The veteran sporting director who could be Arsenal's ideal Edu replacement

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Edu is heading off to a Garden leave for the next six months and Arsenal are looking for their next manager.

Arsenal are on the hunt for a new sporting director, with Edu currently on gardening leave after announcing he will leave the club. A top target has now emerged. The decision to leave was a massive surprise to many, but it has now been confirmed that Edu will be joining Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis' multi-club group.

Edu has been sensational for Arsenal in recent years, helping bring in players who have contributed to pushing Manchester City for the title in the last couple of Premier League campaigns. Now, reports from Spain suggest that Arsenal may have found the perfect replacement for Edu in highly-respected transfer guru Roberto Olabe, who is leaving Real Sociedad in a shock move.

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Spain has some underrated sporting directors, and Olabe is one of them. He has been the brain behind Sociedad’s success and has played a key role in the development of players like Alexander Isak, who moved from the Spanish club to Newcastle, where he has been a huge success.

According to The Athletic, there has not been any tangible contact between Arsenal and Olabe, but the temptation of Premier League football could prove irresistible. Given how high Arsenal are currently positioned, this could be the perfect opportunity for Olabe to take on a bigger role and show that he can execute things at the highest level.

His impressive work with Sociedad is sure to draw attention from elite clubs. Olabe has international experience, having worked with the Aspire Academy in Qatar and Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle. He is also reportedly proficient in English.

The Arsenal role and what it requires

One of the biggest challenges Olabe would face, if appointed, would be maintaining the high standards set by Edu in recent years. However, Arsenal have the financial backing, and the foundations are already in place for him to build upon. With his expertise and experience in the Spanish market, Olabe could stand out as the ideal candidate.

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During Olabe's tenure, Arsenal and Sociedad have conducted significant business. The 57-year-old was at the forefront of their transfer department when they sold Mikel Merino to the Gunners, and when Nacho Monreal and Kieran Tierney moved in the opposite direction.

Arteta, who was signed by Olabe during his playing career, moved from Rangers to Sociedad in 2004. Despite the emotional ties, Arsenal’s management may find it hard to overlook Olabe's impressive track record of nurturing talents like Alexander Isak and Martin Zubimendi.

The Premier League start that is concerning

This season has been a challenging one for the Gunners, who are currently fourth in the league table, nine points behind leaders Liverpool. Given their dominant performances in the last two years, it will be interesting to see how they fare after the international break.

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