Edu's top five Arsenal signings ranked include record transfer and three-time loan star

Edu has made several mistakes in the transfer market, but when he does well, he leaves Arsenal's rivals green with envy.

As the club's sporting director, the Brazilian has worked closely with the Gunners coach Mikel Arteta to build a team capable of fighting for the Premier League title.

However, Arteta now has lost his right hand as Arsenal He confirmed his resignation on Monday.

talkSPORT understands education is ready to join forces with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and will be tasked with overseeing the Greek billionaire's network of clubs.

It is also understood that Edu's decision took Arsenal by surprise and the club had hoped he would stay until the summer, but that will not be the case.

Instead, the 46-year-old will take his experience to Marinakis' group, which includes Forest, Greek heavyweights Olympiakos and Portuguese side Rio Ave.

Edu has sniffed out a few signings since joining in 2019, notably a £72m move for Nicolas Pepe and the addition of David Luis.

However, the former midfielder has shown that he has an eye for talent and he certainly shows it on the pitch, with a considerable number of Arsenal's best first-team players signed under his management.

But who was the Brazilian's best deal?

Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent He felt there was only one answer when ranking Edu's top five signings on talkSPORT Drive, along with a handful of honorable mentions.

Bent rated the £27m move for William Saliba as Edu's best work on the market.

Saliba signed in July 2019 but was loaned to Saint-Etienne. Nice and Marseilles during his first three seasons before making his Premier League debut in August 2022.

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The Frenchman quickly established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the English top flight and was twice named Premier League Team of the Year.

Bent named Gunners captain Martin Odegaard as Edu's second best signing, although he noted that “some could have Odegaard one and Saliba two.”

Odegaard arrived at the Emirates Stadium for the first time on loan from real Madrid in January 2021 before making the move permanent in August of that year for £35m.

Since then, the Norwegian has made more than 150 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 35 goals and registering 25 assists.

In third place is Saliba's partner in central defense, Gabriel.

The Brazilian arrived from Lille for just £27m in September 2020 and has formed one of Europe's most formidable defensive partnerships alongside Saliba.

Bent's love for Edu's defensive signings continued when he named him right back ben whitewho joined for £50m from Brighton, as the fourth best signing.

“The reason I picked Ben White is because he was brought in as a centre-back, but he has been incredible at right-back,” Bent said.

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“When they asked him to step in and play centre-back, he was fantastic.”

Completing the top five is the club-record £105m star Declan Ricewhat happened to Arsenal from West Ham United in July of last year.

“For $105 million, I expect there to be some level of return.”

Bent's list of honorable mentions included Kai HavertzJurrien Timber, Aaron Ramsdale and even Ricardo Calafioriwho arrived at Arsenal only in July.

Now that Edu is gone, Arteta will soon have a new sporting director to work with.

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For Bent, a self-confessed Arsenal fan, the Brazilian's departure is “massive” given the “integral” role he played at the club.

“The fact that he is leaving is a big blow because he is one of Arteta's right-hand men,” Bent said.

“You need that character who shares your vision and who, even if he doesn't agree with you, tells you so. He doesn't just say, 'You want it, we'll do it.' He'll give you reasons why we shouldn't do it.

“But the fact that Edu is leaving to go to the Marinakis group is the surprising part. The fact that he is leaving is a blow. A very, very big blow.”