Edu Gaspar has penned an emotional farewell message to Arsenal fans, six months after his shock Arsenal departure.
The Brazilian, a member of the club’s last Premier League title-winning side, returned to his former club five years ago as technical director.
After serving under Raul Sanllehi, Edu was promoted to the role of sporting director and, working in tandem with Mikel Arteta, played a key part in masterminding a seismic transformation at Arsenal.
Arsenal fans were stunned when the popular 46-year-old, almost out of nowhere, stood down from November and, other than releasing a brief statement at the time, has not spoken since.
On his last official day at Arsenal, following a spell on gardening leave, Edu finally gave a lengthy update in which he thanked Arteta and sent a message of good luck to his successor Andrea Berta.
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He posted on Instagram: ‘Thank you, Arsenal. Thank you, Gunners !
‘With a heart full of gratitude, today formally I close one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional life. After five and a half years, my journey officially as Sporting Director of Arsenal FC has come to the end.
‘I joined the club in July 2019 as Technical Director, with the challenge of bringing Arsenal with the mission of bringing Arsenal back where it belongs among football’s elite, driving a cultural shift, keep competing for trophies, and making Champions League qualification the minimum expectation for a club of Arsenal’s size. Later, I had the honour of becoming the first-ever Sporting Director in the club’s history, a milestone I will always carry with great pride.
‘And throughout this process of rebuilding, you the fans were an essential part of everything! To the supporters, my most sincere thank you ! The support, the energy, and the connection we felt again in every match were simply special. The Emirates became an amplified version of the old Highbury atmosphere! To have experienced this alongside you is something I will never forget.
‘To our owners, Stan and Josh Kroenke, the board, Mikel, the players, the coaching staff, Per, Clare, all executive team, the backroom staff, everyone working at the Emirates Stadium, and especially those who welcomed me so warmly in the Director’s Box, thank you for these years of collaboration and kindness!
‘It was never easy, but our intense work, united by a true team spirit, made me feel fulfilled throughout all these years!
‘(If I’m only now sharing this message, it’s because I’ve been on garden leave in recent months and, out of respect for the club and everyone involved, I preferred to wait until the final official day of my contract to publish this.)
‘I wish Arsenal FC all the best and every success, and I also send my warmest wishes to the new Sporting Director Andrea Berta, who now takes on this beautiful role.
‘I leave with a peaceful heart and immense pride in what we’ve built together!’