It's not exactly been the best of starts to the season for Arsenal.
A disappointing opening day defeat to Brentford was followed up with a sobering defeat to Chelsea on Sunday that reminded those watching at the Emirates Stadium just how far the Gunners are off the top.
Things seem to be going from bad to worse with no less than nine first team players - including new centre back Ben White, key midfielder Thomas Partey and last season's top scorer Alexnadre Lacazette - currently unavailable for Mikel Arteta to chose from due to injury and illness.
It would seem that Edu's best chance of boosting spirits around Arsenal right now is to act decisively in the final week of the transfer window.
In fairness to the Brazilian he and director of football operations Richard Garlick have been pretty busy so far.
The Gunners have spent the most money of any team in the Premier League on five players in White, Aaron Ramsdale, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Martin Odegaard.
The transfers have been part of a clear strategy to build for the future with each being aged 23 or under.
In a normal summer that might be enough business for one window but the club's work is far from over.
The focus now is on trying to get players out of the club.
"There are going to players at the moment the way the squad is set up that it’s going to be difficult for them to find game time, so there are things to be done," said Arteta more or less confirming this in his press conference ahead of the Chelsea game.
Thus far Joe Willock is the only player to have secured a permanent exit from North London after completing his £25 million move to Newcastle.
Dinos Mavropanos and Matteo Guendouzi have both moved on loan to Stuttgart and Marseille respectively with a view to permanent moves and it is thought that many more could follow out the exit door.
football.london understands that Lucas Torreira is close to completing a move to Fiorentina despite privately expressing a desire to stay, while Sead Kolasinac is close to moving to Fenerbahce after falling down the pecking order.
Reports have also suggested that Eddie Nketiah could be set to seal a move away, with Crystal Palace willing to pay £10 million for the England under-21 record goalscorer. However, there is still plenty of negotiating to be done on that front with the Gunners valuing him close to £20million.
Fellow Hale Enders Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles could also leave, with Palace said to be among the clubs who have shown interest in them as well.
Nelson could go on loan to Selhurst Park this window according to reports, but Edu will only be willing to sanction that move if the 21-year-old signs a new contract, with just one year remaining on his current deal.
Goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson is also available for transfer after the arrival of Ramsdale and came close to securing a move to Altayspor earlier this window.
Willian meanwhile would reportedly like to move on after an underwhelming first season following his free transfer from Chelsea although his £200,000 per week wages could prove a stumbling block.
Hector Bellerin has also expressed a desire to leave after 10 years in North London and has apparently offered to take a wage cut in order to make this happen.
Inter Milan were interested in the Spanish international as a replacement for Achraf Hakimi but have since signed Dutch right back Denzel Dumfries instead, meaning it's not currently clear where he will end up.
Alexandre Lacazette could also be allowed to exit the Emirates with just one year remaining on his contract in North London, but his high salary could render that unlikely.
If Arsenal are able to get those players out of the door then football.london understand that they will be in the market for a sixth summer signing.
Right back and centre forward are two areas of the squad that could do with strengthening, with players like Kieran Trippier and Lautaro Martinez linked.
In terms of sheer number central midfield would surely have to be a priority in this instance.
This is because as things stand if Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are called up to represent their countries in the African Cup of Nations then the only senior orthodox central midfielders in the Gunners squad would be Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka.
Houssem Aouar continues to be linked and is reportedly available for a diminished fee after falling out with the Lyon hierarchy.
With this in mind it seems that there is plenty more work for Edu to do in the last knockings of the transfer window if he is to achieve his dream squad.
Arteta has already predicted that a lot of things will happen "in the last week or so."
With the amount still to do at the Emirates, it seems as though he's going to be proved right.
Edu's dream 25-man Arsenal squad before the transfer window closes: Bernd Leno, Aaron Ramsdale, Arthur Okonkwo; Cedric, Kieran Trippier, Calum Chambers, Ben White, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Gabriel, Nuno Tavares, Kieran Tierney; Mohamed Elneny, Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Houssem Aouar, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard; Bukayo Saka, Nicolas Pepe, Gabriel Martinelli, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lautaro Martinez Folarin Balogun.
