Arteta pays heartfelt tribute to departing Edu: ‘I’m very grateful’ | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken for the first time about the shock departure of Edu.

The club’s sporting director is poised to start a new role for Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marikanis and his growing football empire following his exit from Arsenal.

Arteta said: “Everything happened very quickly. Obviously I loved working with him, I really enjoyed being alongside him on this incredible journey.

“From day one we’ve been together. First of all I’m very grateful personally for everything he’s done for me, and for the amazing work he’s done for the football club. I think we both had this special chemistry, working together, we really both enjoyed our roles and working together.

“I’m very blessed he’s been part of my life in such a beautiful place that I am right now, managing this amazing club and he’s been a massive part of that. He’s got an amazing opportunity now to do something else, in a different role and he believes it’s the right professional move for him.”

It is understood Arsenal made a strong offer to keep Edu at the club but the former midfielder was unmoved.

Arteta added: “We have to respect that, and from the bottom of my heart, everybody really feels that we want the best for him.”

The upbeat Arsenal coach was also asked to address any fears of the club’s supporters following the news and some disappointing Premier League results.

He said: “The plan and vision that starts with ownership is very clear and very ambitious, we are going to continue. We have a very strong leadership team, with unbelievable knowhow, real passion and great feeling for the football club.

“We are not going to stop where we are at the moment. Across the club (there is) excitement, passion, and understanding of where we want to take this journey remains in tact.”

Hinting at the next steps for the club, Arteta concluded: “That means opportunities for somebody else to come in, to fill that role.

“There are people that Edu has brought as well, alongside him on this journey which is always very important. And we move on. We say ‘thank you’ and we have to move on because that is the reality of our industry.”