'Shock': What people 'very close' to Edu have been saying about his Arsenal departure – journalist
Today at 12:45 PM
It's been quite a dramatic season at Arsenal already, and we're not even towards the business-end of the campaign yet.
On the pitch, there's been blockbuster matches and incredible performances at times.
Bukayo Saka has been incredible this season, but sadly he’s been injured lately, while Arsenal have been embroiled in some refereeing controversies too.
Indeed, there's never a dull moment at the Emirates Stadium, and off the pitch, there has been a big bombshell too.
Edu left his role as Arsenal's Sporting Director a few weeks into the season.
Edu is set for a new role working with Nottingham Forest's Evangelos Marinakis starting next season.
Arsenal were shocked by Edu's departure, and speaking on Market Madness, James Benge has shared an interesting insight into Edu's inner circle.
What people around Edu have been saying
Benge shared what he's been hearing from sources close to Arsenal's outbound Sporting Director.
According to the journalist, people close to Edu and people high up at Arsenal believed that Edu would eventually leave Arsenal in a couple of years' time, not this season.
"Yeah, the Edu departure was a surprise. I spoke to people who were very close to him and very senior and they said that they thought he would go in two years last summer, not what turned out to be two months, so that was a shock," Benge said.
Mikel Arteta's growing power at Arsenal
Edu left Arsenal, seemingly, out of the blue.
However, according to Duncan Castles, Edu left Arsenal due to Mikel Arteta's growing influence at the club after signing his new contract.
"Arteta went into the season in his strongest position of power ever at the club, having been handed a new three-year contract in September," Castles said.
"That contract, I'm told, was one of the key reasons why Edu resigned his position as sporting director to take up a broader position with Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis, the multi-club group, because he wasn't happy with Arteta's increasing authority at the club."
Arteta's power is seemingly growing at Arsenal, and that does tie-in with a lot of what we're hearing about Arsenal's transfers at the moment.
Indeed, Mikel Arteta personally called Riccardo Calafiori ahead of signing him this summer, while Arteta has been leading the chase for Martin Zubimendi too.
Arteta has apparently been personally messaging Zubimendi about this move, and it's clear that the Spaniard is the one calling the shots these days.
Edu left Arsenal before he was expected to, and it will be interesting to see how the Gunners operate from here on in with Arteta in a more powerful position.
