Edu has explained that his vision of leading a small and close-knit recruitment team was behind his decision to axe so many of Arsenal’s highly-rated scouting network.
It was revealed last month that former head of recruitment Francis Cagigao would be leaving the club as part of a wide-ranging review that had been carried out by Arsenal’s Brazilian technical director.
The decision to part ways with Cagigao, who had been at the club for 24 years and had been key to signing players such as Cesc Fabregas, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla, Nacho Monreal and Gabriel Martinelli, came as a big shock - as did the departures of some of his trusted staff such as Brian McDermott, Peter Clark and Ty Gooden.