Mikel Arteta hopes Arsenal succeed in tying down technical director Edu ‘for a long time’.
As revealed by Sportsmail this week, the wheels are in motion towards a new deal for the Brazilian amid growing interest from other clubs.
Edu, who was part of Arsenal’s Invincibles as a player before returning in 2019, has worked closely with Arteta to overhaul the north London club.
He is Arsenal’s first ever technical director and ahead of Thursday’s clash with PSV Eindhoven, Arteta outlined Edu’s importance at the club.
‘I just hope he stays here for a long time because I think it’s going to be a really positive thing for the club,’ he said.
‘I work with him really well, I think he’s a super important figure at the club who represents all the values and ideas that we want, to do everything in the right way, and hopefully that will be the case.
The manager added: ‘There is a lot happening in a football club and he has a huge role and he has a really good way of communicating with people and managing a lot of things that happen daily. For me and for the team he is really important.’
Edu, 44, led Arsenal’s successful summer transfer window, during which they signed key players including Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko while also offloading a number of unwanted stars.
Arsenal are now reaping the rewards as they sit top of the Premier League after 11 matches and, on Wednesday, Arteta explained how they work together.
‘It has to build that relationship. It has to be very well respected, the roles have to be very clear, you have to share the same ideas but at the same time you have to be challenged by each other because sometimes coaches we have all the ideas and we want something right now that is not the best thing for the club and we have the right balance, not only with Edu but with Vinai (Venkatesham, Arsenal CEO) and with Rich (Garlick, director of football operations) and with the ownership.
‘It’s really important. We make a decision, it’s all together it’s not your decision or my idea. It’s important in good and difficult moments as well to be together.’