Arsenal promoted Edu to the club’s sporting director on Friday. Previously, the Brazilian held the position of technical director at Arsenal.
The difference between sporting and technical director is what Edu oversees. In his prior role, Edu played a key role in transfers involving the men’s and women’s teams. Now, Edu adds the academy to his collection of control at Arsenal.
Arsenal is surely pleased with the work Edu is doing with the first team. The squad’s bold transfers in the summer of 2021 seemed like a gamble. Last season, the additions of Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Ødegaard made Arsenal the youngest squad in the league. Not only did the squad pay heavily in terms of money, the team struggled early on.
However, Arsenal showed incredible promise in the latter stages of 2021/22. Despite a fifth-placed finish in the league, the groundwork existed.
That carried over into the present. Arsenal currently leads the Premier League table, including pivotal wins over Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. After 14 league games, Arsenal has 12 wins and one draw. The lone loss in the campaign came at Manchester United.
Much of that stems from Arsenal’s key signings. Gabriel Jesus may have tempered off slightly, but he is still pivotal to the Gunners. Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a revelation at full back, a position Arsenal battles injuries with.
Edu: Sporting Director at Arsenal
Interestingly, Edu is the first ever sporting director at Arsenal. Of course, he retains his roles from his technical director position. He simply adds the academy in for more oversight.
According to Mail Sport, other clubs expressed interest in getting Edu on their staffs. It speaks as a testament to Edu’s achievements in returning Arsenal to glory.
Edu, as a player, was part of the Arsenal Invincibles of 2003/04. While the unbeaten season is not possible this campaign, Arsenal positioned itself to compete against Manchester City for a title.
PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images
