Edu names one transfer Arsenal need to complete ASAP
Arsenal technical director Edu thinks the Gunners must bring in a creative midfielder as soon as possible to help Mikel Arteta achieve his aims.
Defeat at home to Burnley on Sunday left Arsenal 15th in the Premier League, just five points clear of the relegation zone and without a league win since November 1.
The 1-0 reverse, in which Granit Xhaka was sent off and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored an own goal, means Arsenal have lost four home league games for the first time since 1959.
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The Gunners have struggled to create chances this season with Edu admitting that he is keen to rectify that issue in the transfer market.
“It’s quite clear what we need,” Edu said, speaking at an Arsenal fan forum. “We need a player with creativity in the middle, we don’t have that in the squad right now.
“As a Brazilian, I’m very open. I’m not scared to say things. We are not comfortable in this situation we’re in. Every single club has problems.”
On stories of a falling out between Arteta and players, Edu added: “The stories about a split between the players and Arteta are not true. Stories about players not believing and not trusting Mikel are not true.”
Meanwhile, Edu thinks Arsenal and Arteta “need to talk” to Saliba about his future amid rumours he could leave the club.
Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint Etienne in 2019 and was expected to play a key role this season having spent the last back on loan at his former club.
But he is yet to feature under Arteta and has been excluded from Arsenal’s Europa League squad, with reports in November claiming he is ‘fed up’ with the situation.
And a report in Eurosport over the weekend said that Saliba has been made ‘available for a move as sources indicate that there is no future for him while Arteta is in charge’.
And Edu continued by saying the situation needed resolving, he said: “Maybe he needs a little more time.
“He’s a bright talent. We need to talk with him and Mikel to plan for next year.”