Two Arsenal transfers saw Edu labelled ‘stupid’ prior to his decision to leave

Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane once slammed departing Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar as ‘stupid’ for signing two Chelsea ‘rejects’ – David Luiz and Willian. Edu, who initially joined the Gunners as technical director in 2019 after a successful spell as a player at Highbury in the early 2000s, has been key in helping transform Arsenal from top-four hopefuls to title contenders under manager Mikel Arteta.

Promoted to sporting director in 2022, Edu has been hailed for securing major signings like Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, alongside bringing in lesser-known talents such as William Saliba, who have since become stars in their own right. His total spending on 36 new signings almost tips the £800million mark, although silverware has just continued to elude Arsenal in recent years.

Despite his triumphs in the transfer market, Edu’s early recruitment strategies weren’t as estute. Carragher, as well as fellow pundit Keane, were particularly critical of the Brazilian’s signing of compatriots Luiz and Willian.

“In the years since Arsene Wenger left, or since Arsenal won the title, for an outsider it’s been difficult to get behind anything with Arsenal in terms of, okay they’re not winning, but you can sort of see where this is going,” Carragher exclaimed, speaking on The Overlap fan debate back in 2021.

“When you’re talking about Edu as sporting director, you’re bringing David Luiz in and you’re bringing Willian in two rejects from Chelsea. I’m just scratching my head, thinking, ‘I can’t get behind this; it’s wrong, it doesn’t work.’

“Of course, you’re allowed to make mistakes but make the right mistakes. Why are you buying rejects from Chelsea, who are over 30? And then giving them big deals and you can’t get rid of them? That’s a mistake before it’s happened. That’s just stupid.

“I wouldn’t have bought Willian! And I wouldn’t have bought Luiz! They are Chelsea rejects, aren’t they? They got the best out of them and then went, ‘Arsenal will have them’.”

Luiz signed a £120,000-a-week contract with Arsenal in 2019 at the age of 32, costing them a fee of £8m. Meanwhile, Willian joined the following summer – also at 32 – and although this was on a free transfer after his Chelsea contract expired, he earned a staggering £220,000-a-week at the Emirates, reports the Mirror, offering the Gunners very little in return in terms of his form.

Both players had disappointing spells with the club, with the winger leaving after just a year – before then going on to excel once more at Fulham – and Luiz following him out the exit door in 2021 after consistently under-performing at the back.

Back in 2021, Manchester United legend Keane added: “I think he [Edu] has been on holiday for about two years! It goes down to your recruitment can you get the right players?

“But the biggest problem for Arsenal, like many clubs, is shifting players out. There’s a player at Arsenal on huge money, and they can’t get rid of them. So then they’re stuck in terms of trying to bring players in. Recruitment is key.”

Edu’s reign at Arsenal saw a positive shift when he took on board the advice from Keane to let go of older, high-earning players like Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and enhance his recruitment strategy. However, following discussions with the club’s hierarchy, he is now set to bring an end to his tenure.