By admin 
Baku, May 2019. A London derby in a Europa League final, and as it turned out, a cathartic one for Arsenal. Defeated 4-1 while Eden Hazard shone, Unai Emery’s team returned to England with their tails between their legs and fell victim to the brilliant Belgian once again. It was his last appearance for Chelsea, one of his best ever and perhaps his last great performance of his career. He always saved his best for Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka was part of the losing team that night. At 17 and in his first season with the senior team, he was an unused substitute and watched another terrible show unfold before him, powerless to change that. Now 23, Saka wears the captain’s armband, is among the league’s best and is the only current member of the squad representing Arsenal in Azerbaijan.
The picture is different today and what has happened since then is remarkable. A careful, sometimes ruthless selection process over more than five seasons has revolutionized a club that was at one point better known for the jokes made about them online. The staff has been gutted and rebuilt and the attitude is different. Arsenal are no longer the soft slut they evaporated into, but instead the modern example for lost big clubs to follow on how to get it right, as they await their crowning moment and a first win. Premier League title in 21 years. This should have been the year when Manchester City went backwards on the pitch and fought 115 charges for alleged financial breaches off it, having come close twice before.
Edu Gaspar has been the one constant in the five years of growth between now and then. Behind every important decision, big or small, simple or painful, cheap or expensive. Apart from Mikel Arteta, there is no figure at Arsenal who deserves more credit for the work they have done to turn the tide or for their vision on how to achieve that. With Edu leaving, it looks like Evangelos Marinakis’ network of clubs, including Nottingham Forest, will get one of the best. The reasons are not clear at this point, nor is the timetable, but his departure is an external blow to progress just when it was his time to shine.
The former Brazilian international midfielder, who was appointed technical director in July 2019 and was a member of the 2004 Invincibles who set a standard in English football, laid the foundation for what you see today. Before the season started, he spoke about making simple decisions for the long-term good of the club and his idea behind profiling players on three elements: their age, their salary, their performance. “If you have a player who is above 26-27 years old, you need attention. If his salary is high, you need attention. If he doesn’t perform, you are dead,” he said. Men in blazers in August.
It is a mantra that can be found everywhere in modern times Arsenal. Big names and big earners saw contracts terminated and take financial hits. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Özil and Alexandre Lacazette were just a few examples who left on a free transfer only to be replaced by hunger, ambition, talent and potential.
Club captain Martin Ødegaard was signed from Real Madrid, a teenage superstar who was unwanted in the Spanish capital and transformed into a leading example in the Premier League. William Saliba signed a long-term contract two weeks after Edu and was loaned out repeatedly to transform into the defensive monster he has become since breaking into the first team. Saka, meanwhile, is the heartbeat of the club and sees every part of Baku’s journey into the modern era. They are supported by a range of quality signings around them with the same image, with Declan Rice being the highest profile and most expensive.
Edu has had his fingerprints all over everything good about Arsenal over the last five years, and with his departure imminent, those now making the decisions on how to replace him don’t need to delve too deeply into Arsenal’s history to watch. how to do it wrong. Sven Mislintat’s position of head of recruitment has not aged happily. Other Premier League clubs in recent history have provided countless examples of how bad things can get if you follow the wrong team-building model and principles.
Arsenal are now making a major decision that they have had to make for years, whether that be through a new appointment or an internal restructure. Whether it is Arteta’s strength growing or an external voice being added to the mix, a club that only had to focus on its on-field performance due to the installation of great processes now has to think about more.
The picture has become more worrying since Saturday afternoon and there are now more issues to contend with beyond dealing with the defeat to Newcastle, such as being lossless in three league games and seven points off the pace against Liverpool.
Patrice Evra said: “Watching Arsenal is like watching Netflix: you’re always waiting for the next season.” When you make the decision about Edu’s replacement, there won’t always be a next season.