Mikel Arteta backs ‘super important’ Edu for new Arsenal contract

Mikel Arteta hopes technical director Edu stays at Arsenal for “a long time” after the club began contract talks with the Brazilian.

Edu, who has been in his current post since 2019, has held preliminary discussions with the Gunners over a new deal.

The former midfielder has overseen huge changes in the Arsenal squad over the past two years and the team is now top of the Premier League.

Arsenal want to tie Edu down amid interest from other European clubs, and Arteta has backed those plans.

“I just hope he stays here for a long time because I think it’s going to be a really positive thing for the club,” said Arteta.

Dream team: Mikel Arteta and Edu have helped turn Arsenal into Premier League title contenders
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“I work with him really well, I think he’s a super important figure at the club who represents all the values and ideas that we want, to do everything in the right way, and hopefully that will be the case.

“There is a lot happening in a football club and he has a huge role and he has a really good way of communicating with people and managing a lot of things that happen daily. For me and for the team he is really important.

“It has to build that relationship. It has to be very well respected, the roles have to be very clear, you have to share the same ideas.

“But at the same time you have to be challenged by each other because sometimes coaches we have all the ideas and we want something right now that is not the best thing for the club and we have the right balance, not only with Edu but with Vinai [Venkatesham] and with Rich [Garlick] and with the ownership.

“It’s really important. We make a decision, it’s all together it’s not your decision or my idea. It’s important in good and difficult moments as well to be together.”

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