfully offloading surplus players such as Pierre Emerick Aubamayang and Aaron Ramsdale. However, according to the Daily Mail, Edu has chosen to step down following discussions with other club executives.

It's understood that this decision is not due to any internal power struggle at the Emirates Stadium. More information is expected to surface within the next day, though it remains unclear when exactly Edu will leave.

Since Arteta's appointment in December 2019, Edu has been a crucial ally for the Spanish manager. Ahead of Arsenal's Champions League match against Inter Milan, Arteta is expected to address the media where he'll likely be questioned about Edu's departure, reports the Mirror.

Edu, a former midfielder who spent four years playing for Arsenal and won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, began his executive career as director at football with Corinthians before working as the general coordinator of the Brazil national team ahead of his move to Arsenal.

The Gunners have had a more challenging season than anticipated, with Saturday's loss to Newcastle leaving them fifth in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Liverpool. This comes after a summer transfer window where the Gunners splashed out over £100million.

Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, David Raya, Raheem Sterling and Neto all made their way to the Emirates Stadium. After Edu was promoted to sporting director, Arteta expressed his desire for the Brazilian to remain at the club for an extended period.

"I just hope he stays here for a long time because I think it's going to be a really positive thing for the club. I work with him really well, I think he's a super important figure at the club who represents all the values and ideas that we want, to do everything in the right way, and hopefully that will be the case," he said in 2022. "There is a lot happening in a football club and he has a huge role and he has a really good way of communicating with people and managing a lot of things that happen daily. For me and for the team he is really important."

"The roles have to be very clear; you have to share the same ideas but at the same time you have to be challenged by each other because sometimes coaches we have all the ideas and we want something right now that is not the best thing for the club."

"We have the right balance, not only with Edu but with Vinai (Venkatesham, CEO) and with Rich (Garlick, director of football operations) and with the ownership. It's really important. We make a decision, it's all together it's not your decision or my idea. It's important in good and difficult moments as well to be together."