Edu defends Arsenal transfer strategy: 'You have to see the bigger picture'
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 04/09/2021 at 15:07 GMT
Arsenal’s summer signings have been labelled as “underwhelming” by some Gunners’ fans, and technical director Edu Gaspar has spoken to the club’s media team to explain the “bigger picture” in place at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal were the Premier League’s biggest spenders this summer, recruiting six first-team players.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: New Arsenal signing Martin Odegaard with (L) Manager Mikel Arteta and (R) Director of Football Edu at London Colney on August 20, 2021 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Image credit: Eurosport
There seems to be a clear change of direction in recruitment at Arsenal, who signed six players in the summer transfer window just gone, all under the age of 23.
Technical director Edu has explained the new recruitment process and how laying the foundations now will have a positive impact on the squad for years to come.
"I think you have to see the bigger picture," Edu told Arsenal Media. "I know people want to understand a little bit more about this transfer window, which is quite clear for me the direction you go.
We signed six players, all the six are under the age of 23, so that is the direction you go to try to consolidate the direction of the squad, to try to give to the squad more balance and more future as well.
The club’s biggest signing was Ben White, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee in the region of £50 million.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/09/04/3213047-65816208-2560-1440.jpg)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Ben White of Arsenal challenges Ivan Toney of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford and Arsenal at Brentford Community Stadium on August 13, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arse
Image credit: Eurosport
Martin Odegaard returned to London Colney after impressing during his six-month loan spell at the Emirates last year, with the Gunners quick to pay Real Madrid’s £30 million asking price when his services became available.
They also splashed out for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United, a move which was reportedly pushed through by manager Mikel Arteta, a long-term admirer of the shot-stopper.
Edu explained how Arsenal had not just done recent business in the transfer market, but worked behind the scenes to tie down some of their key assets.
English youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe have both signed long-term deals, as well as Brazilian Gabrielle Martinelli.
“But what I would like people to understand is the big picture, because if you see a year ago we started to make some decisions in this direction so we renewed Bukayo Saka, and renewed Martinelli in this period as well just to give them some direction in the way you try to go.
"Just to give you some context, we renewed - in one year - five sets of contracts, and five of them are under the age of 23 for the first team. Then, in this period, summer to summer, we signed 10 players and seven out of the 10 are under 23 as well.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/09/04/3213049-65816248-2560-1440.jpg)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Arsenal's Bukayo Saka poses on the pitch at Emirates stadium after signing a a new long term contract ahead of the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Norwich City on July 01, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Ma
Image credit: Eurosport
"So what I would like to explain is that it is not about this summer, it is about the project. It is about what we want to do. We have started the project, we are in the middle, so it is not just one window and go, it is window, window, window, window.
"We have to consider every single step, now is another one, I think in this one we consolidated a big step, I am really pleased because the players we signed are what we are looking for, so I see, and Mikel [sees] a much more balanced squad in terms of age, profile and in terms of some players who can get a lot of responsibility like Thomas [Partey], Granit [Xhaka], [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, [Alexandre] Lacazette.
We see the balance in the squad is much better, but again this is not the end. People have to understand we are still on the journey to go where this club deserves to be.
In addition to White, Odegaard and Ramsdale, Arteta also added Nuno Tavares (21) and Albert Sambi Lokonga (21) to his squad, before securing the deadline day signing of right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu (22).
Edu has come under fire for his transfer dealings of late, especially those departing N5.
In a period of transition, with a 'new project' well underway, the only notable outgoings this summer were Joe Willock, who left the club for Newcastle United in a £25 million deal, Hector Bellerin, a long-term servant to the club who left for Real Betis on loan and Willian, who tore up his contract in favour of a move to Brazil.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/09/04/3213050-65816268-2560-1440.jpg)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Willian of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 6, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. A limited number of fans are welcomed back to sta
Image credit: Eurosport
Despite injury problems and Covid-19 related issues, players such as Sead Kolasinac and Mohammed Elneny, who had previously been left out in the cold at Arsenal and found themselves near the exit door, both played in Arsenal's 5-0 hammering to Manchester City last week.
Granit Xhaka flirted with a move to AS Roma, but the two club’s failed to reach an agreement, and Xhaka, who seemed open to the move, was offered a new contract by Arsenal.
The Gunners currently sit bottom of the Premier League table after their worst start to a league campaign since 1954, and will hope to get their season off and running next weekend when they host 19th placed Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement