Mikel Arteta will be involved in Arsenal process to replace Edu | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta will have a major say in how Arsenal replace Edu Gaspar, with the sporting director believed to have decided to step down.

David Raya signing his Arsenal contract alongside Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar (Photo via Arsenal.com)

On Monday morning, news broke that Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar was set to leave the club, with Edu himself reportedly making the decision to depart.

Matt Law and John Percy reported for The Telegraph that sources believe Edu has been lined up to work for Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Marinakis was targeting Edu as a potential chief executive of the Marinakis group, overseeing operations at his three clubs. Edu previously turned down a similar offer this summer.

David Ornstein then confirmed that Edu had agreed to join Marinakis’ group, though the deal isn’t signed and his role is still to be finalised.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, Manger of Arsenal FC is seen in the stands prior to the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on December 21, 2019. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

When it comes to replacing Edu, The Telegraph report suggests that the club recognise Mikel Arteta must be given a big say in the new appointment.

It seems managing director Richard Garlick and executive Tim Lewis will be the primary decision-makers, but they’re expected to take recommendations and advice from Arteta as they execute that process.

We’ll hear from Arteta himself in his press conference on Tuesday evening, so hopefully everything around Edu’s departure will have been made official before then.

Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta give Cedric Soares a gift on his recent visit to the Emirates Stadium (Photo via Cedric on Instagram)

In his initial report breaking the news of Edu’s departure, Sami Mokbel wrote that more details were expected over the next 24 hours.

At the time of writing, it’s not clear when exactly he’ll end his association with the Gunners.