Arsenal staff lift the lid on Edu Gaspar, including what the players really think of him

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Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar will be leaving the club in the near future. 

Edu Gaspar’s imminent exit was reported this morning, coming as a shock to Arsenal fans all around the world. 

Arsenal have not commented on Edu’s impending departure formally, but it is clear that big changes are coming at the Emirates Stadium. 

The Brazilian has worked closely with Mikel Arteta in recent years, and has played a huge role in making the North London club competitive again. Arsenal fans fear that Edu’s exit will cause major issues going forward. 

There is now a sense of uncertainty surrounding the club, and the 46-year-old’s absence will certainly be felt keenly behind the scenes.

• READ MORE: Who is Edu Gaspar? Everything you need to know about the ex-Arsenal player turned director

What Arsenal staff really think of Edu Gaspar

Edu was clearly a popular figure at Arsenal. Not only did he share a close working bond with Arteta, but he was well-liked by the rest of the club’s staff, too. 

As reported by the Daily Mail, the former midfielder was: “Hugely popular among staff…A popular and courteous player within the Premier League’s sporting director community, Edu’s most enviable trait is his warmth.”

That warmth will soon be missing in North London.

There will be plenty of jobs facing Edu’s eventual successor, but it is also vital that his replacement gets to grips with social and ambassadorial elements of the role as successfully and naturally as the current incumbent of the position did. 

What do the Arsenal players make of Edu?

The Arsenal staff members are not the only ones who will miss Edu. As per the aforementioned report: “‘The players always enjoy his company,’ commented an Arsenal source.”

Arteta will be wary, therefore, of this news having a negative impact in the dressing room. Confidence amongst the Arsenal players is already low, and this blow could see the mood sink further. 

Arteta will have to take action to combat this, including quickly offering clarity as to how this development will impact players who are currently discussing transfers or new contracts with the club – conversations which Edu will have been heavily involved in up to now.

Change is a constant in football, though, and Edu’s exit will soon be old news. The players will quickly adapt to the new status quo, as will the staff and fans, as concerns around the change will surely give way to excitement about what the future might hold.