Report: What Arsenal did in last-ditch attempt to stop Edu from leaving

Arsenal are now on the lookout for a new Director of Football after Edu Gaspar surprisingly left the Emirates Stadium on Monday.

The Brazilian shockingly resigned from his role after Evangelos Marinakis – owner of Nottingham Forest – offered him a position to lead his portfolio of clubs, which also include Rio Ave and Olympiacos.

It comes with Nottingham Forest actually sitting above Arsenal in the Premier League table.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	10	8	1	1	19	6	13	25
2	Man CityManchester City	10	7	2	1	21	11	10	23
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	10	5	4	1	14	7	7	19
4	ChelseaChelsea	10	5	3	2	20	12	8	18
5	ArsenalArsenal	10	5	3	2	17	11	6	18

Arsenal are said to have been taken aback by Edu Gaspar departing the Emirates Stadium – and the Daily Mail have now revealed what the Gunners did in a late attempt to keep the South American.

What Arsenal offered Edu Gaspar to try and fend off Evangelos Marinakis

It is said that Arsenal made an offer to match what the Greek businessman has put on the table for Edu in terms of wages.

However, while the 46-year-old is in line to receive a pay rise under Marinakis, the Daily Mail believe he was more attracted by the opportunity to take up a global position overseeing a number of clubs, rather than simply leaving Arsenal for the money.

Edu is said to have wanted a role like this for some time, which prompted his decision to depart north London.

The Daily Mail do not state how much the man from Sao Paulo will earn in his new position, but claim that rumours of a £3m annual salary are wide of the mark.

In the meantime, Arsenal are still said to be keen on signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham despite Edu’s departure.

Mikel Arteta needs a new Director of Football as soon as possible

In the modern era of football, a Director of Football is a vital position – one who oversees many crucial aspects of the club, such as player recruitment and focusing on the academy.

Therefore, Arteta needs a replacement for Edu quickly, especially in terms of recruitment with Arsenal sitting fifth in the Premier League.

Like we saw in the 2023 January transfer window when Arsenal needed added firepower to keep their title charge going, the likes of Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior arrived thanks to Edu’s hard work.

If Arsenal remain behind Liverpool and Manchester City heading into January, you would imagine that Arteta will want a signing or two – although that will be very tough to pull off without a Director of Football in place.