Arsenal has built a robust behind-the-scenes structure at the club, with Edu playing a crucial role in the club’s operations at the Emirates. His departure, however, represents a major setback for the Gunners, although the club remains well-positioned to attract top-tier talent to replace him.
In light of Edu’s exit, Arsenal should seriously consider appointing Luis Campos as his successor. Campos, currently a strategic advisor at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is widely regarded as one of the finest sporting directors in football today. Although there are limited options for world-class sporting directors available at the moment, Arsenal must not hesitate to pursue elite candidates, especially someone who could potentially outperform Edu in the role.
Campos, who is in the final year of his contract at PSG, should be at the top of Arsenal’s list. Over the years, he has earned a reputation for his exceptional talent identification and player development. Campos has worked in various roles, including as a manager, scout, and sporting director at clubs such as Real Madrid, Monaco, Lille, and PSG. In 2021, there were reports that Arsenal was in talks with Campos about a potential role at the club, but the move did not materialize. Additionally, in 2023, Campos attempted to lure Mikel Arteta away from Arsenal to PSG, but the Spanish manager remained committed to the Gunners.
Now, with Edu’s departure, the timing seems ideal for Campos to join forces with Arteta and help Arsenal continue their rise in European football. Campos’ impressive track record of discovering and developing world-class talent makes him a perfect fit for a club with ambitions like Arsenal’s.
Some of the major players Campos has been responsible for signing or developing include Fabinho, Bernardo Silva, and Victor Osimhen, all of whom have gone on to have highly successful careers. Campos also played a pivotal role in bringing Nicolas Pépé to Lille, where he developed the Ivorian winger into a top talent before selling him to Arsenal for a record fee. However, the crowning achievement of Campos’ career is his involvement in the rise of Kylian Mbappé. Although Mbappé was already at Monaco when Campos arrived, he helped convince the young forward to stay at the club, promoted him to the first team, and played an instrumental role in Mbappé’s development into one of the world’s top footballers.
Given his extensive experience and proven ability to unearth and nurture world-class talent, Luis Campos would be an outstanding choice to lead Arsenal’s sporting operations and take the club to new heights.
