High-profile players on huge wages were 'killing' Arsenal, admits Edu

Edu, Arsenal’s technical director, has said ageing players on huge salaries were “killing” the club as he explained the decision to pay a series of high-profile stars to leave north London.

In recent years, Arsenal have terminated the contracts of seven players, including Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as they have looked to refresh and rejuvenate their squad.

They have found it difficult to generate transfer fees for the older, highly-paid players but Edu said the decision to pay them to depart should be regarded as an “investment”.

The Brazilian, who was appointed in July 2019, told reporters in the United States: “When the player is 26-plus, big salary and he is not performing? He is killing you, that kind of player.

“Because you don’t have a valuation to sell the player. The player is comfortable — Arsenal, London, beautiful, everything is fantastic — and has a good salary. How do you move this player?

“So, how many players with that kind of characteristics did we have in the past? 80 per cent of the squad.”

As well as Ozil and Aubameyang, Arsenal have also terminated the contracts of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac and Willian in recent seasons.

With these players not performing, and with no interest from elsewhere, Edu said the “realistic” approach was to “clean” the squad and provide opportunities for other players.

“Try to avoid one more year with the problem inside, in the dressing room, expensive, not performing,” he said. “Clean, take it out. Even, I am sorry, if you have to pay. To leave is better. Because that guy is sometimes also blocking someone.

“I know it hurts, I know it is strange when I go to the board and say: ‘Sometimes it’s better to pay a player to leave,