The ex-midfielder has decided to step down from his position, bringing an end to a five-year stay in the Gunners hierarchy.
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There once was a time where Arsenal looked like they were stuck on the road to nowhere. They were continually the butt of the joke, particularly when it came to transfers and squad building.
In the summer of 2021, Gary Neville famously and infamously claimed: "I don't know the plan at Arsenal. The recruitment has been really poor. I don't get the strategy, I don't get the direction of how they’re taking the team."
It's to the credit of manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu, who initially returned to north London as technical director in 2019, that this sentiment belongs consigned to the distant past and a completely different era of the club. Alas, Arsenal's transfer duo are splitting up.
It was reported on Monday that Edu is leaving his post at the Emirates Stadium, marking an end to an important chapter in the Gunners' recent history. The current squad, one built for Premier League and Champions League contention, is shaped largely in the Brazilian's image. He was part of the Invincibles as a player, but if this Arsenal core does go on to win a major title, Edu will also become immortal.
GOAL has dug back through the archives and ranked the 10 best signings made under Edu:
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images Sport10Gabriel Jesus
It would really help this argument if you ignore the nine-month goal drought that Gabriel Jesus recently ended, mainly because when he arrived at Arsenal he looked like the second coming of Ronaldo and was the best player to watch in the entire league.
It would also really help if you remembered how much of a coup it was for Arsenal to pinch a £45 million forward from Manchester City, who were almost completely unaware they were strengthening a title rival to come. Jesus' signing raised the ceiling of the calibre of player the Gunners could buy.
During his debut season, the Brazilian – previously maligned for his indecision over wanting to be a striker or a winger – proved the perfect No.9 for what Arteta was trying to build. He could do it all, and only injuries stood in his way from fulfilling the potential he first showed at Palmeiras and his early City tenure. Nowadays, Jesus is an afterthought in Arsenal thinking, though that shouldn't diminish the importance of his signing.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport9David Raya
The only real reason why David Raya isn't higher on this list is the strange trajectory of goalkeeper's careers. After all, Aaron Ramsdale looked a terrific signing one-and-a-half seasons into his Arsenal spell before his ascendancy jolted and reversed.
After a ropey start between the Emirates sticks, Raya has cemented himself as one of Europe's finest shot-stoppers, proving the perfect foil behind his towering defence – he is the best cross-claimer and commander of his box among his positional rivals.
Edu deserves a little bit of extra credit too given how Arsenal were able to schmooze Brentford into an initial £3m loan deal which then turned into a £27m permanent transfer, allowing the Gunners greater PSR flexibility.
Getty Images Sport8Oleksandr Zinchenko
Alright, he might not be a favourite among Arsenal fans anymore given his defensive lapses, but there's no doubt that Oleksandr Zinchenko deserves a heap of credit for helping Arsenal make the leap from top-four hopefuls to genuine title contenders.
Signed around the same time as City team-mate Jesus, the Ukrainian brought a tactical savviness and mental resilience that Arteta knew of from his own Etihad Stadium experiences. It was telling how upset City fans were following confirmation of Zinchenko's despite his limited minutes.
Zinchenko wasn't the world's first inverted full-back, though he was one of the position's perfect players. Edu didn't purchase a City castaway, rather an underrated and undervalued player in their setup.
Getty Images Sport7Leandro Trossard
Leandro Trossard was not one of Arsenal's top targets heading into the January 2023 window. It seemed for all the world that Mykhailo Mudryk would be the winger signed by Edu and Arteta, but they were pipped to the post by Chelsea, who just couldn't help themselves in overpaying for another raw young player.
Fortunately for Arsenal, an even better option fell into their laps. Trossard had grown disillusioned at Brighton despite their advances under Roberto De Zerbi, and Tottenham decided against an approach for the Belgian, allowing their north London rivals a clear run.
For £21m, Arsenal purchased a two-footed threat who excelled in big games and has already contributed 20 goals in just over 18 months, despite not always being a regular starter. It's a deal they would do a hundred times over.
