With just a few months to go this season, Edu's focus at Arsenal will shift considerably towards summer transfer business as Mikel Arteta looks for success in the Europa League and the push for European qualification in the Premier League.
The Gunners spent January reshuffling their deck, offloading a number of high earners, and there are a number of positions to focus upon when the market reopens.
Defensively, the expected exits of David Luiz and Hector Bellerin could result in movement on the market, particularly on the right-side where Arsenal lack depth.
Bellerin was persuaded to stay last year but remains heavily linked with Paris Saint-Germain, while Barcelona have previously held interest in their former academy player.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal have identified Real Betis defender Emerson Royal as the ideal replacement for Bellerin and it offers an insight into what Arteta wants from his side.
The Gunners have found joy from Kieran Tierney down the left side, with the Scotland international excelling to provide a significant impact at both ends of the field - registering two goals and four assists from 23 appearances in the role.
With wide players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe often drifting inside, Arteta is on the hunt for defenders who can overlap effectively - and that is where Emerson may tick all the boxes.
Two goals and four assists in 26 appearances this season put Emerson level with Tierney's attacking contribution and narrowly ahead of Bellerin, showing he can be the ideal replacement.
A partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, with the pair sharing the same nationality, could help to improve Arsenal's defence and South Americans can easily find a home with the Gunners due to the likes of Edu himself as well as Gabriel Martinelli and Willian.
Emerson could in fact play a direct role in Bellerin's exit from Arsenal, as the Brazilian is part-owned by Barcelona - a move that will be put through officially at the end of the season once the Catalan side pay their final payment of £3m.
Likened to Dani Alves, Emerson may find a home in the Nou Camp but there are significant changes set to occur in Catalonia, which could see Bellerin emerge as a prime target once again.
If that were to occur, Arsenal could ask Barcelona for Emerson as part of a deal taking Bellerin back to his former club and it would kill two birds with one stone.
