It's been a rough few weeks for Arsenal. Results haven't gone in their favour. Additionally, their sporting director, Edu, has resigned. It could be argued that his departure was the catalyst in the current dip in form. Down south, Orlando Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro (JR) has just reached 100 games in charge of the Bucaneers.
Edu has put his reasoning as, "time to pursue a different challenge." This new challenge comes in the form of a senior role at the network of clubs (Nottingham Forest; Olympiacos and Rio Ave FC); spearheaded by Greek businessman, Evangelos Marinakis.
Former Arsenal striker, Ian Wright, has said, "Edu announcing he was leaving was a massive surprise a bolt from the blue, in respect of where Arsenal are trying to go and what he's done with Mikel Arteta to get them there. He's gone to a place with a multi-club system, which is something Arsenal can't offer him. [He has the opportunity] to run his footballing business. Edu is going to be more than a technical director for those clubs. I put myself in this position and I probably would do the same, simply because it's a better opportunity for me."
David Moyes has been left baffled by the departure. He said, "I thought it was strange that he [Edu] would leave Arsenal in the position they're in, getting closer to winning a Premier League title over the past couple of years," Moyes said. "It looked like he had a really strong relationship with Mikel Arteta as well, which is not easy getting those relationships with the owners or managers can be difficult and I thought they worked really well together."
"I don't know who makes all the signings at Arsenal, I'm sure the manager would get the final say but Edu has played a big part with the players he's brought in."
It's been reported that Edu was offered a similar role at Arsenal. His rejection of that offer illustrates his refusal for money as the motivation. He's taking a role that wiill take a global approach to his current role. It could be said that he's taking a step forward in his career.
Former Manchester United and England defender, Gary Neville, believes that the club were given an ultimatum between Edu and their manager, Mikel Arteta. He said, "Something doesn’t smell right and you’re thinking, ‘If something doesn’t smell right and it doesn’t look right, it’s normally not right’. We haven’t got the detail, we don’t know what’s happening completely. We know that, obviously, he’s going to go and work for the owner of Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos.
“If I was Arsenal, you’d be asking serious questions how you’ve lost your sporting director of what is an amazing football club, a club that I’ve just said is the second club in England, in terms of history and tradition, to go and work for the guy who runs Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest."
“It doesn’t sound right to me. Now look, it might be a financial package which is just so sensational for Edu that basically he thinks: ‘Well actually, I can’t turn it down for my family’. But I can’t believe he’s not earning significant money at Arsenal."
He believes that the rumour of Edu turning his back on an offer that would've tripled his wage packet is insane. He said, "That may be the thing, it just may come down to money and it may come down to the fact that he feels he’s taken this Arsenal project as far as he can."
“If they do win the league this year he could probably say, ‘I set this up, I was the one who changed the fortunes of Arsenal, I was the one who built the squad with Arteta’, so he would still get some sort of credit for that. It’s not something that I think would sit right with Arsenal, it doesn’t sit right with us. It doesn’t look right, it looks like something… to be fair, has something gone wrong? Is there a difference of opinion?"
"Is there a question mark between the manager and the sporting director as to tactics, the way in which they play, the way in which we go, not using the squad right? Has that conversation happened and they’ve had to choose one of them? That sometimes happens with sporting directors and managers."
“None of these may be true but what it does when you see something as startling as this, it opens the door for these types of questions to be asked and these types of rumours to occur and I have to say, for Arsenal, it’s not good."
Edu has now been placed on gardening leave for six months. For the time being, Jason Ayto will temporarily be in charge.
The Kroenke family (Arsenal owners) will now be in charge of finding a replacement for Edu and Arsenal fans should have confidence in their ability to do so. They were the group who brought in Edu in the first place and the Gunners have improved on the pitch during his time at the club.
Jose Riveiro has slowly made his mark and the attitude about him soon changed. From one of scepticism, it was transformed in admiration. His time in charge has proven that time and patience can pay off. In managing last Tuesday's game, he became only the second Pirates coach to reach 100, in terms of the modern PSL (Premier Soccer League) era. Ruud Krol was the first; where he managed 119 games.
Since his appointment (in 2022), he's won five trophies. These include: three straight MTN8 titles (which is unprecedented) and two Nedbank Cups. This makes him the most decorated manager of the modern era. His five trophies means he equals the record for most trophies won since 1973-74 (under Tony Sanderson).
He was sure that he would've reached the landmark as he held a firm belief that he would serve all three years of his contract. He said, "We started a new project here like you said two years and four months ago with a three-year contract. So, every time you start a project you want to finish the project. Obviously, not counting how many games you are gonna be in charge but you come with the intention and the illusion to do your best."
He doesn't just owe his time to the trophies he's won but also due to the players he has. He said, "The number of games is related to our performance, with the fact that we have an excellent team. This season, one season ago, and two seasons ago we managed always to compete properly, sometimes if you go through those 100 matches, I think you will find higher amounts of good moments than bad moments for us as a team."
“Like you said, I think it's good to say today but tomorrow it's anecdotic, we will be thinking the 101 and then the next one but I'm not gonna lie, I'm proud of what we've achieved as a team so far and looking to the future with optimism and illusions."
Their win over Richards Bay on Tuesday meant that they had won seven consecutive games for the first time. Also, they maintained their 100% win record in the league.
If there's one thing that the two clubs have in common, it's that they strive on patience. Arsenal have gone through a lot of lows under Edu and Arteta. However, their patience has paid off as Arsenal have been challenging for the Premier League title for the past three seasons.
The same could be said of Pirates. They put faith in Riveiro and he has repaid the faith with success and trophies. I am a Pirates fan so I am thrilled with what has been happening. I can only hope that more good fortune happens for both the coach and the team.