Edu exclusive interview: Arsenal transfer policy, working in harmony with Mikel Arteta and why only trophies will do

With Arsenal the present prime Premier League spenders this summer season, the membership’s technical director Edu speaks completely to Sky Sports activities Information about their switch enterprise, working in concord with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and why solely trophies will do.

Arsenal have spent £121.5m on 5 new gamers this summer season with the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos and Matt Turner.

Their enterprise seems to be translating nicely on the pitch too with Arteta’s aspect profitable all 4 pre-season video games to date, together with a 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea in Orlando on the weekend.

Sky Sports activities Information reporter Michael Bridge completely sat down with Edu, who performed for the membership between 2001 and 2005 and has been Arsenal technical director since July 2019, to debate the summer season to date and his hopes for the season forward…

How happy are you along with your newest signing Oleksandr Zinchenko?

“We’re so excited to have Zinchenko with us right here as a result of he is a participant that we actually focused. It is a participant that we actually imagine has the traits and the qualities which can be going to extend our degree within the squad for certain.

“[The Zinchenko transfer] was deliberate like six months in the past, to feed that place in the easiest way doable in the way in which which Mikel actually needs to play.

“Mikel after all is aware of him greater than anybody as a result of they labored collectively [at Manchester City] however all the data across the participant is prime. Not solely about his qualities as a footballer however as an individual as nicely, which for us is so vital to have a participant like him within the squad.”

Can we count on any extra new signings?

“I believe now we have to be ready for each state of affairs. We nonetheless really feel the switch window is open and an important factor is to be ready for every little thing, each situation, as a result of alternatives can occur.

“Golf equipment can method us, gamers in all probability wish to go on mortgage, so there’s nonetheless tons to do, however once more, being ready for me is an important [thing] and for certain we’re very a lot ready for nearly every little thing.”

Gabriel Jesus advised me you had been an enormous cause for him becoming a member of the membership – how does that make you’re feeling?

“No, it is not me, it is Arsenal. I am simply a part of the method of once you go in to signal a participant, I am there in entrance of the participant, in entrance of the household to elucidate who you’re. I believe we as a membership should be proud to have a participant like Gabriel Jesus right here.”

Requested whether or not they had tracked Jesus for a very long time: “For certain. This course of actually, I believe, takes like seven months by way of understanding one another and speaking to one another, as a result of additionally he has loads of different alternatives after which he chooses as a result of he understands who we’re.”

Have you ever introduced within the gamers you needed to, regardless of not qualifying for the Champions League?

“Sure, virtually 100 per cent of them. I perceive generally gamers wish to play Champions League soccer, however I believe we will provide one thing very particular for the gamers as nicely.

“It is not solely Champions League, however you might be a part of a gaggle of gamers which might obtain one thing very particular for this soccer membership. After which I all the time ask them in the event that they wish to be a part of the venture we have been constructing as we’re doing.

“I am certain we’ll do one thing very particular for this soccer membership after which after I clarify to the gamers, they actually perceive [it] and that is why they’re right here.”

Have you ever met gamers that aren’t proper for Arsenal?

“Sure, for certain. The rationale to fulfill the gamers, to fulfill the households and to speak to the brokers is after all they’ve to grasp us, however I even have to grasp them.

“In the event that they match the mannequin in all senses then okay, we supply on. However after I see one thing which I am probably not comfy with, I transfer on.”

How shut had been you to signing Raphinha?

“Individuals assume we went in too deep about Raphinha, as a result of Raphinha was in all places.

“It is truthful we did have some conversations with Deco as a result of Deco is his agent and I’ve a superb relationship [with him] – we’re associates.

“I simply mentioned to Deco, ‘Are you able to clarify to me the state of affairs with Raphinha?’ and he was clear, ‘Edu, now we have a superb relationship however I am not going to misinform you, his concept is to go to Barcelona as a result of he is dreaming to go to Barcelona, and we have been speaking to Barcelona since a very long time in the past’.

“Okay, thanks very a lot, if one thing occurs then simply let me know as a result of I can discover and perceive the state of affairs. If not, no downside and we supply on with our relationship.”

By way of shifting gamers out, it is not straightforward is it?

“No, nevertheless it’s part of our job to attempt to create some alternatives for the gamers. I believe an important factor is to make the participant perceive why he’s right here or why he must go, after which now we have to create some prospects with the participant’s brokers and attempt to discover the very best answer doable for the participant.

“As quickly as you give to them a transparent concept of what you wish to do, it helps the state of affairs. It is a problem as a result of it’s important to discover golf equipment, conditions and loans. However once more, in the event you might be direct to the participant in a really respectful approach, that helps a bit of bit to make the very best determination.”

How vital is it that you simply and Arteta agree on a signing?

“100 per cent. I am by no means ever going to signal a participant which Mikel shouldn’t be comfy with, by no means. That is not my fashion and for certain it is not the Arsenal fashion.

“If we determine to work collectively then the choice must be collectively. It is not Mikel’s signings, it is not Edu’s signings, it is the Arsenal signings in order that for me is an important factor for folks to grasp.

“I all the time say folks generally give the credit score to me or to Mikel, however the credit score has to go to Arsenal. We’re Arsenal, we’re working collectively and the choice we make is collectively.

“Round one determination shouldn’t be solely Edu and Mikel, it is lots of people round these selections. An important message to the followers and for folks to grasp is that we signal gamers for Arsenal and [they are] Arsenal’s selections.”

How impressed had been you when Arteta interviewed for the job?

“Wow. Once I spoke to him over the telephone to introduce myself and speak to him, funnily sufficient, we stayed on the telephone for one hour speaking about every little thing, not simply soccer however households, ideas, concepts and behaviours.

“Once I switched off my phone I believed that is possibly one thing actually particular and what we’re in all probability on the lookout for the membership.

“Then after we determined to go there and to fulfill Mikel to speak in regards to the concepts, he was virtually ready for every little thing. He was actually spectacular on his concepts, his fashion and the way in which he needed to play so it was superb – that is why he is right here.”

You had been with the homeowners on Wednesday, how supportive have they been with the spending?

“Not solely with the spending as a result of it is unfair to hyperlink the homeowners simply with the spending. They’re very a lot vital and it’s generally unfair if folks have some doubts about our homeowners.

“They’re actually engaged, they’re actually supportive and so they’re actually current within the membership which makes us really feel actually comfy.”

How forward-thinking are you?

“We have now a plan actually in place, so we’re in all probability in the midst of our venture.

“We have to maintain enhancing the standard within the squad. We have now to make vital selections to make our squad higher yearly, so now we have to enhance, enhance and enhance.

“Right here now we have to all the time take into consideration profitable. I believe the membership was born to win issues due to the scale of this membership and that now we have to all the time take into consideration profitable. Each single yr now we have to be higher, higher and higher.”

Waiting for the brand new season, would you like greater than prime 4?

“Yeah for certain. I respect and now we have to be reasonable for these conditions, however why not put right here that I wish to win once more. I wish to be there once more as quickly as doable. Why not?”

So what’s your goal this season?

“With all my respect, even being reasonable, I can not assume lower than profitable issues.”

What’s your promise to the Arsenal followers with the switch window nonetheless open?

“We’ll maintain working actually, actually arduous for them.”

Observe the summer season switch window with Sky Sports activities

Who shall be on the transfer this summer season earlier than the switch window closes at 11pm on September 1?

Sustain-to-date with all the most recent switch information and rumours in our devoted Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports activities’ digital platforms. You may also meet up with the ins, outs and evaluation on Sky Sports activities Information.

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