Mikel Arteta has stated that Edu's recent departure as sporting director will not hinder Arsenal's progress, despite acknowledging that the news came as a surprise. The Brazilian's resignation was announced on Monday, and he is set to join the multi-club network owned by Nottingham Forest's Evangelos Marinakis. Arsenal reportedly made an effort to convince Edu to remain at the club by offering to match the enhanced salary he is expected to receive from Marinakis, but their attempts were unsuccessful. Arteta emphasized that while losing a key ally is unexpected, it will not derail the team's upward trajectory. In other news, Martin Ødegaard has traveled with the squad for their upcoming match against Inter.

Arsenal faces a significant setback as Edu, the club's sporting director, is set to leave his position. The Brazilian has been instrumental in the team's progress under manager Mikel Arteta and is expected to join the network of clubs owned by Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest. Edu's unexpected exit will mark the end of his five-year tenure in Arsenal's senior management, and it will mean that Arteta will lose one of his key supporters. The two have developed a strong working relationship, and Edu's departure will require Arsenal to reassess its strategy moving forward. The exact timeline for his exit has yet to be determined.