Mikel Arteta and Edu are currently working together to great effect as Arsenal sit eights points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Spaniard has coached his Arsenal side into one of England’s most exciting units, while the Brazilian – Director of Football at the Emirates Stadium – recruits the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to help.
However, it wasn’t always that way between Arteta and Edu.
What’s the story?
Well, old footage from 2003 has resurfaced on Twitter which shows the pair coming to blows at Ibrox.
The video involves Edu fouling Arteta in the 14th minute as the fresh faced Spaniard falls to the turf, before appearing to signal to the referee for the South American to be yellow carded with the scoreline level at 0-0.
It came amid a time where a 20-year-old Arteta was making a real name for himself in Scotland, with the commentator even referring to rumours of him joining Atlético Madrid, which did the rounds at the time.
Edu went on to score as Arsenal defeated Rangers 3-0 in the friendly.
Arteta did eventually make a return to Spain the following year in 2004 as he joined Real Sociedad in a £2.5m deal, before moving to Everton in 2005 as his career really took off in English football.
Arteta & Edu deserve huge credit at Arsenal
In our view, nobody should play down just how impressive Arteta and Edu’s work has been, given their lack of experience.
Arteta had never held a role in management before the Gunners opted for him as Unai Emery’s replacement, while Edu only had a small bit of experience working as Director of Football for Corinthians and General Coordinator for Brazil.
Arsenal were a mess when Arteta and Edu arrived, so for the pair to transform the Gunners as quickly as they have truly does speak volumes.
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