Mikel Arteta confident shock Edu exit will not derail Arsenal's ambition | OneFootball

Sporting director stepped down amid huge surprise earlier this week

The departure of Edu, who has worked at Arsenal since 2019, is a blow given he played a key role in assembling the current squad.

Arsenal have been transformed into title contenders under the Brazilian, but Arteta believes that progress will not stop now Edu is leaving.

“The plan and vision that starts with the ownership is very clear and very ambitious, we are going to continue,” said Arteta.

“We have a very strong leadership team, with unbelievable knowhow, real passion and great feeling for the football club.

“We are not going to stop where we are at the moment. Across the club [there is] excitement, passion, and understanding of where we want to take this journey remains in tact.

“That means opportunities for somebody else to come in, to fill that role. There are people that Edu has brought as well, alongside him on this journey which is always very important.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with Sporting Director Edu Gaspar

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“And we move on. We say: ‘Thank you’ and we have to move on because that is the reality of our industry.”

Edu formed part of a wider executive team at Arsenal, which includes executive vice-chair Tim Lewis and managing director Richard Garlick, and that is why Arteta is optimistic they will continue to succeed.

The Spaniard enjoyed an especially close relationship with Edu, though, who backed him throughout his reign as Arsenal manager.

“Everything happened very quickly,” said Arteta. “Obviously I loved working with him, I really enjoyed being alongside him on this incredible journey.

“From day one we’ve been together. First of all I’m very grateful personally for everything he’s done for me, and for the amazing work he’s done for the football club.

“I think we both had this special chemistry, working together, we really both enjoyed our roles and working together.

“I’m very blessed he’s been part of my life in such a beautiful place that I am right now, managing this amazing club and he’s been a massive part of that.

“He’s got an amazing opportunity now to do something else, in a different role and he believes it’s the right professional move for him. We have to respect that, and from the bottom of my heart, everybody really feels that we want the best for him.”

Arsenal are in action on Wednesday night when they take on Inter Milan in the Champions League.

The Gunners are looking to bounce back from defeat to Newcastle last Saturday and Arteta has urged fans to stay behind by the team.

“In moments when you have a defeat or two or certain news that nobody expects, like we’ve always done we stick together with positive energy and move forward,” he said.

“This is part of football and we have to be very strong and that’s what we’ve done. We’ve come a long way with that, so stick together.”