Who will replace sporting director Edu at Arsenal?

In recent years, Mikel Arteta has provided Arsenal with remarkable stability following a difficult start as manager. However, the departure of key club official Edu has dealt a serious blow to the Spaniard and other backroom staff.

The sporting director was instrumental in the Gunners’ comeback to the top of the Premier League standings. Rumours of his departure circulated on Monday before the north London powerhouses officially announced the Brazilian’s resignation, which the former midfielder called “an incredibly hard decision to make.”

The 46-year-old left the Brazilian Football Confederation to become the Gunners' first technical director in July 2019. He was initially brought in to work closely with the first team, overseeing recruitment to ensure 'efficient strengthening' of Mikel Arteta's squad. Edu, who previously spent five seasons at the Emirates Stadium as a player, one of which being the unbeaten campaign, was later given a promotion.

Edu seems to be relocating in some way to a group of clubs that Evangelos Marinakis owns. Which options are available, then for the Gunners?

Who will replace Edu at Arsenal?

A possible appointment is constantly hampered by Paul Mitchell’s ties to Tottenham Hotspur. After collaborating effectively with Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton and Spurs, the 43-year-old had stints at RB Leipzig and AS Monaco. 

It might be too difficult to persuade him to leave St. James' Park so soon, given that he was named Newcastle's sporting director earlier this year. However, he has a knack for spotting talent that Arsenal could use; he has identified players like Son Heung-min, Sadio Mane, and Christopher Nkunku. 

Julian Ward resigned from his role as sporting director just a year after succeeding Michael Edwards, but he has since returned to Liverpool as FSG's technical director. But the bright lights of another Premier League powerhouse might be enticing if Ward wanted to try his luck at his former job somewhere else.

Monchi, who rose to prominence in Spain with Sevilla, has played a key role in Aston Villa's transformation under Unai Emery. The 56-year-old, who is currently Villa’s club’s head of football operations, helped Sevilla discover a vast talent pool, and under his leadership, players like Jose Antonio Reyes, Jesus Navas, and Sergio Ramos all rose through the ranks.

For Manchester City, losing key players is nothing new. In fact, Arteta was Pep Guardiola's assistant manager before he joined Arsenal.

At the end of the current season, Txiki Begiristain plans to step down as director of football, and Omar Berrada has joined Manchester United.

It doesn't seem likely that Begiristain would endanger the long-standing relationship he has with Guardiola by joining Arsenal. In the Premier League, however, weirder things have occurred.

Cover Credits - Sky Sports