Ranking Edu’s Best Signings at Arsenal as ‘Mastermind’ Sporting Director Announces Shock Departure

Just as the dust settled following a sluggish afternoon in Newcastle, Arsenal have been hit with an unforeseen blow that could have huge ramifications off the pitch. As one of the figureheads to their recent resurgence departs, we look back at Edu’s best signings and the legacy he leaves behind.

Edu Leaves Arsenal After Five Years Working Behind the Scenes

Few have been more pivotal to the cultural overhaul and squad rebuild at Arsenal than sporting director Edu, who is now set to depart.

A former Gunner himself with over 200 appearances, the Brazilian first joined as a technical director in 2019 before earning promotion.

His departure has sent shockwaves through an already disgruntled fanbase, who eagerly await the reasoning behind Edu’s exit – particularly so early on in a season that held so much promise.

Having earned a reputation as one of the leading sporting directors in world football, Edu leaves behind a lasting legacy despite a relatively short stint. Alongside Mikel Arteta, he has masterminded a cultural shift that elevated the club from the mire of mediocrity to genuine title challengers in recent seasons.

While he has been instrumental in taking cutthroat decisions – namely cutting captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – his neat negotiating tactics will undoubtedly underline his prevailing legacy, having facilitated some major coups.

With that in mind, it is worthwhile looking back at Edu’s best signings during a heavy investment period for the Gunners.

Thank you for the memories, Edu Gaspar.

You are a massive part of turning us from eighth to title challengers ❤️ pic.twitter.com/KgeNu80et7

— Av (@aviv_lavi) November 4, 2024

Edu’s Best Signings as Arsenal Director

5. Gabriel Martinelli – £6million From Ituano

Simply by virtue of price vs impact, Gabriel Martinelli is one of the greatest examples of Edu’s extensive scouting web in his native Brazil.

He was certainly not alone in unearthing Martinelli, who reportedly had four trials at Manchester United as a schoolboy, as well as a spell at Barcelona.

Edu’s promise of first team minutes has certainly come to fruition, and he himself will feel vindicated after spending £6m on a relative unknown from Brazil’s fourth division.

Although the 23-year-old’s struggles in front of goal last season have continued into the new campaign, he was the club’s top scorer in 2022/23 as they announced themselves as genuine title challengers.

Mikel Arteta still has clear plans for Martinelli in his team going forward – few wingers in world football can combine blistering pace with fleet-footed close control. Coupled with a proven knack for finding the net, Martinelli certainly earns his place as one of Edu’s best signings.

4. Declan Rice – £105million from West Ham

From perhaps Edu’s greatest bargain to his most expensive signing.

Few have questioned the £105m transfer fee Arsenal paid to West Ham for Declan Rice, who has more than proven his worth since arriving last summer.

Edu’s role in convincing Rice to join simply can not be underestimated, particularly with heavy interest from serial-winning Manchester City right up until he put pen to paper.

17 goal involvements and a place in the PFA Team of the Year is testament to his impact, as he elevated Arsenal’s attacking output and shored up the midfield in equal measure.

3. William Saliba – £27million from Saint-Etienne

It may be a surprise to see William Saliba only listed at number three, but our reasoning for number two will provide some context.

Until then, Edu gets all the plaudits for his role as a technical director in luring one of the most sought-after defenders in world football to the Emirates.

What makes this particular signing so interesting is the way the club managed his arrival, locking the then-teenage Saliba to a long-term contract before loaning him back first to Saint-Etienne, and then on to Nice and Marseille.

It wasn’t until 2022 that the club deemed him ready to slot into the side, by which team he had become perhaps the most feared defender in France after clinching the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year.

With a current market value of €80m and a rapidly growing reputation as one of the world’s preeminent central defenders, Saliba could well have an argument for being Edu’s best signing.

2. Gabriel – £27million from Lille

That leads us nicely on to what we believe to be Edu’s second-best signing.

Several elite clubs, including Real Madrid, were reportedly willing to match Lille’s valuation for Brazilian defender Gabriel in 2020.

He arrived not long after Mikel Arteta, who was quick to praise his adaption to a new league, a new language and a new style of play at a very young age.

Although his formative years at Arsenal were underlined by shaky performances and a team that continued to underperform, the now-26-year-old has blossomed into a near-faultless performer.

He combines the best of both worlds; an old-school bruiser with an inherent ability to pick out a pass.

Alongside Saliba, very little managed to get past the Premier League’s most effective centre-back partnership last season. When one or both are absent from the Arsenal defence, the impact is notable.

1. Martin Odegaard – £32million from Real Madrid

From forgotten golden boy to captaining Arsenal, Martin Odegaard is deserving of his place as Edu’s best signing.

After an initial mid-season loan in 2020/21, the Norwegian departed the club having displayed fleeting moments of brilliance but without leaving a lasting impression.

That didn’t stop the club from bringing him in on a permanent £32m deal in the summer; it was clear Arteta had seen the potential, and not many could have foreseen the impact he was about to have.

He is Arteta’s eyes and ears on the pitch, marshalling his teammates and orchestrating the tempo with masterful complexity. He can often be seen bounding over the Spaniard in the technical area to exchange ideas.

Following the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, Odegaard was handed the captaincy ahead of the 2022/23 season. Nothing signals the huge cultural shift at the club more than this moment.

Odegaard personifies the selfless values and togetherness that Arteta and Edu have tried to cultivate over the last five years. For Edu to take a chance on a player who had scarcely impressed during his initial loan is another example of his foresight as sporting chief.