Edu has already made it very clear what he thinks of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

Arsenal fans were shocked to learn sporting director Edu will reportedly leave the club, and the Brazilian has already delivered his verdict on under-fire coach Mikel Arteta

While the scrutiny around Mikel Arteta and Arsenal continues to grow, one who won't lose faith in the manager is Edu.

That's despite the fact the club's sporting director is reportedly on the verge of leaving the Emirates Stadium. Edu - who rejoined his former club in the summer of 2019 - is said to be heading for the exit once more, though the exact reasons remain unknown.

The Gunners slipped to fifth in the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday marked their third straight top-flight game without a win. And it was during another poor patch of form that Edu previously proved his loyalty to the coach after Arsenal started the 2021/22 season with three consecutive defeats.

"It's a very uncomfortable situation to be in," he said in September 2021. "I understand the reaction of the fans and the media, I respect that. We are where we never [want] to be. But we have to work to leave this situation."

Manager lifespans are shorter than ever in the modern landscape, and the Premier League is often the most cutthroat among Europe's major divisions. However, Edu was unequivocal concerning his loyalty to Arteta.

“So these kind of moments are important as well because you see who is who," he continued. "Who wants to fight. Who wants to step forward and say now we want to change it. "We have the team to change it, we have the fans to change it, we have the right coach to change it, we have the right players to change it."

The situation now is considerably better than it was for Arsenal when Edu made those comments. The north Londoners sat dead last in the Premier League back then but are just seven points off leaders Liverpool as things stand.

It's thanks to the work of Arteta - who arrived six months or so after Edu - and his director that Arsenal have been in the title picture these past couple of campaigns. However, two defeats in as many away fixtures in the league have dampened their prospects somewhat.

The same can't be said for Edu's faith in the manager, having weathered difficult times in the past only to emerge on the other side. The Brazilian - who made 127 appearances for Arsenal between 2003 and 2010 - is expected to clarify his future in the coming days, while Arteta hopes to lift his side when they visit Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Watch the Premier League

Watch all the action of the 2023/2024 Premier League season
Get Sky Sports for £22 a month

The new football season is upon us and with 500 live games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL and the NBA across eight dedicated channels, Sky Sports is the only way to watch all the action.

Sky
Get it here