Mikel Arteta gives blunt reaction to Edu departure | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he wishes outgoing sporting director Edu all the best after his shock resignation earlier this week.

The former Gunners midfielder revealed he would leave the Emirates Stadium, calling it "an incredibly hard decision to make". He has since been lined up by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis for a role overseeing recruitment across a group of clubs including Olympiacos and Rio Ave.

Edu was a close ally for Arteta, having joined the north London giants in 2019 as a technical director before becoming their sporting director in 2022.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Inter, Arteta admitted Arsenal would have to deal with Edu's departure.

He said: "Everything happened very quickly. I loved working with him, I really enjoyed being alongside him in this incredible journey. I'm very grateful for everything he's done for me and the football club.

Edu has resigned from his role at Arsenal / Kate Green/GettyImages

"I think we both had this special chemistry working together. I'm very blessed that he's been part of my life managing this club.

"He's had an amazing opportunity now to do something else in a different role. He feels that's best for him. We have to respect that. From that bottom of my heart I wish the best for him."

Arsenal's improved transfer business has turned them into Premier League title challengers once again in recent years, though who they will target as a potential replacement for Edu remains unclear.

Arteta added: "The plan and the vision that start with the ownership is very clear. It is going to continue.

"We have a very strong leadership team with unbelievable know-how and a real passion and great feelings for the club. We are not going to stop where we are at the moment and across the club.

"The excitement, the passion and the understanding of where we want to take this journey remains intact and that means opportunities for somebody else to come and fulfil their role. We have to move on because that is the reality of our industry."