Mikel Arteta reflects on strong working relationship with Edu
The landscape is seemingly moving in the right direction for Arsenal after the Gunners have won three on the bounce in the wake of their 3-1 derby win against Tottenham last weekend.
Now, with forward momentum achieved in a 2021-22 Premier League campaign that got off to a disastrous start with a three-match losing run, boss Mikel Arteta has opened the lid on his working relationship with Arsenal technical director and fellow former Gunners midfielder Edu Gaspar.
Mikel Arteta delivers honest assessment on Arsenal transfer chief Edu ahead of Brighton clash.https://t.co/W1QoFpSrh4
— football.london (@Football_LDN) October 1, 2021
There once was a period where the hierarchical duo were thought to be at odds as the direction of the club was under continuous scrutiny, and many felt that one – or both – would soon face the chopping block if Arsenal did not go through a reversal of fortunes. But Arteta has squashed any notion of tensions between the pair after speaking with SkySports (quotes via Football.London);
“When we had difficult moments he (Edu) has been the best because difficult moments is when you see the real face of people, who they are, what their values are and if you share those values or not.
We have worked together incredibly well.
Having to make so many decisions that I’m sure in football is not easy to not clash. We’ve done it in a great way and I’m so proud of the people that we have in our organisation.
When I talk about unity it is because unity brings synergy and that happens with Edu or the CEO or my players.”
Arsenal Hierarchy on the same page as summer spending proves synergy
The terrible start to the campaign had Arsenal fans questioning whether or not either or both of Arteta and Edu were fit for purpose in positions of power at the Emirates.
Additionally, questionable past deals for the likes of Willian, Cédric Soares, and Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson, were under the microscope, while the handling of situations surrounding both William Saliba and Matteo Guendouzi were convenient sticks to beat the duo with.
But after the current run of form has transpired in the manner that it has, Arteta and Edu are largely praised for a summer transfer record that is, in a word, stellar.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal celebrates after Martin Odegaard scores their team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor on September 18, 2021 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Deals for Sambi Lokonga, Aaron Ramsdale, Martin Ødegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, and Nuno Tavares for a combined ~£142million signals one of the best summer periods of any Premier League club in recent times regarding value for money on current evidence.
Though there is still plenty that can go wrong for Arsenal and hardly a guarantee that each summer will be as efficient, the jury is currently ruling in favor of the Arteta-Edu regime.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Liverpool FC | 6 | 11 | 14 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 6 | 11 | 13 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 6 | 10 | 13 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 6 | 8 | 13 |
| 5 | Everton FC | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 | 3 | 13 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| 9 | Brentford FC | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 10 | Arsenal FC | 6 | -5 | 9 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 | -5 | 9 |
| 12 | Watford FC | 6 | -2 | 7 |
| 13 | Leicester City | 6 | -3 | 7 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6 | -2 | 6 |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 6 | -3 | 6 |
| 16 | Southampton FC | 6 | -3 | 4 |
| 17 | Newcastle United | 6 | -7 | 3 |
| 18 | Leeds United | 6 | -8 | 3 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 6 | -6 | 2 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 6 | -14 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 5 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 5 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 4 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 2 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 3 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 3 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Gudmundsson, Johann | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rudiger, Antonio | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 2 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 2 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
