Edu exclusive interview: Arsenal transfer policy, working with Mikel Arteta and why just trophies will do – Sky Sports | Region & Cash

With Arsenal, the current top donors to the Premier League this summer, the club’s technical director Edu speaks to him exclusively Sky sports news on her transfer business, working with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and why only trophies will do.

Arsenal have spent £121.5m on five new players this summer in Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos and Matt Turner.

Their business appears to be doing well on the pitch too, as Arteta’s side have won all four of their preseason games so far, including a 4-0 win over Chelsea in Orlando at the weekend.

Sky sports news Reporter Michael Bridge has exclusively caught up with Edu, who played for the club between 2001 and 2005 and has been Arsenal’s technical director since July 2019, to discuss the summer so far and his hopes for the season ahead…

How satisfied are you with your new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko?

“We are very happy to have Zinchenko here with us because he is a player that we have really targeted. It’s a player that we really believe has the traits and qualities that will surely raise our level in the squad.

“[The Zinchenko transfer] was planned six months ago in order to fill this position as best as possible in the way Mikel really wants to play.

“Mikel obviously knows him better than anyone because they worked together [at Manchester City] but all information about the player is great. Not only about his qualities as a footballer, but also as a person, which is so important for us to have a player like him in the squad.

Can we expect more signings?

“I think we have to be prepared for any situation. We still feel that the transfer window is open and the most important thing is to be prepared for anything, any scenario, because opportunities can happen.”

“Clubs can come our way, players probably want to go on loan so there’s still work to be done but again the most important thing for me is to be prepared [thing] and we are certainly well prepared for almost anything.”

Gabriel Jesus told me you were a big reason he joined the club – how does that make you feel?

“No, it’s not me, it’s Arsenal. I’m just part of the process when you sign a player, I’m in front of the player, in front of the family, to explain who you are. I think we as a club We have to be proud to have a player like Gabriel Jesus here.”

When asked if they had been following Jesus for a long time: “Secure. I think this process really takes seven months to understand and talk to each other because he also has many other options and then he chooses because he understands who we are.”

Did you bring in the players you wanted despite not qualifying for the Champions League?

“Yes, almost 100 per cent of them. I understand sometimes players want to play Champions League football, but I think we can also offer players something very special.”

“It’s not just the Champions League, you can be part of a group of players who can achieve something very special for this football club. And then I always ask them if they want to be part of the project that we’ve built like we.” do.

“I am sure that we will do something very special for this football club and then when I explain it to the players, they really understand [it] and that’s why they’re here.”

Have you met players who don’t fit Arsenal?

“Yes, sure. The reason for meeting the players, meeting the families and talking to the agents is of course that they have to understand us, but I also have to understand them.

“If they fit the model in every way, then okay, let’s move on. But if I see something I’m not really happy with, I move on.”

How close were you to signing Raphinha?

“People think we’ve delved too deeply into Raphinha because Raphinha has been everywhere.

“It’s fair that we’ve had some conversations with Deco because Deco is his agent and I’m in a good relationship [with him] – we are friends.

“I just said to Deco, ‘Can you explain the situation with Raphinha to me?’ and he was clear: ‘Edu we have a good relationship but I’m not going to lie to you, his idea is to go to Barcelona because he dreams of going to Barcelona and we talked to Barcelona a long time ago Time’.

“Okay thank you so much if anything happens just let me know because I can investigate and understand the situation. If not, no problem and we’ll move on with our relationship.”

In terms of moving players, it’s not easy, is it?

“No, but it’s part of our job to create some opportunities for the players. I think the most important thing is to make the player understand why he’s here or why he has to go, and then we have to create some.” Discuss options with the player’s agents and try to find the best possible solution for the player.

“Once you give them a clear idea of ​​what you want to do, that helps the situation. It’s a challenge because you have to find clubs, situations and loans. But again if you can be straight to the player in a very respectful Art, that helps a little bit to make the best decision.”

How important is it that you and Arteta agree on a commitment?

“One hundred percent. I will never sign a player Mikel isn’t comfortable with, ever. It’s not my style and certainly not Arsenal’s style.”

“If we decide to work together, the decision must be made together. It’s not Mikel’s signings, it’s not Edu’s signings, it’s the Arsenal signings, so for me the most important thing is that people understand.

“I always say that sometimes people give the credit to me or to Mikel, but the credit must go to Arsenal. We are Arsenal, we work together and the decision we make is together.”

“A decision isn’t just about Edu and Mikel, there are a lot of people around those decisions. The most important message for the fans and for people to understand is that we are signing players for Arsenal and [they are] Arsenal’s decisions.”

How impressed were you when Arteta applied for the job?

“Wow. When I got on the phone to introduce myself and talk to him, strangely enough, we stayed on the phone for an hour and talked about everything, not just football, but families, concepts, ideas and ways of behaving.

“When I turned off my phone I thought maybe this is something very special and what we are probably looking for for the club.

“Then when we decided to go there and meet Mikel to talk about the ideas, he was pretty much prepared for anything. He was really impressive with his ideas, his style and the way he wanted to play, so it was amazing – that’s why he’s here.”

They were with the owners on Wednesday, how are they helping you with expenses?

“Not only with the expenses, because it is unfair to associate the owners only with the expenses. They are very important and it is sometimes unfair when people have doubts about our owners.

“They’re really committed, they’re really supportive and they’re really present at the club, which makes us feel very comfortable.”

How farsighted do you think you are?

“We really have a plan, so we’re probably in the middle of our project.

“We have to keep improving the quality of the squad. We have to make important decisions every year to make our squad better, so we have to improve, improve and improve.

“We always have to think about winning here. I think the club was born to win things because of the size of this club and we always have to think about winning. Every year we have to get better, better and better.”

Looking ahead to the new season, do you want more than the top 4?

“Yes, of couse. I respect and we have to be realistic for these situations but why not write here that I want to win again. I want to be back there as soon as possible. Why not?”

So what’s your goal this season?

“With all due respect, while being realistic, I can’t think of anything less than winning things.”

With the transfer window still open, what do you promise Arsenal fans?

“We will continue to work very, very hard for them.”

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