When Arsenal announced changes to their hierarchy 18 months ago, many inside the club felt the concrete was setting on a modern football structure.
After some rudderless years, they finally had all the right people in all the right places. The sense was that, with everyone in it for the long haul, Arsenal could move forward from a position of strength.
But after the recent resignation of sporting director Edu, which followed chief executive Vinai Venkatesham stepping down in August and the departure of women’s first-team head coach Jonas Eidevall last month, those foundations are suddenly in need of reinforcing.
For a club to lose two executives of such stature in quick succession is a blow given they have been so stable since Mikel Arteta took control of the men’s first team as head coach, now manager, in December 2019.
Edu, hired earlier in 2019 after six years as sporting director at leading Brazilian club Corinthians and then two as general coordinator of the Brazil national team, provided know-how on football matters. He was a unique profile in that he only retired from playing in 2010 and could relate to today’s footballers. His standing as a member of Arsenal’s Invincibles side from 2003-04 and a 15-cap Brazil international meant he could speak to Arteta on his…
