Here are your Arsenal morning headlines for Friday, 11 September.
Edu lays out transfer strategy
Arsenal technical director Edu has outlined his vision for the club’s recently trimmed down recruitment department.
Several high-profile scouts, including head of international recruitment Francis Cagigao, were let go by the club over the summer.
But Edu claims he wants a ‘clear process’ which includes a recruitment department with ‘less people with much more responsibility’.
“It is simple for me,” said Edu. “With my position here I want to put in place one clear process how we are going to sign, who gets the responsibilities, where we start to understand where we need the player, the position we need, the characteristics we need. That has to be very clear internally right now.
“The decision we made, to change a little bit our infrastructure, it is clear for me. I want to work with less people. I want to work with StatDNA [Arsenal’s in-house data company] a lot more, which we have internally here at the club and is very important.”
Edu offers Ozil lifeline
Meanwhile, Edu has insisted there is still a place for outcast playmaker Mesut Ozil in Mikel Arteta’s squad as long as the German is willing to work for it.
Ozil - whose contract expires in 2021 - failed to play a single minute of football following the Premier League’s resumption last season and was once again not involved for the Community Shield win against Liverpool.
“We are talking of course about performance,” said Edu. “Players with performance in training, the game, they are going to have opportunities because Mikel already showed that.
“It is for everyone. We know how important everybody is. I know how important and how big the player is when you mention Mesut but in the end ,we are talking about performance here.
“If he is performing well, people are performing well, who is the best in the training, the best in the game, I’m sure Mikel is going to select them to be in the squads to play games or to be on the bench.”
Martinez ‘agrees’ Villa deal
Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has agreed a four-year deal to join Aston Villa, according to the Independent.
Martinez impressed during the latter stages of last season after stepping in for the injured Bernd Leno.
However, the Argentine is keen to embark on a new challenge with Leno expected to retain his place as Arteta’s first-choice keeper.
Martinez will reportedly earn £60,000-a-week at Villa although the clubs have yet to agree on a fee for the 28-year-old.
Villa saw a bid of £15million knocked back with the North Londoners valuing Martinez at closer to £20million.
