Edu explains analysis behind why Arsenal didn’t sack Mikel Arteta

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Arsenal sporting director Edu has explained why the club stuck with manager Mikel Arteta during tough periods.

Mikel Arteta is now a lauded and loved figure at Arsenal. The manager has gradually built an exciting young team that got the club back into the Champions League and looks capable of seriously competing for major trophies.

However, things haven’t always looked so good for the Spanish coach in his time in the Emirates Stadium dugout.

After quickly leading Arsenal to an FA Cup triumph after taking over the job from Unai Emery in December 2019, Arteta’s reign then stuttered. He led the club to an 8th-place Premier League finish in the 2020/21 campaign. Arsenal missed out of Champions League qualification again the following season.

At times during this early period of his managerial career, there were calls for Arsenal to sack Arteta. However, Edu and the rest of the club’s hierarchy never wavered in their conviction that the former Arsenal club captain was the right man for the job. 

Edu explains Arsenal faith in Arteta

Edu has explained why he felt this way. Speaking to journalist Joao Castelo-Branco, the Brazilian said, “you have to analyse your squad and ask yourself why we are not getting positive results. It’s the coach’s or the squad’s fault?”

“I presented to the directors that the squad that Mikel inherited wasn’t the best possible squad for him. It wasn’t his problem but ours. We have a responsibility to help him and empower him to do the best work possible.”

Arteta and Edu have certainly overseen a major overhaul in the Arsenal first team squad. Major names such as Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, and Nicolas Pepe, amongst many others, have been moved on.

A younger, hungrier squad has been put together, full of players committed to Arteta’s message and style of play. Arsenal are a club on the up, now able to attract the likes of Declan Rice and convince players such as Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to pen new long-term contracts.

Edu and the rest of the Arsenal executive team deserve great credit for having the courage and foresight to stand by Arteta when the going was tough. They now look set to reap the rewards of their persistence.