When Edu was brought in as Arsenal’s very first technical director two years ago, he was heralded as a man who understood the club and what they needed.

An ex-Gunners midfielder himself, his experience of the international football scene – after his work with Corinthians, the Iranian national team and as general co-ordinator of the Brazilian national side – seemed to suggest exactly the level of global knowledge and contacts needed to turn Arsenal around in a turbulent period. 

Two years on, as the man responsible for recruitment, questions are being asked of the 41-year-old. It coincides with the pressure on manager Mikel Arteta, with the club out of Europe for the first time in 25 years and a poor start to the current campaign. 

Since Edu’s arrival, Arsenal have spent more than £300million on players – but, crucially, recouped only around £80 million. 

The expected loss of the former Chelsea player Willian back to his native Brazil with Corinthians on a free this week has highlighted the issue. The 33-year-old only signed last summer on an eye-watering £220,000-a-week, three-year deal.

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Former record signing striker Alexandre Lacazette, who cost £46.5 million when he joined in July 2017, is in the last year of his contract. He too will leave on a free next summer if, as expected, a new deal is not signed. 

Highly-paid winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan left on a free last year after arriving in a swap deal as Alexis Sanchez went to Manchester United.

The list of those who have exited the Emirates with no money coming in for them is a long one: Sokratis to Olympiakos after costing £17.7m. Shkodran Mustafi to Schalke after costing £35m in 2016. 

Mesut Ozil left Arsenal for Fenerbahce last summer after costing Arsenal £42.5m in 2013. The north Londoners were still believed to be paying part of the German international’s salary until his exit in July of this year.

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Joe Willock, who joined Newcastle last week in a £25m deal, is one of the few players from the Gunners’ famed academy for whom the club has recouped cash, Alex Iwobi leaving for Everton for £34m two years ago. The club are still desperately trying to sell their fringe players. 

It is little wonder that the likes of Marc Overmars, Ralf Rangnick and Michael Emenalo – all of whom are known to be canny operators – are being touted as potential replacements. 

It was Chelsea, with their 2-0 win at the Emirates last weekend, who rammed home the gulf between not just the teams, but also the clubs, right now – despite Arteta receiving cash to spend on every position in his squad this summer. 

As well as signing Romelu Lukaku, European Champions Chelsea recouped more than £100m in sales this summer.

Tammy Abraham went to Roma for £34m, Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan for £25m and Marc Guehi to Crystal Palace for £18m. In addition, just two games on the opening weekend of the Premier League did not feature a player from Chelsea’s academy. 

It has left the spotlight firmly on the transfer policy lashed as “lazy” by ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson last week. It remains to be seen whether Edu can turn things around.