Sources reveal why Edu is quitting Arsenal: SAMI MOKBEL on how the influential sporting director’s ‘itchy toes’ began months in the past – and what he is doing subsequent

If Mikel Arteta has driven Arsenal’s stirring revolution, then Edu Gaspar has provided the fuel.

The famous snap of Edu, with a pair of tongs in hand, standing over a barbecue grill with a sizeable cigar perched on his lips symbolic of the pair’s impact at the Emirates.

Arsenal are cooking under Arteta and Edu.

So, with that in mind, news of the Brazilian sporting director’s Emirates exit, exclusively revealed by Mail Sport on Monday morning, will arrive as a hammer blow.

It will raise uncertainty. Edu’s influence in reviving a club that was ailing, in truth, way before Arsene Wenger’s departure in 2018 is clear and well-documented.

A squad rich with expensive underachievers has been refreshed with hungry footballers who have propelled the club out of their malaise.

Mesut Özil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have left. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are now leading Arsenal into a new era.

Edu’s arrival in 2019, originally as technical director, stoked memories of Arsenal’s glorious past.

The former midfielder was part of Arsenal’s Invincibles squad after all, winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the Gunners.

But his accomplishments as an administrator at Arsenal are just as much worth their weight in gold as his achievements on the pitch.

So why now? Why leave when Arsenal are one of the most exciting projects in European football?

Sources close to the situation claim that, to a degree, there has been a dilution of Edu’s power behind the scenes.

It is said that Tim Lewis, owner Stan Kroenke’s family lawyer, has seen his influence grow since his appointment as a non-executive director to the Arsenal board in 2020.

The eyes and ears of the Kroenkes, Lewis’ clout shouldn’t be underestimated.

Richard Garlick, who originally joined the club as director of football operations in 2021, assumed more control when he was promoted to the role as chief executive officer earlier this year.

The departure of Vinai Venkatesham, who worked closely with Edu, from the role of CEO would have arrived as a blow to Edu.

Given his impact on revolutionising the club’s footballing operation, there was a sense that Edu may have been tailor-made as Venkatesham’s successor – though it was a position eventually taken by Garlick, whose reputation within English football is strong.

Edu has flourished into one of the most accomplished sporting directors in European football. If he pined greater influence, then that is understandable.

At the start of the summer there was, according to sources, an emerging sense Edu was getting itchy feet.

That, perhaps he had gone stale at Arsenal and that the role didn’t necessarily provide the South American with the level of challenge he wanted.

It is said that the allure of football’s emerging movement towards multi-club models, may also be a factor here.

Football is so often fuelled by ego. For the best of the best – why control just one club when you can hold authority over more?

Our information earlier this year was that Edu recognised the attraction of an influential position within a multi-club umbrella.

For instance, former Bournemouth CEO Neill Blake left his position earlier this year to take up a role with the club’s owners Black Knight, who also have stakes in Auckland FC and Hibernian.

It is intriguing then that Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is an admirer of Edu and is willing to give the Brazilian the keys to his multi-club operation which also includes Olympiakos and Rio Ave.

It is understood the Greek businessman is also trying to add another European side to his stable of clubs.

Forest’s interest in Edu originates from the summer and talks have taken place discreetly.

The prospect of the 46-year-old swapping the Emirates for the City Ground doesn’t necessarily appear an upward step for Edu, though Forest supporters would suggest otherwise following their excellent start to the season.

You’d imagine Marinakis would be willing to make the jump financially worthwhile for Edu, too.

Edu and Marinakis have a personal relationship, the pair were spotted dining at the same table of the Gerando Falcoes charity event in London earlier this year. 

But these positions are attractive – just ask Jurgen Klopp, who was appointed global head of soccer for the Red Bull group last month.

Arsenal have been faced with losing Edu before. In 2022, Edu emerged as a target for Paris Saint-Germain, who were in search of a sporting director at the time.

Edu was handed a promotion that November, news that saw his job title elevated from technical director to sporting director.

The news was significant at the time, Edu becoming the first owner of that job title at Arsenal.

He deserved his promotion. He deserved his power-base. But just two years later and here we are.

News of the administrator’s exit arrived as a shock to many at the club on Monday morning.

Hugely popular among staff and certainly the players, Edu’s departure will hit hard.

’The players always enjoy his company,’ commented an Arsenal source.

A popular and courteous player within the Premier League’s sporting director community, Edu’s most enviable trait is his warmth.

‘He always calls you “my friend” when you’re on the phone to him,’ said one top-flight sporting director.

‘That goes a long way. A truly nice guy.’

Yet, with that said, they’ll all be trying to jump into Edu’s old job now.