Edu's 'stupidity' at Arsenal already exposed regarding two transfer deals

Departing sporting director was previously dubbed ‘stupid’ for two lacklustre signings by and Roy Keane.

Initially joining as technical director in 2019 – 14 years on from a four-year stint as a player at Highbury - the Brazilian has been from top-four hopefuls to league title contenders under manager .

Edu was promoted to , sporting director, in 2022, and has been credited with securing for the likes of Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and – as well as those for lesser-known stars that have since blossomed, .

However, Edu’s recruitment hasn’t always been sleek in north London. During his first few years at the club, he came under heavy fire from Carragher and his Sky Sports colleague, , for signing ex-Chelsea stars – branded ‘rejects’ by the pair – David Luiz and Willian.

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“In the years since left, or since won the title, for an outsider it’s been difficult to get behind anything with Arsenal in terms of, okay they’re not winning, but you can sort of see where this is going,” Carragher exclaimed in 2021 on fan debate.

“When you’re talking about Edu as sporting director, you’re bringing David Luiz in and you’re bringing Willian in – two rejects from . I’m just scratching my head, thinking, 'I can’t get behind this; it’s wrong, it doesn’t work'.

“Of course, you’re allowed to make mistakes but make the right mistakes. Why are you buying rejects from Chelsea, who are over 30? And then giving them big deals and you can’t get rid of them? That’s a mistake before it’s happened. That’s just stupid.

“I wouldn’t have bought Willian! And I wouldn’t have bought Luiz! They are Chelsea rejects, aren’t they? They got the best out of them and then went, ‘Arsenal will have them’.”

Luiz put pen to paper on a £120,000-a-week deal to join Arsenal in 2019 at the age of 32, having cost them a fee of £8million, while Willian arrived the following summer – also 32 – and while he was a free transfer after his Chelsea deal expired, he earned an eye-watering £220,000-a-week at the Emirates, offering very little in return in terms of his form.

The pair both endured dismal times with the club, with the winger leaving after just a year – before then going to on to shine once more at – and Luiz following him out the exit door in 2021 after consistently under-performing at the back.

Carragher’s fellow pundit Keane continued: “I think he [Edu] has been on holiday for about two years! It goes down to your recruitment – can you get the right players?

“But the biggest problem for Arsenal, like many clubs, is shifting players out. There’s a player at Arsenal on huge money, and they can’t get rid of them. So then they’re stuck in terms of trying to bring players in. Recruitment is key.”

Edu’s tenure took an upward turn when he began to heed the warning sent to him by Keane, and offload ageing, highly-paid stars, such as Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, and improve his recruitment. Yet, he will now call time on said tenure following talks with members of the club’s hierarchy.

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