Why has Edu Gaspar, one of the chief architects of the Mikel Arteta-led revival in recent years, left Arsenal? The answer is complicated, but it is not just about money. Named Arsenal’s sporting director in late 2022, the Brazilian lists the recruitment of Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Declan Rice among his achievements at the Emirates Stadium. The flurry of profile pieces written since Arsenal’s shock announcement that Edu is leaving suggest that his talent lies as much in his charisma as it does in his football industry know-how. That distinguishes Edu from technocrats like Liverpool’s…
