Arsenal academy director Per Mertesacker has said that he was impressed with the level of trust Edu Gaspar gave him after their first meeting at the club.
Speaking to the Beautiful Game Podcast, the former Gunners captain revealed that the two hit it off straight from the beginning. Edu, who also played for Arsenal in his playing years, joined the club in 2019 as a technical director.
Since his arrival, the former Brazilian international has been a divisive figure amongst Arsenal supporters. Edu has been the key figure over the past two years in regards to transfers. And some have been questionable, to say the least.
From Willian to Cedric Soares to Pablo Mari, Edu has played a role in some odd Arsenal moves over the years. But for Mertesacker, he has been nothing but impressed with the Gunners transfer guru.
The former German international said on Edu: “We are super close. From the beginning, he gave me the ultimate trust that he is a technical director and that he will sort out first-team issues.
“On an academy level, though, I was really impressed with his openness to my role and how he sees me in the context of the club.”
Indeed, it is high praise from Mertesacker given the conflicting opinions Arsenal fans have on Edu. The German academy official has done an outstanding job since taking over the position after retiring from football.
And his admiration for Edu and the trust he has given Mertesacker could hint that the sense of unity at Arsenal is much better than what some supporters and reports might suggest.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
