‘I preferred to wait to publish this’ – Edu releases lengthy statement as Arsenal gardening leave finally expires
EDU GASPAR has released an emotional tribute to Arsenal fans after his final day with the club.
Having joined as technical director in 2019, Edu became the sporting director in 2022, working closely with Mikel Arteta to overhaul the culture at the Emirates.
He is widely credited with doing an excellent job and playing a crucial role in Arsenal‘s rebuild into a title-chasing side.
Edu, who was last month replaced by Andrea Berta, was on gardening leave until this week, and he has paid farewell to the Gunners.
He posted on Instagram: “Thank you, Arsenal. Thank you, Gunners!
“With a heart full of gratitude, today formally I close one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional life.
“After five and a half years, my journey officially as Sporting Director of Arsenal FC has come to the end.
“I joined the club in July 2019 as Technical Director, with the challenge of bringing Arsenal with the mission of bringing Arsenal back where it belongs among football’s elite, driving a cultural shift, keep competing for trophies, and making Champions League qualification the minimum expectation for a club of Arsenal’s size.
“Later, I had the honour of becoming the first-ever Sporting Director in the club’s history, a milestone I will always carry with great pride.
“And throughout this process of rebuilding, you the fans were an essential part of everything!
Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus
in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates
“To the supporters, my most sincere thank you! The support, the energy, and the connection we felt again in every match were simply special.
“The Emirates became an amplified version of the old Highbury atmosphere! To have experienced this alongside you is something I will never forget.”
The later added: “It was never easy, but our intense work, united by a true team spirit, made me feel fulfilled throughout all these years!
“If I’m only now sharing this message, it’s because I’ve been on garden leave in recent months and, out of respect for the club and everyone involved, I preferred to wait until the final official day of my contract to publish this.
“I wish Arsenal FC all the best and every success, and I also send my warmest wishes to the new Sporting Director Andrea, who now takes on this beautiful role.
“I leave with a peaceful heart and immense pride in what we’ve built together!”
Edu's 35 signings ranked
EDU oversaw the arrival of 35 players during his time at the club.
Some worked out better than others.
Here, SunSport ranks them from worst to best…
35. Nicolas Pepe (£72m)
34. Willian (Free)
33. David Luiz (£8m)
32. Runar Alex Runarsson (£2m)
31. Mat Ryan (Loan)
30. Fabio Vieira (£34m)
29. Neto (Loan)
28. Marquinhos (£3m)
27. Nuno Tavares (£8m)
26. Matt Turner (£5m)
25. Cedric Soares (Free)
24. Albert Sambi Lokonga (£17m)
23. Pablo Mari (£5m)
22. Dani Ceballos (Loan)
21. Raheem Sterling (Loan)
20. Jakub Kiwior (£17m)
19. Jorginho (£12m)
18. Riccardo Calafiori (£42m)
17. Kieran Tierney (£25m)
16. Takehiro Tomiyasu (£20m)
15. Mikel Merino (£28m)
14. Aaron Ramsdale (£24m)
13. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£30m)
12. Gabriel Jesus (£45m)
11. Kai Havertz (£65m)
10. Jurrien Timber (£38m)
9. Gabriel Martinelli (£6m)
8. David Raya (£27m)
7. Leandro Trossard (£20m)
6. Thomas Partey (£45m)
5. Ben White (£50m)
4. Gabriel Magalhaes (£27m)
3. Declan Rice (£105m)
2. William Saliba (£27m)
1. Martin Odegaard (£30m)
Click here to read more Arsenal stories.
Edu is expected to front Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’s multi-club operation which includes the Premier League side, Olympiacos and Rio Ave.
He won six trophies with Arsenal during his playing career, including two titles – in 2002 and the Invincible 2004 campaign.
As a director, he witnessed one FA Cup triumph and two Community Shield triumphs.
The Gunners have finished second in the Premier League in each of the past two seasons, having placed eighth, eighth and fifth in the three campaigns before that.
Arteta’s men look set to miss out on the title once again this term as they sit second, 11 points behind leaders Liverpool.
But Arsenal have on foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League after hammering 15-time Kings of Europe Real Madrid 3-0 on Tuesday.
Arsenal ratings vs Real Madrid as Declan Rice's free-kick thunderbolts earn him an ELEVEN out of 10
BEND it like Beckham? More like bend it like Declan…
It was a set-piece clinic from the Arsenal midfielder as he scored the first free-kicks of his career against Real Madrid – and the first player in Champions League history to score multiple direct free-kicks in the same knockout stage game.
Thibaut Courtois was on hand to save Real Madrid in a fast paced first half as he pulled off a fine double save to deny a Rice header and a follow-up effort from Gabriel Martinelli.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute as England star Rice whipped in a sensational free-kick.
Rice then sent the Emirates into the stratosphere with as he added a second with an even better free-kick from the left side of the goal which he rifled into the top right corner.
Mikel Merino then swept a devastating third into the bottom corner from a low cross to put the cherry on a remarkable night.
Rice’s epic showing was enough to earn him an unprecedented ELEVEN in our player ratings.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the rest of the Gunners…