MIKEL ARTETA insists Arsenal’s plans for the future “remain intact” – despite Edu’s shock departure.
The Gunners – including boss Arteta – were left stunned after the club’s Sporting Director announced his resignation on Monday.
Brazilian Edu, 46, is expected to join up with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakas as head of his expanding multi-club empire in a triple-your-money deal.
The switch has the potential to leave Arsenal vulnerable in their recruitment strategy after their recent meteoric rise under Edu and Arteta to become Prem title challengers.
But Arteta said: “The plan and the vision that starts with the ownership [Stan and Josh Kroenke] – that is very clear and very ambitious – is going to continue.
“We have a very strong leadership team with an unbelievable know-how, a real passion and great feelings for the football club. We’re not going to stop where we are at the moment.
“Then across the club, the excitement, the passion, the understanding of where we want to take this journey remains intact.”
Arteta hinted that the club are currently on the look-out for a replacement, admitting: “This means opportunities as well for somebody else to come and fulfil their role.”
Edu – an Invincibles hero who made 127 appearances from 2000 to 2005 – returned to the club in July 2019 as technical director before hiring Arteta five months later.
He was then appointed as Sporting Director in November 2022, and spoke of his long-term plans for the club just two months ago as Arteta signed a new three-year deal.
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Arteta added: “Everything happened very quickly. Obviously I loved working with him, I really enjoyed being alongside him in this incredible journey.
“From day one, we’ve been together. First of all, I’m very grateful personally for everything has done for me and for the amazing work that 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 that he’s been part of my life in such a beautiful place that I am right now, managing this incredible club and he’s been a massive part of that.
“He’s had an amazing opportunity now to do something else in a different role and he believes that it’s the right professional move for him.
“We have to respect that and from the bottom of my heart I think everybody really feels that we want the best for him and that’s it.
“We say thank you and we have to move on because that’s the reality of our industry.”
Winger Bukayo Saka said: “We all know what Edu’s done for the club and he’s a top, top person. So first of all, we just want to wish him all the best.
“We all know what he’s done for the football club. He’s been involved in the transformation and getting us back to performing at the highest stage.
“So, we’re all grateful for him and we’re just wishing him all the best.”
Skipper Martin Odegaard is in the squad that has travelled to Milan to face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night and is in contention to feature.
It would be a first Arsenal appearance since August 31 after suffering an ankle injury on international duty with Norway on September 9.
Midfielder Declan Rice has not travelled due to a foot injury, one that Arteta admits has left the Englishman unable to put his boot on.
