• News

Arsenal director Edu names the club’s weak spot

Arsenal
Getty Images
Advertisement

The Gunners have lost six of their last eight Premier League games to leave them down the lower half of the standings.

Technical director Edu has confessed Arsenal are in dire need of a creative presence in the heart of their midfield. He also denied rumors of a rift between Mikel Arteta and the players.

A disappointing 1-0 defeat to Burnley last weekend condemned Arsenal to a fourth consecutive defeat in their own backyard – a first in 61 years.

The loss left Gunners down in 15th-place in the Premier League table and just five points above the relegation zone, ensuring their worst start to a season since 1974.

An inability to create goal opportunities recently has been cited as the club’s biggest problem. It has raised more doubts over Arteta’s decision to omit Mesut Ozil from his squad, despite the German fitting the bill for such a task.

“It’s quite clear what we need,” said Edu as quoted on Goal.

“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 rumors of an alleged fallout between Arteta and squad, Edu replied: “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.”

But while Edu has conceded Arsenal need a creative presence in the squad, he has hinted Ozil could leave in January.

x